In the run-up to our favourite season, we’re looking forward to the simple things – comfort foods, time-honoured traditions, heart-warming gifts and cosy homes.
Now is most definitely the time to be booking festive outings, making gift lists, inviting guests for drinks and going big on DIY decorations.
Here are the Christmas 2023 trends that we're most excited about as we approach the holiday season.
Whether it’s the big high street brands or smaller retailers on Etsy, there are some gorgeous and imaginative Christmas 2023 trends coming through for your Christmas aesthetic.
From natural foliage to ceramic decorations and bespoke advent calendars, there's a lot of fun to be had this year.
If you're here looking for inspiration for how to spruce up your Christmas and capture the latest looks, here are the best Christmas 2023 trends and ideas for your Christmas decorations, gifting and entertaining this year.
Tablescape image above from Talking Tables
Simply Christmas magazine is out now
Christmas might well be coming, but there’s plenty of time to plan in all the things you love about the festive season! The brand-new issue of Simply Christmas is all about thinking ahead and getting excited about décor, food, gifts and making.
We’ve curated five looks to inspire your decorating, from vintage to botanical, and showcase two beautiful homes, all dressed up for Christmas. We’ve got gifting ideas covered too, with over 150 ideas for all ages and tastes.
Get your copy of Simply Christmas today.
Christmas trends 2023: Decor
1. Seasonally sustainable
Ethically sourced decorations in sustainable materials continue to grow in popularity as more of us choose to pursue a festive season that minimises its impact on the planet.
Such decorations are not only planet-friendly but also help foster a tranquil, sophisticated festive scheme thanks to the muted shades and tactile qualities of natural materials.
Wood, paper, fabric and even bicycle chain decorations are at the heart of this trend, which also encompasses reusable crackers (both beautiful and better for the environment) and reusable advent calendars (a more sustainable alternative to single-use options).
We especially love anything made from recycled materials, like this stunning, colourful fabric wreath from The National Trust shop, made from strips of discarded saris (£30 each).
2. Opulent Botanics
Maximalist patterns, dramatic blooms and verdant foliage create a sumptuous and dramatic look that was big last year and very much a staple style for Xmas 2023.
Baubles and tree decs capturing the natural world in bold colours and exuberant detail are an easy way to introduce the trend into your home, while timeless floral patterns can be found adorning everything from crackers to wrapping paper. Don’t forget the wildlife either, peacocks have been making an appearance at Christmas for a while now!
Think William Morris for inspiration – a statement stocking in his Golden Lily design (£39.95) makes an elegant addition to any mantelpiece this Christmas and is a perfect reflection of this trend.
You can also incorporate dramatic botanics into your home by learning how to make a Christmas wreath!
3. Silvery sparkle
If the maximalist look is too much for your tastes, then you’ll love the iridescent, silvery decorations that are making a comeback – silver most definitely goes with everything and will fit in when you bring out precious decorations from previous years.
Choose from light drapes of silver to cover your tree or recycled metal decorations that will last for years. There are some giant disco balls and baubles out there this year, if you’ve got the space!
We love this set of antique-style Christmas trees from Rockett St George (£32), place on a mantelpiece or side table for a super-stylish décor for your living space.
4. DIY décor
With the nights drawing in, it’s a great time to get to grips with a craft you’ve always liked the look of, from crochet to pyrography, lino cutting to macramé. This last craft is undergoing a big revival and doesn’t need many tools or materials.
Get this free pattern for this Christmas macrame star by Isabella Strambio, author of Macramé for the Modern Home.
Christmas tree skirts are a great thing to make too – choose from hemmed festive fabric, quilted or crocheted versions. You’ll find a fab free crochet Christmas tree skirt pattern from Simply Crochet magazine here.
6. Coral shine
Making a leftfield entry this year is a coral and orange colour scheme, influenced by autumnal shades but most certainly hanging around for Christmas.
