2021 CHRISTMAS TRENDS

The world seems to be looking forward to Christmas 2021 more than any year in recent memory. Start planning the best Christmas ever by reading my predictions for this year’s top Christmas decorating trends.

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Christmas is the one holiday that's so rooted in tradition we're often scared to think outside of the box. We all have boxes of ornaments, village houses, stockings, and more that elicit the nostalgia of Christmases past that we all long for. I, personally, have a box of old ornaments that I made when I was a kid, many of them marked on the back with "Christmas 1992" or some other time from the "late 1900s", and they hang on my kids' Christmas tree upstairs.

My sister loves to keep Christmas traditional. She loves waking up at my parents' house on Christmas morning and eating the same stuffing and rolls we've been eating for 30 years. I, on the other hand, like to switch things up. Last Christmas I spent weeks Pinning recipes for pork loin and rosemary cheddar mashed potatoes. And don't think I haven't already stocked up on boxes of Red Lobster's Cheddar Biscuits to serve in place of traditional rolls! Luckily both the modern and traditional can coexist beautifully with this year's top Christmas trends!

TREND 1: MODERN CHRISTMAS VILLAGES

Raise your hand if you've ever helped your mom or grandma set up a massive display of Department 56 village pieces. Both my husband and I grew up in homes where the Christmas village dazzled the mantles and tabletops. As a kid, I was mesmerized by the twinkling lights and little village people (not the actual Village People).

Fast forward to college and I started collecting one village piece a year. After four years I'd had enough! The big, breakable scenes with all their tiny pieces weren't fun to set up and they REALLY weren't fun to put up. Eventually, I stopped putting out the village, though I did miss the traditional display and all its nostalgic glory.

Modern and traditional co-exist beautifully in one of this year’s top Christmas trends: Christmas Villages. The Christmas Village has been reimagined with clean lines, neutral colors, and simple designs – a far cry from the ornate villages of Christmases past. From Scandi-style white ceramic to black metal farmhouses, mix and match these pieces to create a unique village that embodies your own personal holiday aesthetic.

Last year I started a new village collection, this one made up of simple white ceramic houses and black metal ones. Each house is prelit so you still get that pretty glow, but there are no small pieces to set up or styrofoam boxes you have to finagle them into at the end of the season.

Even more, retailers are offering modern village pieces this year and I have my eye on a few sets to add to my collection. Below is a compilation of some of my favorites and I'm certain these little houses will be all over everyone's shelves this year! There are options for every style, whether you lean more traditional, modern farmhouse, boho chic, or contemporary, and they fit so well with the next trend that is lighting up retailers' websites.

TREND 2: NATURAL RUSTIC TEXTURES & WOODLAND THEMES

One of the biggest theme trends of this Christmas will be Modern Farmhouse decor with natural rustic textures taking center stage in every design scheme. Wood, leather, feathers, and pinecones are taking over the Christmas aisles and adding some incredible depth and texture that isn't always achievable with traditional glass and plastic decor.

The use of these materials will likely show up with a heavy emphasis on woodland themes! Expect to see woodland creatures gracing shelfies and tablescapes in the forms of owls, deer, birds, and more!

Last Christmas one of my most asked-about pieces of decor were these black, modern reindeer. I had the hardest time finding similar ones online to share with my followers, but this year they are EVERYWHERE! And not only that, they have the cutest wood snowman and Christmas tree counterparts.

The best news about this trend is that there is a huge range of options at different price points. Some of my favorite places to look for these kinds of items are Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. Crafters are always showcasing new styles and are usually a fraction of the cost of big-name retailers. The biggest bonus point for shopping with local sellers is that you don't have to worry about shipping delays and supply chain issues which we all KNOW are the TRUE trends this holiday season.

Pinecones and feathers are also making their way into decor through accents in ornaments and tablescapes as well as in garland and faux stems and botanicals. One of my very favorite ways of incorporating natural textures this Christmas is through pretty tree collars which I'll explore further below!

TREND 3: ECO-FRIENDLY & SUSTAINABLE DECOR

More and more the demand for eco-friendly products continues to rise and consumers are looking for ways to enjoy the holidays without all the waste. One of my very favorite ways to make Christmas more sustainable, and create memories that will last decades to come, is the use of Living Christmas Trees.

Living Christmas trees are Christmas trees that come potted or with the root ball still attached that can be used indoors short-term and then planted in the yard after Christmas. I'm a big tree lover and spent quite a bit of time harvesting acorns from my favorite trees to grow baby saplings this summer. I like to envision a backyard full of beautiful mature trees where families can remember how each tree commemorated the holidays.

