These Holiday Decor Trends Are Now Back in Style, Pros Say

Everything old eventually becomes new again, and this holiday season, vintage and sentimental holiday decor that might’ve once been seen as dated or dull is back in full force. But before you go digging for that one lone pinecone you dipped in glitter in the third grade, we asked three interior designers about the different types of holiday decorations shoppers and stylists can expect to see back on shelves and back in homes this holiday season.

Rather than feeling like you’ve got to go all the way with a completely retro-inspired holiday palette, let these designer suggestions serve as a launch pad for inspiration as you’re taking down boxes and sorting through which ornaments, servingware, and decor you’ll mix and match with your more modern pieces to put on full display.

Colorful, Collected Trees

For a while, Sara Swabb, the founder of Storie Collective, thought that Christmas trees were only meant to look “perfect.” That meant no kitschy ornaments, definitely no DIY-inspired icicles, and no lopsided tree branches, either. This year, however, she’s swapping perfection in favor of a tree with personality, adding that it’s okay to have a little fun with your holiday tree decor.

Rather than thinking it has to be all or nothing, why not mix and match? “There’s something nostalgic and grounding about the mix of old-fashioned ornaments, the ones that feel collected over time,” she says, noting that you shouldn’t be afraid to weave in a mixture of handmade children’s ornaments and felt pieces among the rest of your decor. “It’s that return to sentiment and story that makes a tree feel alive again,” she says.

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Utilizing Heirloom Pieces

Don’t keep your special heirloom entertaining pieces under lock and key all season long. Tracy Morris, the founder of Tracy Morris Design, is enjoying seeing people repurpose these items—like your grandmother’s silver ice bucket or art deco-inspired serveware—and using them to hold greenery or fresh flowers during the month of December. Your more colorful snowman-inspired spoons and forks make great complements to your modern, sleek dinnerware, and look great on a table paired together. “It is elegant, sentimental, and the perfect blend of old and new,” she says.

Plus, what’s better or more economical than shopping your house?

Hanging Antique Ornaments

Don’t give into the pressure to buy all new ornaments this season—or truly, ever. After all, Morris says, antique ornaments, especially those from the 1950s, are having a major moment this year. Whether you happen to have some already or you’re keeping an eye out for them while thrifting or frequenting estate sales, don’t hold back from displaying them in your home. “They add charm and character that mass-produced pieces just cannot replicate,” Morris says.

Paige Dick, the founder of Paige Designs, agrees: Vintage glass ornaments are going to be all the rage this upcoming holiday season. “Each one feels like a little story you can hang on your tree, adding instant character and warmth,” she says.

In fact, Dick plans to mix these vintage ornaments alongside more simple, streamlined, and tonal decorations so as not to overwhelm her overall tree design.

Decorating with Tinsel

Like we’ve been saying, tree decor this year is all about fun—and what’s more fun than tinsel? “It has that playful, nostalgic vibe we all crave at the holidays—think: childhood memories, but upgraded,” Dick says.

Even though tinsel is back, make sure to not go overboard. Dick recommends being intentional with how you work tinsel into your tree scheme. She recommends weaving it into your design with garlands or by layering it on the tree along with other simpler ornaments so that things don’t feel too busy. “It catches the light just enough to feel festive without feeling fussy,” she says. “A little shimmer goes a long way.”

Displaying Fake Greenery

There’s no need to steer clear of fake greenery, Morris says, adding that this can make it less worrisome to add extra flair to your furniture, like on a sideboard or even on a scratch-prone lucite piece (like the desk shown above).

“It allows for festive decorating without the mess or worry of damaging cherished pieces,” Morris says. Plus, fake greenery will last you years and years and is easy to coil up and store. Unlike real greenery, it doesn’t require any spritzing or prompt the need for extra vacuuming