Make Your Holiday Shine: 6 Decorating Styles that Sparkle for 2024

Christmas comes every year, so how do you make a holiday that’s so tried and true feel fresh and new? One way is to update the style of your Christmas decor.

The decorating industry is happy to oblige our need for novelty by providing dozens of new Christmas decorations each year. Design professionals analyze color and style trends and translate them into beautiful decorations for your Christmas tree, serving table, household and yard.

You’ll find many, many Christmas tree decorating styles on Pinterest, Instagram, decorator blogs and Christmas decoration manufacturer websites. But if you've scoured the internet looking for new ideas, you may already be on Christmas decoration overload. Which styles have staying power is anyone’s guess, but design doesn’t exist in a bubble.

When styles catch on, they’re considered trends. And with a name like Christmas Central, following Christmas decor trends is kind of our thing. So, of course, we have our own favorite styles for Christmas 2024!

Chinoiserie (pronounced sheen-wah-zer-ee) is a French word that describes Chinese-inspired decor, textiles and art. It is not authentically Asian, but a European interpretation of Asian design popularized in the 17th and 18th centuries. This style is characterized by pagoda motifs, nature scenes – especially floral wallpaper – and yin-yang symbols. Common decorative elements include blue and white porcelain, ginger jars, bamboo stalks, birds, butterflies, dragons and lacquered finishes. Elements of this style co-exist with maximalist, grand millennial and granny chic design.

Neutral-toned decor has taken a firm hold in the Christmas stylebook. Minimalist and Scandinavian-inspired decor lean strongly neutral for Christmas, but this year the neutral sensibility is popping up in other styles, as well. A neutral Christmas decor is defined by a calm, soothing color palette of cream, soft beige, natural browns and grays, sometimes mixed with richer tones like taupe, champagne and chocolate brown.

A love for natural elements inspires this Christmas look with an emphasis on organic, whether once-living or faux. Look around this season and you’re likely to see leaves, flowers, pinecones and other natural elements added to Christmas decor.

Explore the nuances of a single color with a monochromatic look this Christmas. Pick a color and then play with hue, finish and shape. Using your favorite shade, for instance, decorate with Christmas ball ornaments in various forms and finishes. Add bows, velveteen flowers, berries, picks and sprays.

When you're sticking to one color, texture and design are important to your Christmas tree decor. Introduce prismatic mirror balls, reflectors, finials and pendant ornaments.

Plaid is evident this Christmas: You'll find it in ribbons and bows on trees, wreaths and garlands, as well as ornaments and soft decorations. What’s wonderful about plaid is its ability to conform to various styles. For instance, choose Buffalo plaid for farmhouse and rustic decors and tartan for traditionalists. Go with a subtle plaid in soft beige or gray for a neutral decor, or something in a glamorous metallic for a little more luxury.

You’ll find Christmas plaid in multiple color combinations: Red, green and gold; emerald and cobalt, green and black, gray and red, shades of brown. In fact, unless you’re staunchly minimalist, plaid can dress up just about any Christmas style.

While not trends – most of these designs are either timeless or help support trending styles – these ornaments and decorations continue to enhance our Christmas styles.

Pendants, finials and drop ornaments add visual interest.

Look for gingerbread  designs in all sorts of Christmas decorations in several styles, from candied and colorful to intricate iced designs.

Glitter, shimmer and shine are always in style at Christmas.

This look emphasizes lush greenery and luxurious finishes, bold flowers, elegant ribbons and big bows with crystal and metallic accents.

Combine classic Christmas ornaments with retro lights and decorations that evoke nostalgia.

Of course, style is subjective, especially when it comes to Christmas decorations. Some people place great sentimental value on their Christmas decor and enjoy displaying the same precious pieces year after year.

Even if you’re open to updating your Christmas style, you might not want to change everything all at once. Make a start by incorporating a handful of elements in a fresh theme that blends with your current style and resonates with your holiday aesthetic.

Add a few new ornaments to your Christmas tree and a couple of table decorations here and there. Introduce a stylish wreath or updated garland. Matching a color, finish or pattern between existing and new elements helps keep the look cohesive.

Explore the possibilities and find a balance between the old and updated for a trendy look that’s totally you!

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