17 Christmas trends for 2022

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.

We're already booking festive outings and going big on DIY decorations this winter. Here are the Christmas 2022 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 2022 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 2022 trends and ideas for your Christmas decorations 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 2022: décor

1. Natural Noel

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, wicker and fabric 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 these glorious customisable angels from Good Twine of Lincoln (£13 each), handmade from recycled textile waste.

2. Opulent Botanics

Maximalist patterns, dramatic blooms and verdant foliage create a sumptuous and dramatic look that’s very much a staple style for Xmas 22/23.

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.

Think William Morris for inspiration – a statement stocking in his Golden Lily design (£39.95, Green and Heath) 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. Rural idyll

Give your home a romantic makeover with pastel shades and decorations that channel the ‘cottagecore’ aesthetic. Soft pinks and greens provide the backbone of the colour palette, with floral motifs and folk-inspired art lending a hint of nostalgia.

This year’s festive collections abound with decorations that typify this style – Cox and Cox has a tempting selection if you fancy adopting this look; the range includes blush baubles, faux flowers and dusky beaded garlands to adorn your tree.

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.

5. Minimalist chic

Think geometric patterns and clean lines for a pared-back chic that’s ideal for anyone wanting to embrace a minimalist aesthetic this year. There’s a certain Scandi-influence underlying this trend, and decorations in this style look especially striking in whites, metallics or pale greys. This unusual tree topper (£16.95, Idyll Home) is a fab twist on the traditional star for your tree.

6. Christmas classics

It’s pretty clear that the traditional red and green palette’s never going out of fashion where Christmas is concerned, and for an all-out festive feel, there’s

nothing like the classic colours of the season.

This joyous look is one of the easiest to pull off – these hues are prolific in every Christmas store, and although the look is timeless, it doesn’t need to feel old-fashioned. Team red and green candles, table ornaments and festive foliage with snowy white accents for a clean, contemporary combination. This tablescape from Talking Tables nails the look perfectly (paper fans £12 for pack of three).

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 Amara’s opulent beaded placemats (£29 each) to create a festive table with a side order of vintage elegance.

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.

Christmas trends: Gifts

8. 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 2022.

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.

9. Subscription boxes

On the subject of subscription boxes, rather like advent calendars, we are truly spoilt for choice with kits available for gardeners, artists, coffee lovers and spice fanatics. We recommend Craftiosity craft subscription boxes (pictured below) – available on Not on the High Street – for a regular dose of soothing craft therapy through the post. For more ideas, 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.

10. Personalise your gifts

We never get bored of personalised gifts, from a photo book to an engraved whisky flask, 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 like 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.

Maximalist patterns, dramatic blooms and verdant foliage create a sumptuous and dramatic look that’s very much a staple style for Xmas 22/23.

11. Buy a house plant for your loved ones

Plants look fab all year round and you don’t even have to wrap them. Air-purifying plants, poinsettias or mini Christmas trees will never go out of fashion. For something a little different, look out for hydroponics – they don’t need soil and can grow in dark corners with little LED lights for a brilliant Christmas aesthetic. For online plant shopping, we like Bloom & Wild or Lazy Flora's online plant shop.

Plant subscriptions are a thing now too, with Leaf Envy your loved one will receive a different plant in the post each month (certainly one for our wishlist).

12. 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 (£110, Cox & Cox) is a gloriously contemporary option, which makes a fab blank canvas for any modern, minimalist scheme.

13. 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

14. Woodland walk

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. Try to make time to pop on some wellies for some quality time in the fresh air with your loved ones.

And once you’re home, keep the nature theme going strong with decorations that celebrate the British countryside and its flora and fauna. Hedgehogs, foxes, owls, mushrooms and acorns are big decoration staples in stores this year and make a lovely way to celebrate the natural world on our doorstep.

Gisela Graham has a fantastic woodland-inspired range to get you started (from £1.99, Gisela Graham)

Christmas aesthetic: Food and entertainment

15. 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.

16. Grazing boxes

Along with the rise of gorgeously curated hampers from brands such as Hampers 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 companies such as Fig & Flower look stunning when delivered. 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 deli local that will deliver in time for Christmas.

17. Cheese boards!

You don’t have to be hosting a party to enjoy a good cheeseboard and a browse of a local cheese shop or deli counter is a treat too. BBC Good Food suggests a mix of fresh goat, a soft brie or camembert, a hard Somerset cheddar or Comté, and a blue stilton or Roquefort, all finished with a wild card such as a spicy or fruity variety. And if it’s all yours to enjoy over a few evenings at home, then you can cut them however you please.

Cheese board sets make classic gift ideas that will be used for many Christmases to come too – we like the range of personalised sets over at Not on the High Street.

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 2022'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.