The air is cooling, the days are shorter, and Halloween is done and dusted — which can only mean one thing: Christmas is officially on its way.
But before you buy your winter garlands or make any firm decision about decorating, take a moment to pause and explore some of the season’s biggest trends.
Which new trends have emerged this Christmas, which have stood the test of time, and which are on their way out? We asked leading interiors experts to share their thoughts on the biggest rising and falling trends of the season.
So, without further ado, here’s what’s in – and what’s out – this Christmas.
• Nutcrackers
Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys, says ‘Nutcrackercore is back in a big way.’ And Pinterest Trends backs it up — searches for ‘nutcracker’ and ‘nutcracker DIY’ rose by 30 per cent between October 2024 and October 2025.
MacKenzie-Childs UK has listed its 6ft nutcrackers as one of their strongest performers this seasonm with Rebecca Proctor, creative director and chief brand officer, saying, ‘Nutcrackers are an iconic Christmas decoration, a nostalgic reminder of the festive season for all ages, and for this reason, they continue to be as popular as ever in 2025.’
• Supersized decor
From large baubles to unusually tall nutcrackers, supersized decor is officially in this season. Whinnie Williams, interior designer and trends forecaster for Balsam Hill, says, ‘Supersized decorations are also having a big moment (quite literally!). Oversized ornaments, ribbons, and nutcrackers bring instant drama to a room without necessarily stretching your budget.’
According to Lisa Cherry, head of Christmas at John Lewis, this means a rise in large Christmas trees as well. She tells us that, following high demand last year, the store is introducing a new 10ft model ‘for customers going “supersized”.’
• Bows
That’s right, bows are still very much in. Jules Haines, founder of Haines Collection, tells us that ‘bows are the accessory of the season, and there’s no better time than Christmas to embrace the trend.’ According to Molly Goffin, senior digital PR executive at MediaVision, there’s been a +181 per cent rise in searches for ‘bow decor’, and Gisela Graham reports a sharp increase in bow sales by ‘at least 50-60 per cent on last year’.
Magdalena Gierasinska, head of product & displays at Barker and Stonehouse, agrees, saying that ‘oversized bows, which first gained momentum last year, are set to be even more prominent this season. Expect to see them in sumptuous velvets, candy-striped grosgrain and glossy satin, used on trees, wreaths, staircases and front doors.’
• Retro Christmas
We also heard from experts who reported the return of nostalgic or retro-inspired Christmas decor. ‘Playful nostalgia is returning, with retro figurines such as ceramic Santas and snowmen, 1960s style glass baubles in bubblegum shades, and novelty touches like beaded fruit, disco balls and tinsel fringe all set to prove popular,’ says Magdalena.
According to data provided by TikTok, there’s been a 90s nostalgia resurgence on the social media app. ‘Nostalgia is proving to be a huge trend this year, with videos romanticising the UK countryside at Christmas time and throwback content of 90s Christmas decorations taking over FYPs,’ they tell us.
• Neutral decor
Thinking of keeping things minimal this Christmas? You might want to think again. Magdalena says that ‘after several seasons of minimalism and muted neutrals, there is a collective return to joyful abundance. Maximalism is firmly on the rise, characterised by bold colour, lavish layering and an unapologetic sense of opulence.’
The data seems to correspond with this theory, as Molly from Media Vision reports a decrease in search demand for ‘neutral decor’ by 33 per cent. By contrast, she tells us there has been a 50 per cent increase in searches for ‘multicoloured christmas lights’, suggesting a ‘move back towards colourful decor and away from muted tones’.
• Non-traditional colours
There’s been a notable drop in interest for non-traditional hues. Molly from Media Vision reports a 67 per cent decline in TikTok searches for ‘blue Christmas decoration ideas’.
‘Gone are the days of synthetic white trees, novelty pink and blue baubles, and the over-styled,’ say Liz and Sarah Hellmers, co-directors of independent homeware retailer and interior design studio, Lathams.
With trends like ‘Ralph Lauren‘ and ‘Little Women Christmas’ taking over the internet, it seems that tradition and traditional palettes are very much the thing this season. ‘Traditional colours are returning with a deeper, more considered palette – think rich wine reds and elegant sage greens,’ add Liz and Sarah.
• Cool-toned Christmases
Forget snowflake decorations and decor with cool-hued undertones, this Christmas, warmth is in. ‘One Christmas styling trend that is falling in popularity is the dominance of cool toned metallics,’ Magdalena tells us. ‘The icy silvers that defined Christmas decorating for much of the last decade are being replaced by warmer, more inviting hues.’
Molly from Media Vision reports a 23 per cent decline in searches for silver christmas trees on Google. Likewise, on TikTok, she tells us there has been a 31 per cent decline in searches for silver Christmas ornaments.
• Pastels
If people are leaning towards warmer tones, they also seems to be embracing bolder decorating palettes this Christmas. ‘Pastel pink decorations are losing ground,’ Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village, tells us.
‘Soft candy-coloured trees are less prevalent this year, as people gravitate towards bolder colours and more layered, tactile designs that feel inviting rather than stark,’ Shelley says. Alongside this, Molly at Media Vision reports a 45 per cent decline in searches for pink Christmas ornaments.
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Liz Lane is the Homes Assistant for House Beautiful and Country Living. Writing about everything from gardening tips and decorating trends to the symbolism behind Pedro Pascal’s apartment in Materialists, she’s particularly interested in the intersection where style and pop culture meet. When she’s not working on digital pieces, she’s editing videos or writing for print. Liz has previously written for Red and Good Housekeeping, and she studied English at UEA and Oxford University.
