The coziest homes always hold a quiet sense of nostalgia, and one of the best Christmas rituals is when the passed-down family treasures come out. While slow, collected decorating is one of the best ways to inject festive charm into your home, theming your Christmas decor around this year's biggest trends will also help you to create a charming festive scheme that stands out from previous celebrations.

Last year we saw the Ralph Lauren heritage aesthetic takeover, and bows felt bigger and bolder than ever before. While these iconic decorating ideas are making a welcome return this year, plenty of other new, playful themes are making their debut, too.

From rustic country ornaments inspired by traditional handcraftsmanship to the dreamlike fruit and vegetable trend that invites playfulness to the table, these six designer-approved holiday decor themes will be everywhere this festive season.

1. Whimsical

While decorating with bows was a pretty memorable Christmas trend last year, in 2026, they're making a welcome return to trees, tabletops, and mantels – and they're bigger and better than ever.

Yes, dainty velvet bows tied gracefully to a Christmas tree have a rich history, but oversized, exaggerated bows made from colorful ribbon are the playful accessories popping up in the latest Christmas collections. From Anthropologie's Willow Plaid Bow Tree Topper to the bow-shaped Benedita Cake Serve Set, these whimsical decorations invite comforting nostalgia to our homes.

'I love a full Christmas tree!' says Alice Palmer, Designer & Founder of Alice Palmer & Co. 'I like to use our Christmas tree bows, ribbons and fabric remnants to add color, pattern and texture. Fabric bows are such a lovely way to make a tree feel more personal and playful, rather than relying solely on traditional baubles. They’re also an easy way to make an impact and can be used throughout the home, from the tree to garlands draped around fireplaces.'

2. Ralph Lauren

From plaid-covered upholstery to equestrian-inspired artwork, living rooms radiated preppy Ralph Lauren nostalgia last year – and they're predicted to be embracing the heritage look once again for winter 2026.

'There’s a warmth and familiarity to the heritage look that feels especially right at Christmas,' says Shailja Vohora, Interiors With Art. 'Rich colors and layered textures create an inviting setting that feels considered and timeless. It’s also an approach that works with a home’s existing interiors, allowing festive decorations to feel like a natural extension of the space.'

Small tweaks can bring a heritage feel to a living room. A leather-bound tray filled with a wintry candle is enough to elevate a coffee table, as is a simple plaid throw cushion scattered on a sofa, just make sure to incorporate a traditional color palette. 'Start with deep navy and chocolate brown, then introduce pattern and texture through jacquard fabrics, ribbons, and soft furnishings,' Shailja says.

3. Food-Themed Decor

'Food-themed and 90s decor are going to be huge this year,' says seasonal decorator Meg Ross, founder of Memphis by Meg. 'The organic, natural, and timeless aspects bring back the cozy feel of the 90s. For millennials, this calls back to our childhood, bringing fond memories and nostalgia. Think sugared berries, apples, dried orange garlands, and pears in trees and garlands! My main tree will incorporate all of these with the addition of dried hydrangeas.'

A dried orange garland drape on a Christmas mantel is a timeless example of this wintry decor trend, but for those wanting to stray from tradition, creating a story-like, surreal feel can be achieved with so-good-you-could-eat accessories like McGee & Co's Tangerine tower designed to bring whimsy to the tabletop.

'For my own home, we decided to play up on the food factor and decorated for the holidays to feel more opulent and go for a more is more style,' says Alykhan Velji of Aly Velji Designs. 'Decorating with dried oranges and fruits for the tree and wreaths, creating a luxe and layered tablescape that gave an almost Renaissance still-life feel. We love to create rich layers and textures for this holiday decor style.'

4. Kitschy Retro

Tinsel-covered bannisters and trees covered in vibrant glass baubles might sound like a walking '80s design trend, but 'kitschmas' is actually one of this year's biggest Christmas trends. A love-or-hate-it aesthetic that brings the garish, statement accessories from past holidays back on the scene, retro decorations are a light-hearted way to inject festivity into the home.

Whimsical baubles (John Derian we're looking at you) are one such example of ways to decorate your Christmas tree in homage to 'kitschmas', as are mounds of lametta tinsel. It's also about creating a playful palette, too. 'Christmas is as much about the feeling you create as the colors you choose; you don’t have to rely on red, green, and gold to make a space feel festive,' says Shailja.

'Layer these with seasonal greenery and warm lighting, adding touches of pink for an unexpected accent. The richness comes from the combination of color, texture, and light, rather than an abundance of overtly festive motifs.'

5. Rustic Country

The wicker Christmas trend invites handcrafted, characterful details into our homes. Tying into the rustic country aesthetic that makes use of past loved treasures and antique ornaments, this pared-back look embraces the best parts of country decorating. 'It’s relaxed and welcoming, and it suits almost any home, from a city flat to a farmhouse,' says Sarah Barclay, interior designer and Founder of The Dressed Tree. 'There’s a real charm to natural textures like wicker, jute and felt, and they bring a coziness that’s hard to achieve with glass baubles alone.'

'I think rustic country style will be the one to watch,' says Sarah. 'After a few years of very glossy, shop-bought-looking trees, people are craving something with more warmth and character. Handmade decorations feel personal and have a story behind them, which is really what Christmas is about.'

'Start with texture rather than color. I’d layer wicker stars and handmade felt animals with jute twine, a few pine cones and sprigs of foliage tucked deep into the branches. Keep the palette neutral, with creams, soft browns and deep greens, and add a touch of red for warmth. Warm white lights matter too, as they give that soft, firelit glow. The key is choosing pieces that work together as a collection, so it feels considered and cozy rather than cluttered.'

6. Powder Blue

Powder blue might have been a fall color trend, but it's continuing to make its mark on our interiors in the Christmas season, too. It might not be conventionally 'festive', but it's just as charming, whimsical, and timeless as any red and green color palette.

Best displayed in interior designer Shea McGee's latest Christmas collection, the powdery blue hue is scattered throughout the range, from velvet blue baubles to charming bows designed to bring whimsy to any corner.

'They bring tension, and that’s what keeps a layered space from feeling too precious or too matchy,' says designer Heather French of French & French Interiors on unexpected color palettes like blue and red. 'Our core holiday pieces never change: inherited nutcrackers, antique Christmas pyramids, handmade glass ornaments. An unexpected color story lets us present them in a new way each year. Pairing pieces with story and staying power with something a little flashier makes the whole look feel collected and alive rather than static or overly traditional or overdone.'

The Christmas 2026 Edit

These six decor themes will be everywhere this festive season. Each has its own personality and style, which makes them perfect for every kind of decorator. Heritage preppy style continues to shine, while bolder statements like the nostalgia trend invite a dose of playfulness into the home. Explore our round-up of the best places to buy Christmas decor in 2026 for more seasonal inspiration.

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