Glam nostalgia
If you are scanning the Christmas trends 2023 top six home decor looks, start with the one that makes the biggest statement: glam nostalgia. Angel hair tinsel trees were a huge trend until the 1980s, then went completely out of fashion.
The shaggy style has come full circle, and trees dripping in single strips of silver angel hair are now massively on trend.
Here is the honest warning. Decorating with angel hair is hard to get right, and getting it wrong can be a total disaster. Stick to one color only rather than mixing shades.
Spread the strands evenly across the tree. If you apply it in clumps, it can look like a messy bird’s nest. Keep the rest of the tree paired back with just a few simple decorations and lights, so the angel hair takes center stage.
The original article illustrates the look with a 7ft pre lit tree decorated in angel hair tinsel. Work in small sections, start near the top, and step back often so you can spot bare patches before they become clumps.
A tinsel tree is also a retro yet modern one decoration approach. You use only one kind of ornament for a minimalist scheme, driven by a nostalgia crave for something comforting and familiar in a new way.
It is effortless, affordable and visually high impact, and that is exactly why it works. Keep tinsel away from heat and curious pets, and let the silver do the talking.
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Decorate with bows, ribbons, fabric strips & trimmings
Ribbons and trimmings are not just for presents. Trees adorned in bows and fabric strips were one of the most popular Christmas tree styles in 2023. The look has a cute, vintage feel, and you can embrace it inexpensively.
Buy a few rolls of ribbon, or cut old clothes into strips and tie them to the tree branches. Candy cane fabric ties are one easy example.
You can stick to all one color, or mix ribbons and bows. A tree that blends blue bows with burgundy ones feels playful but still pulled together. The key thing is to use ribbons everywhere, not only on the tree.
Tie them around the base of wall lights, place them at the top of mirrors, wrap table cutlery in them, and tie them around dinner candlesticks.
Tie a few burgundy ribbons around your candlesticks, keep the rest simple, and let that one soft touch do all the talking.
Bows were a major 2023 trend in both petite and oversized proportions on garlands, wreaths and Christmas trees. The trendiest bows had big, elongated tails that drape beautifully. Leaving bow ends long creates an elegant, flowing statement.
For a practical finish, pair bows with small bells, pre tie them and then hang them. Secure them with twist ties, double sided tape or floral wire where needed, and let thick ribbons rest on top of branches.
Leftover fabric or ribbon, velvet or satin, keeps the look low cost and keeps old textiles out of the trash. For a cohesive tree, choose one ribbon width for the branches and a second width for the table.
The key colour: Warm, Autumnal tones of burgundy, caramel, brick and burnt orange
The key colors for 2023 are warm, autumnal tones of burgundy, caramel, brick and burnt orange. Rich browns, tan colors, burgundy tones and burnt orange hues have an autumnal feel that also works beautifully at Christmas. The shades are sophisticated, with a nostalgic nod to traditional Christmas decor.
These warm honey shades were really popular as paint colors during the year, and that popularity continues into Christmas decorations. Burgundies, browns and greens complement the shimmering gold and silver tones often used in festive decoration.
Warm colors also enhance cosiness and can make a large room feel intimate, which is a welcome contrast to frosty temperatures outside. If you love this palette, these transitional fall seasonal decor trends show how to carry the same warmth from autumn into winter.
Illustrate the palette with a Christmas table in rich burgundy tones and with toffee and red velvet ribbon. Caramel and brick tones look rich on simple ceramics, candles and cloth napkins, so you do not need a whole new set of decorations.
Repeat one ribbon color and one metal tone across the tree, table, mantel and door so the whole room feels linked rather than cluttered.
Paper Chains
Paper chains are a vintage paper decoration back in a big way in 2023. Folded paper baubles and Swedish stars had risen in popularity in previous years, and this year the paper chain makes a big comeback. Paper chains are sustainable and super simple to make.
Cut old magazines or colored paper into strips. Loop each one through the next, and hang the chains from each corner of the ceiling. That is the whole method.
It is a low cost way to fill a room with color, and it works especially well in a child’s room, a hallway, or across a dining room ceiling.
Make a few chains in different lengths and hang them at different heights for a little movement.
Sustainable holiday decor can go further with natural elements such as a live Christmas tree, real greenery and gathered branches or pinecones. Use cloth napkins instead of paper products, and try fabric gift wrapping.
Many faux options are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfill, while natural versions can be recycled or composted. For more handmade spirit, these simple DIY Thanksgiving decorations for home ideas use the same easy, family friendly approach.
Hand-painted decorations
There has been a move away from mass produced bauble packs toward individual, artsy, hand painted or handmade decorations for a touch of whimsical decor. No two handmade or hand painted decorations are the same, and that individuality makes for a more personal, bespoke scheme.
Mix a few handmade pieces with simple baubles and warm lights, and let the detail stand out. Skip matched sets that hide the handmade charm.
A hand painted set of three eco Christmas decorations, like the one in the get the look list below, is an easy place to start. If you craft your own, keep the colors within the same warm palette so the tree still feels cohesive.
A small group of handmade pieces can sit front and center, while plain baubles fill the back of the tree.
Hand painted pieces also make lovely gifts and table favors. Tie one to a napkin with a narrow ribbon, or hang a small group on a hook near the door so guests can admire them up close.
Bells
Bells have always been associated with Christmas, but in 2023 they had a particular moment. They were featured heavily within Christmas decor schemes, and it is easy to see why.
Hang bells off fireplace mantel garlands, on door wreaths and off the staircase bannister for a look that is modern, yet traditional.
The original article includes a wavy edge terracotta bell decoration and a Christmas bell with grooves, both of which show how a simple shape can feel fresh in a warm color.
A mantel can be decked out with garland, candles, decorative trees, stockings and other pieces. Use a variety of textures, heights and shapes to create contrast, and use any flat surface where there is no mantel.
A row of bells in one metal tone, mixed with greenery and a few burgundy ribbons, ties the whole room together. If you have no mantel, a console table or a shelf works just as well.
Here is the get the look list as supplied in the original article. Prices are as listed there, in pounds, and have not been rechecked.
- Large gold metal hanging bells at £10
- Metal bell baubles in brass at £22.50 for 3
- Pink velvet ribbon
- Handpainted set of 3 eco Christmas decorations at £25
- Scallop table mat at £24
- Velvet and silk pom pom Christmas stocking in burgundy at £72
- Paper chain kit at £11
- Angel hair tinsel
- Bamboo handle cutlery four piece set at £74
- 34cm red marble serve board
Pick one look that feels like you, repeat one ribbon color and one metal tone across the tree, table, mantel and door, and let the rest stay simple. That is how the Christmas trends 2023 top six home decor looks turn into a home that feels warm, vintage and festive without a lot of fuss.