Another sustainable practice taking over the season is rethinking wrapping paper. Furoshiki wrapping, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, has become increasingly popular as a way to wrap presents without all the paper waste. These cloths are reusable and can even act as a secondary gift for the recipient.

Other eco-friendly packaging ideas include reusable Santa bags, baskets, children's artwork from school, or even vintage products like old posters or sheet music. Do you have any sustainable practices you like to utilize during the holidays?

TREND 4: TREE COLLARS AND POTTED TREES

Our previous trend is the perfect segway to our next one: thinking beyond the tree skirt to using planters, tree collars and other unique bases for your Christmas trees. If you're using a living tree utilizing a planter is a no-brainer. Like most people on a budget, I enjoy shopping my house and utilizing decor in various ways throughout the year. One way I do this is by using my small planters as bases for my small artificial Christmas trees.

Tree collars are also on the up and up this year. There are so many gorgeous options from hammered gold and galvanized steel to a nod from another trend we mentioned - wood, rattan, and other natural materials.

Here's a quick Pro Tip: Before ordering a tree collar, measure the base of your tree stand to make sure you're getting on large enough for your tree. You can also utilize a collar for your potted tree, just be sure to use a smaller pot that is easily encased by the collar.

TREND 5: FRAIZER FIR AND NON-TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS TREES

Speaking of trees, Fraizer Firs continue to dominate the market as the "It" tree for this Christmas. Fraizer Fir trees are very natural-looking trees that are a far cry from the plastic triangle-shaped trees of the past.

Non-traditional Christmas trees like Charley Brown and asymmetrical trees are also making a statement as people strive to add unique touches to their traditional decor. I am a fan of big, full trees, but I think sparse trees and those that are out of the ordinary have their place!

I'd love to add a smaller, asymmetrical option as a secondary tree in a dining room, foyer, or bonus room. I also think these sparse trees are the perfect solution for small spaces. Having spent quite a bit of my young adult life in apartments, I know the advantages of having a space-saving tree!

TREND 6: VINTAGE PIECES

While modernizing your Christmas decor is certainly a fun way to spice things up, people are also finding small ways to incorporate vintage and vintage-inspired decor. One product that has been making a comeback is the small, multicolored light-up ceramic trees. Do you remember these guys? If your grandma didn't have one of these did you even have a grandma?!

Vintage ornaments and decor are another great way to utilize eco-friendly products in your aesthetic and are often made of, you guessed it, wood!

Some of my favorite vintage-inspired products come from F.A.O. Schwarz, everyone's favorite NYC toy store famously featured in Home Alone Lost in New York. One of my favorite childhood holiday memories is of wearing a conductor hat, playing with the toy train underneath our Christmas tree. My dad would always take the lead on assembling the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and my sister and I eagerly awaited the chance to help put together the train.

After looking long and hard I finally found the perfect toy train to go under our tree. You guessed it, it came from F.A.O. Schwarz. Hearing that tiny train horn always takes me back, and now we are creating those same memories for our daughters. These nostalgic pieces make you feel like a kid again and bring back some of the magic of Christmas’ past

TREND 7: THE DOMINANT COLOR SCHEMES

The most eagerly anticipated Christmas trend revolves around everyone's most pressing question: What are this year's color schemes? I saved this trend for last because, in my opinion, there are TWO dominating color schemes this year:

1. Black, white and other neutrals

2. Rich jewel tones

Red and green have long dominated the Christmas season much like bright orange and black have ensconced Halloween and light pastels have taken over Easter. Red and green are opposite each other on the color wheel and thus tend to be jarring when put together. In a hard turn against the traditional, black and white is making a big play this season often accompanying the modern farmhouse trend noted above.

To make black and white lean modern farmhouse, add rustic textures like wood and wicker. You can also include black and white patterns like buffalo plaid, honeycomb, or florals.

Black and white can also be exceptionally glam, especially when shiny metallics like gold and bronze are used as accents. When utilizing black and white in my Christmas decor I picture lush black velvet ribbons and light gauzy white linens.

On the other side of the color spectrum, rich jewel tones like berry and emerald green take the edge off the harshness of the traditional colors while adding depth and saturation to your decor. May I also be so bold as to suggest that jewel tones look expensive? Because they do!

The past two years I decorated my trees in deep berry tones, champagne, and gold. It was glittery, elegant, and felt freshly traditional.

This year I plan to mix these two trends by going with a heavily black and white scheme with emerald green or copper worked in as accents.

What themes have you noticed taking over Christmas this year? Is there anything you think I missed? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Until next time,

Jenna