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A Veranda report on Christmas decorating for 2026 describes five themes designers say are gaining attention: meaningful old-fashioned details, handmade pieces, nature-inspired decor, cozy textiles and decorations in overlooked spaces. The report presents these as designers’ observations, not as a measured industrywide trend.
Designers interviewed by Veranda say Christmas decorating in 2026 is turning toward familiar, personal touches rather than matching, newly purchased decor. The report identifies five approaches: old-fashioned keepsakes, sentimental or handmade pieces, natural materials, cozy textiles and decorations in rooms that are often overlooked.
The report’s central theme is decoration with personal meaning. Anthony Gianacakos, founder of Anthony George Home, recommends building a collection gradually around objects with a story, such as antique ornaments or handmade ceramics, rather than buying a large set of identical baubles. He says his own tree reflects his interest in wildlife through animal-themed ornaments. Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, a design journalist and author, also describes switching from LED lights to incandescent bulbs as a more nostalgic choice.
Handmade and sentimental details are another focus. Jenna Randolph David, director of interiors at Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, suggests displaying family holiday photographs or children’s Christmas drawings. Designer Frank de Biasi describes making paper chains and decorating citrus with cloves as activities that make decorating a shared, hands-on tradition.
For a nature-led look, designers point to evergreen clippings, pine cones, dried citrus, candles and pomanders. The report also recommends seasonal fabrics such as velvet pillows, wool throws, cashmere and tartan. Its fifth theme is spreading decorations beyond main living areas: examples include a candle and festive hand towels in a bathroom, a small Christmas village house near a home-office laptop, greenery on picture frames, or ribbon and garland at windows.
A More Personal Holiday Look
The recommendations put memory and reuse ahead of buying a coordinated set of seasonal items. Family photographs, inherited ornaments and crafts made at home can give decorations a connection to the people who live there, while natural materials and textiles offer ways to change a room without relying on more holiday-specific purchases.
For readers planning seasonal decorating, the ideas are also adaptable to different spaces and budgets: greenery, citrus and pine cones may be gathered or bought as ordinary household materials, while a single bow, candle or throw can add a seasonal detail to a room that would otherwise be left out. These are design suggestions, not evidence that households broadly have adopted the styles.
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From Matching Sets to Keepsakes
Christmas decorating often centers on a tree, mantel and stockings. The Veranda report frames its 2026 ideas as a return to traditional, less uniform details, while still allowing for festive color and ornament. Its emphasis is not on rejecting new decorations altogether, but on choosing items for their personal history or how they make a home feel.
The designers also describe ways to extend the season’s atmosphere without making every element explicitly Christmas-themed. Gianacakos says greenery, candles, dried citrus and pine cones can read as winter decor and bridge the period before and after the holiday. O’Shea-Evans points to scent—such as fir, cedar, orange and clove—as part of the nostalgic effect.
“We’ll spend a whole day cutting and gluing construction paper chains, and studding oranges and lemons with cloves.”
— Frank de Biasi, quoted by Veranda
How Broad Is the Return?
The report reflects opinions from designers; it does not provide survey data, sales figures or other measurements showing how widespread these preferences are. It is not clear whether the five approaches are growing across the decorating market or are trends the interviewed designers expect to see. The report also does not specify how many households have adopted them or whether interest differs by region, budget or age group.
Some recommendations involve practical differences that readers may want to weigh. For example, the report describes a designer’s preference for incandescent lights but does not compare energy use, cost or safety characteristics with LED lights. The article offers inspiration rather than product testing or technical guidance.
Ideas to Watch This Season
The next indication of whether these ideas gain wider traction will come during the 2026 holiday decorating season, through retailers’ offerings, designers’ projects and consumer choices. Veranda’s report does not announce a follow-up survey or provide a timetable for further data.
For now, the five approaches can be read as designers’ suggestions for the season, rather than confirmed market-wide shifts: use meaningful objects, make or display handmade pieces, bring in natural materials, add soft seasonal fabrics and give less-used rooms a small festive detail.
Key Questions
What five Christmas decorating trends does the report identify?
Veranda lists old-fashioned details, sentimental or handmade pieces, nature-inspired decor, cozy textiles and decorating overlooked spaces.
Who says these styles are returning?
The ideas come from designers and a design journalist interviewed by Veranda. The report does not establish them through a broad consumer survey.
What are examples of handmade Christmas decorations?
Examples include paper chains, festive streamers, papier-mâché crafts and citrus studded with cloves. The report also suggests displaying family photographs or children’s holiday drawings.
How can natural materials be used in holiday decor?
The designers suggest evergreen clippings, pine cones, dried citrus, candles and pomanders. These can create a seasonal feel without relying entirely on explicitly Christmas-themed ornaments.
Does the report show that these trends are popular nationwide?
No. It shares designers’ observations and recommendations, but provides no market data or survey results measuring how widely households are adopting the styles.
Source: rss
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