Home Design: A Sea sonal Traditions Upgrade

Down on the FarmHouse Influences

With the popular modern farmhouse aesthetic, comes the desire for the simplistic pairing of black, white, and/neutrally-themed décor embellished with just a hint of holiday sparkle to delineate the season. We will also see this trend enhanced with elements of the natural world adding a clean, crisp, and fresh approach to this season’s festivities.

A Seasonal Traditions Upgrade

By Lisa J. Gotto

While every home has its own treasure trove of prized holiday ornaments and embellishments used to create a celebratory environment, in this post-pandemic year décor experts predict several distinct emerging trends in holiday decoration in response to last year’s somewhat restrained celebrations. These trends involve elements that evoke the natural world, color-intense palettes, and splashes of nostalgia—so, fun and whimsy is definitely back and in-style for the season!

Quality & Quantity!

From extra batches of cookies to densely decorated trees, this special time of year promises more of everything we love about the holidays. While some years the décor watchword is subtlety, this year it is clearly okay to get ambitious with our expressions of seasonality. So, think of mantels bursting with layers of fresh greens, pinecones, and lush vines. Candle chandeliers wrapped with tiny wreathes, and three ornaments clustered on the tree where one would normally be placed. Think “rule of thirds” with an abundant holiday vibe.

A Nostalgic Noel

If you have a collection of Hess Toy trucks now’s the time to bust out an embellished version loaded up with Christmas balls or decorated with tiny and bright battery-operated lights. If you grew up with an old-fashioned train set under the tree, this is the season to pull it from the attic and be 10 again, along with your kids and grandkids. And colorful mini-winter wonderland displays atop a mantle or entry way table set a whimsical scene and the stage for a holiday the harkens back to a simpler time when family and friends are held close—and the New Year is anticipated with promise.

’Tis the Season … for Sustainability

Influences from the natural world and recyclable resources will also be sprinkled throughout this holiday season in unique ways including tree trimmings that reflect abundance of the land and garden, such as shiny and sparkling avocado, carrot, and assorted fruit and other food ornaments. Under the tree, this theme will be represented by packages wrapped in reusable and colorful cloth coverings adorned fun fabric ties and fresh greenery instead of traditional bows. Natural Christmas trees this year will be supplemented with rustic gatherings of greens throughout the home. These groupings will not be aesthetically contrived, rather simply placed as if they were occurring in nature.

Intense, Playful Colors

Deep ruby red, festive forest green, saturated navy blue will replace the standard reds and greens of the season and with a dramatic effect that evokes a release of the physical restraints of last year. Eye-popping colors mixed with metallic flourishes will turn an every-day room into a sensory holiday experience.