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Christmas trends 2023: 12 looks to watch this year

From dopamine decor to classic vintage, take a look at the 2023 Christmas trends you don't want to miss!

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Thea Jeffreys

Lara Berry

Hannah Tribe

Rebecca Messina

Published: November 16, 2023 at 11:00 am

There's nothing more magical than the sight of your home all dressed up for the festive season, and this year there are so many exciting Christmas trends to choose from - from classic looks like red and gold to snowy Scandi, to more out-there schemes incorporating boho, maximalist, or nature-inspired decor.

We'll share exactly what looks are set to be trending this Christmas, so you can get ahead of the decorating curve and impress your loved ones. You'll hear from our editorial team - including HomeStyle magazine editor Kirstie Duhig - as well as professional stylists and industry experts.

So pour yourself a hot chocolate, put on the Christmas tunes and get ready to be inspired... From traditional charm to mermaidcore (yes, really!), here are 2023's top Christmas trends.

The top Christmas trends for 2023

Christmas trends 2023 at a glance

Enchanted woodland

M&S Christmas 2023

Combine rich, deep blues, woodland creatures and the magical sparkle of fairy lights to create this captivating look.

Deep navy and pine-tree greens are the foundations of this luxurious aesthetic – update sofas and chairs with cushions and throws in tactile, textural fabrics such as velvet, chenille or faux fur, to set the tone effortlessly.

Bring the look to life with plenty of sparkle – add candlelight with lanterns and tea light holders, ramp up the number of fairy lights on the tree, and go to town with warm-white lights. Adding silvery accents and iridescent glass decorations will reflect the sparkle around the room and give the feel of a star-studded sky.

Introduce a playful feel to your scheme by incorporating woodland creatures and motifs. An elegant stag or a wise, white owl, along with feathers and leaf details, will create the magic of a winter forest in an instant.

Mermaidcore Christmas

Wayfair-Christmas-Magical-Mermaidcore
Image: Wayfair

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Mermaidcore is the quirky Christmas trend to watch this year, and a personal favourite of HomeStyle editor Kirstie Duhig.

'I am obsessed with this gorgeous festive look!' she says. 'I want my tree to make a style statement and this is the perfect mix of sparkle, cute detailing and my fave colour combo – pink and teal. Glamorous and totally OTT – what's not to love?' We couldn't agree more!

A dreamy Mermaidcore scheme is the perfect match for rooms where you’ve embraced the trend for warm neutrals. Soft beige walls are brilliant for playing the part of sandy beaches and will help to pull the whole effect together. If you don’t have neutral walls, don’t worry! Pink and blue tones will look great too and will create a more vibrant feel overall.

When picking out your decorations, look out for styles that include ocean-themed elements like shells, pearls and spiky sea urchins. Use spherical and teardrop shapes as filler baubles around the larger decorations. These will look like drops of water and add an extra dimension to your theme.

Go all out with sparkle to create a high-impact look. Combine glistening glass and iridescent finishes for a scheme that well and truly shimmers.

Back to Nature

John Lewis natural Christmas
Image: John Lewis

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Christmas can be a busy and stressful time of year, so why not embrace this soothing festive scheme inspired by the natural world?

The back to nature Christmas trend is pared-back and refreshing. Rather than layering up heaps of ornaments, baubles and tinsel, this look relies on the minimalist elegance of natural foliage - you can forage your own and make your own wreath, or opt for realistic artificial wreaths or Christmas garlands, weaving in fairy lights and baubles from your festive colour scheme for a bespoke finish.

When setting your Christmas table, keep things low-key with linens, tableware and glassware you already own, and add in some festive magic with the twinkling of candles and fairy lights and a few seasonal motifs. Be inspired by a 'less is more' approach when it comes to styling your table’s centrepiece. A simple candle display with some evergreen fir arranged around the base gives fresh, rustic vibes.