These warm hues pair perfectly with natural greens and you’ll see them all over the high street this year, in decorations, gifting and wrap.
We love these recycled glass baubles from Paperhigh, they’ll look beautiful on the tree, reflecting the glow of the fairy lights. They come in other colours too!
7. Vintage luxe
Opt for elegant ornaments in shimmering antique-style metals for a timeless appeal with a healthy dose of seasonal sparkle. Beaded baubles and decorations with a glitzy 1920s feel are a brilliant way to inject a dash of Gatsby-style glam at home.
Look to Natalia Willmott for some opulent festive styling (see image below) and ornaments that you might well be able to keep out all year round.
Pretty much any decorations in muted metallics with a cracked glaze or antique-style finish will help you create a look of vintage charm in your own home – best of all, these will offer a wonderful warm sparkle in the light of a candle or glowing fairy lights.
8. New takes on trees
If you’re thinking of forgoing the traditional fir this year, you’re not alone. More people than ever have been seeking out alternatives to the usual Christmas tree.
Whatever your taste, there’s something out there to meet your needs, from space-saving ‘wall-trees’ (2D options that can be mounted on the wall, often plugged into the mains to light up) to foraged branches that can be adorned in any way you choose for an enchanting rustic effect.
This geometric tree (£125, Cox & Cox) is a gloriously contemporary option, which makes a fab blank canvas for any modern, minimalist scheme.
Christmas trends 2023: Gifts
9. Pimped-up wrapping
Whether you choose to design your own paper and adorn it with homemade tags and accessories or go eco-friendly with reusable Furoshiki wrapping, make sure your wrapping game is on point for Xmas 2023.
There are infinite ways to make your wrapped gifts stand out from the pile under the tree! There are endless crafty ideas here on Gathered like our Suminagashi gift wrap tutorial.
10. Outside-of-the-box gifting
Foodie experiences, upskilling courses, charity donations and subscription (boxes or magazines) are a wonderful way to make your gifts outlast the season.
Indoor skydiving, curry making or sourdough baking courses are widely available from experienced retailers and independent businesses – we quite fancy a Cocktail Tea Mixology workshop from Bird and Blend.
Most charities, local and national, will offer a type of gifting opportunity such as pineapple plants from Ripple Effect or a Christmas dinner package for a homeless person from Crisis.
For creative friends and family, check out our favourite craft subscription boxes article for a complete list of crafty options and our round-up of the best stationery subscription boxes.
11. Personalise your gifts
We never get bored of personalised gifts, from a photo book or your cat’s face on a jumper to an engraved whisky flasks and embossed notebooks, and the options grow each year. For grown-ups, you can find ideas for almost anyone in the family in the personalised gifts section of Not on the High Street.
We also love this idea from The International Elf Service, of a series of beautifully illustrated and named letters to give to little ones in the run-up to Christmas, inspiring them with stories from The North Pole.
For special bedtime stories, see Wonderbly which has a wide range of personalisation options and beautifully designed titles for all generations and tastes.
12. Hampers with a twist
In gifting, personalised items, letterbox presents and handmade treats are still going strong, but special, personalised hampers are one of our perpetual faves.
There’s so much to love – contents can be handpicked to suit the recipient perfectly, the budget is super-flexible and it’s an unfailingly personal way to show you care.
A home-curated hamper can either be themed (self-care, gourmet goodies, book lover, garden-guru… the list is endless!) or made up of carefully selected bits and pieces.
Handmade gifts work well as part of a hamper, and you can also put your creative skills to good use in making the whole thing look amazing.
We love the way Treatbox has some good value options for building up a mini hamper, whatever the occasion.
13. Kitchen savers
Do you know what some people get excited about at Christmas? Getting a new air fryer, slow cooker or grill and it’s not as yawnsome as it sounds! Even after last year’s boost in sales, kitchen gadgets are so high on people’s wishlists that they’ll be looking out for the best Black Friday deals and wrapping them up, ready for the big day.
