Christmas, for the aesthetically self-aware, is treacherous terrain. We want festive, not feral. As an editor, I live in that tension, craving a little extra sparkle without surrendering to kitsch or those aggressively bright shades of red flocking. And when the season starts to set in, I don’t head to the usual glossy suspects my houseguests might assume. I go to Wayfair.
Here’s why: it’s where the best Christmas decor deals hide. If I’m after one showstopping, heirloom-quality piece – the hero ornament, the mohair throw – I’ll splurge elsewhere. But the bulk of my festive decor lives under the $50 mark, usually marked down, always chicer than anticipated.
This year, my holiday wishlist follows three threads: ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ (blame TikTok and my weakness for anything heritage-coded); glamour – tassels, marble, and a little unabashed shine (it’s the season for ostentation, after all); and cool factor – those offbeat finds (a fawn print here, a sculptural votive there) that manage to make ‘holiday’ feel editorial.
Creative Co-Op
Flocked Foam Ball Garland
A garland is the moment to show your guests what you’re made of. If you keep it kitsch, that might mean pompoms; if you’re a traditionalist, lush evergreen. But if you’re chasing something cooler – moody, botanical, rich – this oxblood garland adds just the right depth to a mantel or the base of a Christmas tree, giving ‘holiday’ a little more tactility (and a little less tinsel).
Canora Grey
Christmas Tree Rug
You’ve heard of tree collars and certainly skirts – Joanna Gaines made sure of that – but a Christmas tree rug? It’s time. This faux-fur version turns the base of your tree into its own vignette, the texture playing perfectly against pine needles and the glint of wrapped gifts.
Plow & Hearth
Clip-On Christmas Tree Candles, Set of 10
Forget the fairy lights. Plow & Hearth’s faux candles clip directly to the branches, bringing an elegant, candlelit glow – minus the fire hazard. They’re remote-controlled, buildable, and far chicer than a string of LEDs.
Eastern Accents
Tinsel Dots Stocking
Admittedly a bit of a splurge for a single stocking, but fawn print is the animal pattern du jour, spotted in every self-respecting niche-it-girl apartment right now. It’s also notoriously hard to find. Consider this your chance to signal that you’re both ahead of the curve and have taste. Pair the woodland-coded motif with soft metallics and a white mohair throw to echo its muted, whispery palette.
The Holiday Aisle®
Hariton Resin Tray
There’s been plenty of chatter about Ralph Lauren Christmas on TikTok lately – not so much a ‘trend’ as a revival of the house’s heritage codes: tartan, horsebits, and worn-in leather. Style it with a cognac hide, a layered plaid, or a well-aged sideboard, and you’ve basically nailed the look.
The Holiday Aisle®
Decorative Glass Ball Ornaments, Set of 6
When it comes to metallics, don’t make yourself pick sides. Bronze – the diplomatic sheeny shade – splits the difference between silver and gold. In mercury glass, these Christmas ornaments are warm, reflective, and a little dramatic, catching the twinkle of tree lights just so.
The Holiday Aisle®
Clarence Nutcracker Soldier Figurine
It goes without saying that a nutcracker is non-negotiable this time of year – so if it’s been a minute since you’ve added one to the collection, make it this. It trades the usual holly-green uniform for a softer, moss-toned palette – a shift I’ve noticed everywhere from Shea McGee’s latest line to the new crop of ‘quiet festive’ collections.
Kurt Adler
Capiz Star Christmas Tree Topper
This Deco-inspired tree topper has the kind of elongated glamour you’d expect from an old-Hollywood namesake, with capiz diffusing the light into something luxuriously soft. It’s not too big, not too small, with reviewers noting it looks grand on both a modest spruce or a 12-foot showstopper.
Birch Lane™
Norwin Rectangular 100% Cotton Pillow
Square throw pillows have officially lost their seat. Lumbar shapes are the move – and this one, in a muted grass green with tonal tassels, is oozing with freshness. Like much of this year’s best holiday design, it feels lighter, airier, and altogether more like an exhale.
Godinger Silver Art Co.
Glass Tabletop Votive Holder
It looks like it hails from a certain heritage crystal house – maybe something you’d spot glinting on a side table in an RL-coded mansion – but what appears to be a lamp is, in fact, quite possibly the chicest candle holder ever made. It throws off that soft, moody glow that makes hors d’oeuvres look even more expensive than they are.
The Holiday Aisle®
Natural Touch Polyethylene Wreath
I’m notoriously picky about Christmas wreaths. I can clock a bad faux before I’ve even crossed the threshold. If you’re going to have one, make it look authentic, like you bought it from a lumberjack on the side of the road. This natural-touch option nails that perfectly imperfect illusion – imperfect, un-manicured, and right in step with design’s current love affair with organic imperfection.
The Holiday Aisle®
Interlocking Marble Tree
A boring Christmas mantle is indefensible, especially when marble’s on the table. This petite tree, carved in rich brown-and-cream veining, locks together like sculpture. It’s unexpectedly weighty, beautifully modern, and a strong contender for a spot in your permanent collection.
Amélie Home
Chenille Cable Knit Throw Blanket
Cable knit throws may not be exclusive to Christmas, but they’re essential this time of year. If your decor leans into metallics or minimalism, this plush chenille option will warm it up instantly. Drape it over an armchair or the foot of a guest bed for that casually considered, cozy look.
Kelly Clarkson Home
Kristen Metal Decorative Door Hanging Bells
Doors deserve more than bows and wreaths. Add a string of nostalgic, slightly cinematic bells to turn every entrance (yours, Santa’s, whoever’s) into a soft holiday jingle. It’s festive, but also just… charming.
The Holiday Aisle®
Paper Honeycomb Ornaments, Set of 4
Reinventing ornaments rarely goes well – pop culture icons on a tree might get a laugh, but they don’t exactly say high design. These new origami styles, however, make a case with their intricate, airy folds. Hang them on the tree (naturally), or try them from a mantle hook or doorknob.
If I had to distill my holiday moodboard into a single phrase, it’d be luxury meets heritage – fittingly, also the throughline of Shea McGee’s latest Target collection. Think basket-weave tree collars, figural marble pears, and the most charming bow-shaped toppers.
Wayfair is currently having a massive WayDay Sale, and I’ve spotted plenty of chic Christmas decor on offer – now’s the time to shop before the Holiday season officially hits!