Candy Cane Christmas

Matalan Christmas 2023
Image: Matalan

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We asked professional stylist Laurie Davidson to suggest some festive room schemes inspired by her favourite Christmas trends for our HomeStyle Christmas 2023 special - on sale now - and we particularly loved this candy-cane inspired look, full of red and white stripes, with a hint of hot pink.

'This punchy combination makes for a fun, festive style that oozes femininity,' says Laurie. 'Start with some red and white sweetie-style decorations, add a handful of cute candy canes and an injection of bright pink baubles, and voilá; you’ve got yourself a classy, statement-making scheme! Don’t forget a nutcracker or two, and a sprinkling of cosy Fairisle-print cushions and throws.'

If you prefer a more traditional look, opt for 90% red décor, with 10% pink – just enough to give it a hint of playfulness.

Laurie's top tip? Update some old baubles with pink glitter or spray paint. 'That way, instead of buying everything new, you can save your pennies for a few really stand-out decorations,' she says.

Nutcracker Ballet

Nutcracker ballet
Image: Homebase

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Searches for 'Nutcracker' have risen 376% on Pinterest over the last three months, according to online discounts platform, Wethrift, so this whimsical but traditional style is definitely one of the top Christmas trends we're seeing for 2023.

To get the look, mix pale pinks and champagne gold with nods to the classic fairytale for an enthralling festive scheme.

A pre-lit, snow-covered artificial tree is ideal for achieving this trend. Personalise the look by adding feathers and sprigs of faux foliage in white and pale gold, then fill with whimsical baubles – think nutcrackers, ballerinas and mice, topped with a magical fairy for the perfect storybook finish.

Create little corners of detail in the hallway, on a sideboard, or a window sill by adding festive decorations to welcome the season. A collection of candle holders, nutcracker ornaments and gifts wrapped in this soft palette of colours will create elegant displays that enhance the overall look.

Continue this scheme to the dining table with Christmas crackers adorned with characters from the story, gold-rimmed glassware and plain white dinnerware with a subtle scalloped edge. Keep the lines soft and gentle for a soothing seasonal scheme.

Classic red and gold

Cox & Cox Christmas
Image: Cox & Cox

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A real tree, or an ultra-realistic artificial one, is the best choice for this look. Let the tree take centre stage by opting for faux clip-on candles to bring a more traditional glow to the festivities. Large red velvet bows teamed with brilliant red poinsettia flowers offer an elegant finish.

Tartan designs, velvets, and quilted fabrics for cushions, throws, stockings and sacks, will help to achieve the Victorian-style elegance at the core of this trend.

Elsewhere, balance out the red and gold by filling your home with lots of natural greenery – think garlands wrapped around the stair banister and mantelpiece, a wreath on the door (both inside and out!), and candle holders with pinecones, berries and evergreen leaves on tables and shelving.

Blue Christmas

Wayfair Christmas Merry Maximalism
Image: Wayfair

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Looking for long-lasting style? This dramatic scheme will take you all the way through the festive period and into the New Year.

Rooms that already have dark walls are the perfect pairing for this glittering scheme. These strong colours create shadows that make the metallic elements seem to shine even brighter. Don’t be afraid to break style rules and mix up your metallics! Create a blend of silver, gold and Champagne tones for a rich and luxurious effect.

If your room isn’t a similar shade of blue to the decorations shown here, pop in a few items that match your walls so that the scheme looks pulled together with designer depth.

Choose accessories that feature stars and moons, as well as celebratory ornaments like Champagne bottles, starbursts and tiny cocktail glasses. Combining these two themes gives the effect of the best party you’ve ever been to – ideal for getting your guests in the spirit!

Boho Christmas

7ft Calgary Spruce Premium Artificial Christmas Tree

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Relaxed, warm and inviting, the boho Christmas trend is all about reflecting wintertime nature inside your home. Using natural elements and soft decorative textures like pampas grass, this pared-back trend is ideal for homes that follow an ethos of clean, modern living – with a cosy bohemian touch.

