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2024 Christmas Design Trends

Last Updated 12/4/2024 • Posted in Southern Holiday, Stories, Christmas

We all know that trends come and go, but it’s sure fun to see what’s in style year-to-year! Christmas is America's favorite holiday, and it sure is everyone’s at Southern Holiday Life as well. Christmas will always bring to mind that classic green and red style from the 90s for me; the big red velvet bows, the fake tree, the color lights, and even the classic round ornaments are some things that come to mind when I think of my childhood Christmas. Since the 1900’s there have been some VERY interesting trends that have made some comebacks and some that have hopefully died forever, remember the fire hazard that was real candles clipped on the limbs of the evergreen tree? Let’s hope that one doesn’t come back!

Design Trends making a come back in 2024

Everyone has different styles and traditions when it comes to Christmas, but I love taking an outside perspective and seeing what everyone else does. I don’t have a strong feeling towards Christmas because my family never really did much, our family favorite holiday was Thanksgiving! Although I don’t have much nostalgia when it comes to Santa Claus and caroling, I can appreciate some good decor trends! My mother is an interior designer, and my father designed homes and built them. For a very long time I’ve been taking notice of aesthetics, themes, architecture, and trends. So I thought what better way to contribute to the 2024 issue of Southern Holiday life than with a little holiday decor round-up!

Trends are trendy for a reason, sometimes they stick and sometimes they don’t! So whether you’re reading for inspiration on how to decorate for 2024 or you just want to stay in-the-know, but have your own style and traditions. It’s fun to see what other people are doing!

Bows

This year has been huge for bows. I’m not talking bigcheerleading bows, I’m talking dainty, off-duty ballerina, coquette aesthetic.

"Very Demure, Very Cutesy"! Younger millennials and gen Z are putting bows on everything! Bow trees, bows on candleholders, bow cakes, bow garland! I’m here for it honestly, I thinks it's cute when done well!

Disco Balls

We’ve witnessed the disco ball come back with cute little car ornaments or at bachelorette parties but people's love for the sparkly disco ball won’t stop there! They’ve already taken over Pinterest and TikTok with all the “disco Christmas” theme. A friend of mine has been doing this since 2022, but I think she was ahead of her time! She has beautiful photos of disco balls random when you think about it, as most of the 70s decor trends have made a resurgence of some kind like rattan, velvet, and jewel tones. I guess it was just time for the DISCO!

Tinsel Trees

Tinsel trees were at their peak in the 1950s but are making a comeback for people who have a love for vintage and are inspired by the mid-century style. While we often think of the 50s, 60s & 70s for tinsel, its origin is actually a lot earlier! Dating back to the 1600s where they used real silver on the tips of their tree branches to catch the candle light and make their tree’s shine. This was a sign of prosperity back then, but now I think it’s just fun for millennials and their love for maximalism!

DIY Decor

Originating from old English tradition, then making a comeback in the great depression, and again now are the DIY food garlands. Popcorn and cranberries or dried oranges became popular because of the great depression and the power of women getting crafty!!! I’m sure some of us can relate to the need for DIY or scanning our pantries for decor to scrape together, the good thing about it now is that it’s trendy again! Similarly DIY ornaments were popular out of necessity during the wars, but have held on throughout the decades!

Whether it’s air dry clay ornaments, wooden slice ornaments, paper or embroidery these ornaments are so great for when you can’t find the exact vibe you want.

The 1980s was a huge time for eclectic trees. For the first time it was cool to have a mix of plastic, homemade, and glass ornaments all mixed together. Whether it was an ornament passed down from grandma’s tree or a handmade craft from your kids in kindergarten every ornament got as pot of pride on the tree. This trend may have gotten popular in the 80s but I know it’s been carried through the times by sentimental parents looking forward to having all of their memories on display.

Vintage Inspired

One thing that is very popular for a vintage inspired tree is the “Shiny Brite” ornaments, glass baubles in many different colors. The reproductions mimicking the hot trend of the 1950s also come in stripes, flocking, and of course glitter holding them to their name.

Another vintage Christmas trend that was hot in the 40sand 50s are those vintage Santa mugs with his big face and rosy cheeks. Be careful when thrifting vintage mugs though because a lot of these can contain lead! That’s fine for decor, just don't drink out of them!

Monochrome

There was a big economic boom in the late 80s early 90s and department stores started selling monochromatic Christmas sets with ornaments, garland and sometimes even small trees that were very “matchy-matchy”. While I’m seeing the monochromatic trend return it is in much better taste than it was in the 90s!! Haha, I think we have learned what looks good, thank goodness!

Of course, as we know, women have been embracing their love for pink for a while now but I think with the resurgence of Barbie &Brat dolls there will be a lot of influencers going for the all pink Christmas decor, and I’m here for it!

By: Caroline Corson