These Are the 8 Best Holiday Decorating Trends of 2024 (Plus One You Should Totally Skip)

The rise of the coquette aesthetic inspired people to put bows on everything, and this holiday season, the habit is only growing larger—both in terms of popularity and actual size. At Michaels stores nationwide, “the viral 6-foot Red Big Bow Garland from the Night Before Christmas collection has been flying off shelves—it’s sold out twice so far,” says Amanda Nichols, Trend & Design Expert at the arts and crafts chain. Its gigantic, 30-inch puffy bows have also been a top seller. Expect to see these oversized additions on wreaths, garlands and as tree toppers and the finishing touch on wrapped gifts this year, she says. (Bold bows were also spotted at Target, Magnolia and Anthropologie, too.)

Lush garlands aren’t going anywhere, yet there’s a dreamy, ethereal quality to the vine-like twist on fairy lights Anthropologie used to adorn its 2024 Holiday House. You can buy a branch to add a twinkly note to your mantel or go all out with an illuminated vine tree skirt or trailing vines to wrap along handrails. The goal is to create an enchanted forest vibe in your home, capturing the magic of the season in a less talking snowmen-and-flying-reindeer way.

PureWow Associate Home Editor Sydney Meister tipped me off to this twee trend, after noticing needle-felt ornaments popping up from Etsy crafters and major retailers like Ralph Lauren and Pottery Barn. “This makes sense, considering they fit perfectly into the nostalgia craze that’s been sweeping holiday decor in recent years,” she says. “As people crave the comfort of simpler times, handmade felt ornaments do just that—they bring back childhood memories of homemade decorations and add a personal, sentimental touch.”

If you’re thinking of going the DIY route this year, you’re in good company—88 percent of people surveyed on Redecor, a design simulation game, said they planned on doing so this year. Homemade wreaths, in particular, are extremely popular; one out of every two people who buy faux florals at Michaels do so with the goal of making one, Nichols says. They’re not only “a fun way to add a personal touch to your holiday décor, but they can also be a cost-effective option.” (Truly: It cost me $6 to make one using discarded tree branches, and I swear by this YouTube tutorial—see the 4-minute mark—for mastering the art of wrapping branches around a wreath frame.)

Instead of the whole family searching for—and collectively decorating—one grand, Griswold-caliber tree, the folks at Balsam Hill are seeing an influx of people buying multiple trees to have one in a few rooms. They may be smaller (something Redecor noted as a cost-saving measure), but the idea is to create a more immersive holiday experience, where your whole home feels like an escape from the ordinary, not just the living room.

To that end, Balsam Hill also noted that each tree may have its own theme, from colorful, whimsical ornaments in a kids’ room to a monochromatic look in a formal dining room.

So you didn’t cut down your own tree? No problem. More brands are releasing scented sticks you can discreetly hang from your tree, infusing the area with a fresh pine fragrance (or cinnamon apple, or whatever wintry scent you’re into). This style, from Glasshouse Fragrances, provides a perfume-caliber scent that easily blends into the branches of your tree, so all people will notice is how luxe your can’t-believe-it’s-fake tree smells.

If the holidays are all about cookie exchanges in your book, you might gravitate toward the candycore aesthetic, which is alive and well in 2024. In fact, products from Michaels’s Sprinkle Shop collection—like the gingerbread people throw pillows and sprinkle-antlered pink reindeer bust—have been best-sellers since their debut this season. It’s a cheerful way to turn your home into a gingerbread house…minus the Hansel and Gretel connotations.

Playful twists on menorahs are having a moment this year, from Kikkerland’s Banorah to Jonathan Adler’s chic-yet-fun designs. Even Target is selling a steg-orah this year. Just don’t be surprised if the kids try to play with it.

They were a hit two years ago! And as quickly as those inflatable orbs snagged their first tear, so deflated people’s interest in them. Inflatables, in general, have been on the decline, with nearly 50 percent of Redecor’s survey participants declaring them “tacky.”  “Large, bold statement pieces are falling out of favor as the trend shifts toward subtle, elegant decorations that complement rather than dominate a space,” shares Aino Heinäsuo, head of Design at Redecor.

The one exception? Bows, it would seem. We’ll see what 2025 brings.