Instead of using traditional decorations and the classic red, green and gold, opt for dried flowers, rustic wooden ornaments and tones of dusky blush, beige and cream to create a neutral yet snug palette. Boucle, sheepskin and rattan complement this trend beautifully - and you can even add a touch of glitter if you want to ramp up the festive feel. Don't forget to finish the look with a stylish Christmas tree skirt - think wicker or faux fur!

Metallic silver Christmas

wayfair Metallic Christmas
Image: Wayfair

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Wayfair tells us they've seen a 2,000% spike in searches for metallic Christmas trees recently, indicating that this is one of the Christmas trends we're going to see everywhere this year.

'A super fun, standout look, a shimmering silver tree is perfect for those who love to entertain at home during the festive season, bringing the party vibes to your living space,' says the brand's Style Advisor, Dee Fontenot.

A silver tinsel Christmas tree can ooze style and sophistication, as shown above. Or you could go one step further and fully embrace the retro Space Age vibes. 'The tinsel tree is both futuristic and nostalgic in equal measure,' Dee explains.

Christmas dopamine decor

Dunelm festive dopamine decor

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Get on board the dopamine decor trend and embrace bold colour and playful patterns to create a fun and happy space for your guests to enjoy Christmas dinner.

Colour is your friend for this look, but choose a couple as your main shades to carry around the room. Red, green and turquoise make a fun combination, while a golden yellow brings some warmth. Invest in some seasonal cushions and throws to complete this festive explosion.

You could even get crafty and create decorations using colourful felt or wool. A simple pom pom garland or felt table top tree would make a joyful table centrepiece.

Snowy Scandi

George Home White Christmas

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Relax into effortless chic this Christmas by sticking to a scheme of warm, cashmere tinted whites and soft, snowy details. This Scandi look is brilliant for rooms where you’ve already embraced the trend for creamy neutrals – all you need is a little fluffy texture and some foliage elements to set your scene for the season. The restricted palette instantly creates a feeling of easy elegance, while natural materials and playful motifs keep the atmosphere laid-back.

Create a calm atmosphere with a tone-on-tone effect – it makes even the grandest of spaces feel relaxed. Choose a shade of white you love, then look for matching shades that feel a little stronger, all the way up to rich espresso brown or deep stormy grey. Mix and match these colours around the room to find your perfect blend.

Warm up a white scheme using natural materials. Kraft paper, wood and unglazed ceramics add a tactile element and stop things from feeling frosty.

Elegant vintage

Image by John Lewis

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Refined, tasteful and lavish, this eclectic vintage Christmas trend is all about soft hues, fine details and luxurious textures.

'To embrace this feminine scheme, start with an artificial tree that has frosted tips,' say the experts at Homebase.

'Opt for decorations with ornate jewels, beads, feathers and pearls. This will assure a timeless appeal that’s polished, yet undeniably pretty. It'll look simply stunning.'

Colour-wise, think pinks, purples, peach, turquoise, and soft shimmery golds. The key to nailing this style is a mixture of cute quirky baubles - browse some of our favourites. These will create that eclectic look - as well as adding buckets of personality to your scheme.

To achieve a truly opulent touch, it's worth also visiting Selfridges, Graham and Green and Fortnum & Mason.

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Thea Jeffreys

Digital Writer

Thea Jeffreys is the Digital Writer on YourHomeStyle.uk, and is passionate about all things home décor. When she’s not scouring the internet for budget-friendly homeware finds, you’ll find her writing about the latest interior trends and handy upcycling tricks.

Rebecca Messina

Editor, YourHomeStyle.uk

Rebecca is the Digital Editor of Your Home and HomeStyle. Having recently bought her first home, she's regularly poring over the latest decor trends for inspiration, and has special soft spot for French and Mediterranean styles.
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