While Russell Hobbs boasts that you can cook a whole Christmas dinner in their SatisFry Snappi using less energy in the process, George Foreman claim you can even put the hot plates of the Immersa grill in the dishwasher (thus saving family arguments).
If there’s a household tool or unit that you’ve got your eye on, now is the time to get it on your list…
Christmas trend 2023: Lifestyle
14. Keep costs down
Most people are feeling the pinch this year and may not be looking forward to the expense of the festive season. There are ways to minimalise financial stress and unwanted gifts, such as starting a Secret Santa for adults in the family, where each member gets one present rather than several.
Perhaps set an upper limit for presents for the children in the family or put things you would otherwise have to buy on your wishlist – tools and materials or a special outfit.
There are plenty of affordable options out there too, don’t miss Simply Christmas’s budget Gift guide, featuring over 60 ideas for everyone, all at under £20.
We loved Bird and Blend’s tea cubes (£10) and these personalised photo macarons (£13.50) from Mademoiselle Macaron.
15. Get outside
Hikes in the fresh winter air are one of the most wholesome, spirit-boosting ways to spend time with friends and family over the Christmas period. Our friends at CountryFile have packed their website full of winter walk suggestions.
So make time to pop on some wellies for some quality time in the fresh air with your loved ones and if there isn’t a cosy country pub en route, fill these cute festive Thermos flasks with hot chocolate to keep little legs going.
16. Bright lights & stunning sights
Illuminated trails were the stand-out saviours of feeling Christmassy in 2020/21 with many National Trust venues and stately homes pulling out all the stops to create spectacular outdoor events, with light and sound shows, fountains, live entertainment and Christmas markets.
These beautiful days or evenings out are now embedded in many family’s seasonal traditions and there are so many to choose from.
Here are a few stand-out trails to look out for this year:
- Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
- Stourhead, Wiltshire
- Auckland Castle, County Durham
- Heaton Park, Manchester
- Kew Gardens, London
- Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
- Gosford House, West Lothian
- Monteviot House, Scottish borders
Other honourable mentions also go to Santa trains and local charity floats, which all spread the cheer despite the chill! We love the look of the illuminated Winterlights train at Bishop’s Lydeard, West Somerset, UK this year.
17. Cake and biscuit decorating
Cake decorating is riding high on the list of YouTube DIY searches, with home bakers looking to create stunning-looking edibles, not just tasty ones. The Biscuiteers are one of the best-known UK brands for perfect-looking iced biccies!
You can now try your hand at it with their DIY kits – wreath, baubles or gingerbread house. They come with all the bits you need to create your own beautifully decorated treats.
18. Grazing boxes
Along with the rise of gorgeously curated hampers from brands such as Hampers.com, Baxters of Scotland and look out for local (or not so local!) delis offering fresh grazing boxes.
Beautifully selected piles of fresh fruits, veg, nuts, meats and cheeses combined with chutneys, beers or wines from caterers look stunning when delivered. For the greater London UK area, Berry & Brie is worth a visit.
It’s a great way to gift friends and family without adding to their piles of stuff, and if your recipients are abroad, look for a local deli that will deliver in time for Christmas.
Incorporating these Christmas trends into your home
There are plenty of ways you can incorporate these Christmas trends into your festive celebrations. There are no rules when it comes to Christmas gifting and decorating. The decision is completely up to you!
Take elements from each decor trend, working them into your own, personal aesthetic. Bring the outdoor world into your home with natural Christmas decorations and sustainable gifts. Or combine elements of Christmas classics and rural idyllic to make a unique style.
Whether you're buying gifts or updating your home decor, use 2023's Christmas trends to inspire and excite you!
DIY these Christmas trends with Gathered
Anything you can buy, you can also make! If you're looking to follow the Christmas trends but make them instead, check out our DIY Christmas garlands.
