With Thanksgiving coming so late, no doubt the turkey might find itself surrounded by glistening ornaments, greenery and even disco balls.
Ever since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert wowed the world with their Christmas trees that paid homage to Albert’s German heritage, each succeeding holiday season has embraced a look all its own. This year, style prognosticators, home magazines and social media bloggers all agree that the time has arrived for Generations X, Y and Z to put their signature on holiday decorating. As Elle Décor states, “It’s their time to shine!”
After all, with so many of their parents and grandparents (i.e., the baby boomers) scaling back their holiday decorating and handing off holiday dinners and entertaining to their children/grandchildren, the younger generations are free to establish their own holiday decorating traditions. While many are going in directions that represent a complete 180 from the styles that defined their parents, others are doing a 360 and embracing nostalgia but are putting their own spin on it. As a result, holiday décor in 2024 will touch on everything from nonconformity and pop culture to grandma’s house and DIY.
Not Your Mother’s Color Scheme
As some friends and I discovered on the Berks County Best Kept Secrets Tour, the 2024 holiday season will be the most colorful ever. Our first stop was Heritage Design Interiors in New Holland (not on the tour but along our route to Berks County), where trees and mantels echoed this year’s color trends. Forget staid color combos such as red and green, this year trees and decorations will be resplendent in colors such as hot pink, brat green, jewel tones and even black. (Trees are also available in such hues.) If you peruse sites such as Pinterest, no doubt you’ve been salivating over trees that twinkle (oh, so subtly) with ornaments that exude pastel hues of pink, blue and lavender.
Feeling Nostalgic
As for nostalgia, those ceramic trees from the ’70s are hotter than ever and fans can’t make do with one … they want dozens! Fortunately, they can still be readily found at antiques shops and even thrift stores. Sites such as Etsy and eBay offer both vintage and updated versions of the trees. Stores, gift shops and garden centers are stocked with 21st century models.
Another’70s throwback that is making a comeback is the disco ball. Available in a variety of sizes, they add holiday sparkle to mantels, tabletops, trees and yes, ceilings.
Tinsel has also staged a comeback, but now the aim is to practice restraint, unlike the ’50s and ’60s, when trees seemed to groan under the weight of the silver strands. If you want to see how it’s done in the 21st century, be sure to visit Erika Kikola’s IG account @whilefloriansleeps. Her gorgeous trees shimmer with perfectly placed tinsel!
Nostalgia rules outdoors, as well. Antique Treasures in Shartlesville, offers a large selection of vintage decorations, including the light-up blow-mold decorations from the ’50s and ’60s that the younger generations have fallen in love with. They are fetching a pretty penny but there’s something refreshingly kitschy about them. The store also had plenty of vintage holiday linens and décor.
Felting The DIY Effect
Another throwback that is considered a must-have for fans of nostalgia is anything made of felt, a textile that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur or from acrylic materials. The reemergence of felting is being attributed to the DIY movement. Classes and workshops are in demand and locally the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen in Lancaster offers such tutorials. Whimsical Woolies in Chester County will come to you for a felting party with your besties (they also partner with an alpaca farm to host classes). Flying Fibers Farm in Wrightsville stocks felting materials, offers private classes has been hosting a monthly Craft Night at Columbia Kettleworks.
Put a Bow on It
From Pottery Barn: A cascading bow tops a pink-themed tree.
Also making a comeback is the bow. According to Vogue magazine, it all started in 2023, when bows became the must-have embellishment for everything from headbands and jewelry to blouses and dresses (and in doing so, became a TikTok sensation). Soon after, they were being used to decorate everything from cakes and candlesticks to bottles of wine. They also became the required accessory for dogs and cats. Bows are also having an impact on home décor (pillows, window treatments, etc.) This year, bows are the must-have holiday accessory and are being used to decorate trees (especially as toppers), wreaths, mantels, windows, stockings … the sky’s the limit! Be forewarned: you just might find ribbon to be at a premium this holiday season.
Ode to Mother Nature
Nature is also playing a role in decorating for the holidays. Ornaments that mimic fruit, vegetables (including the required pickle in this area) and mushrooms are everywhere. Songbirds, owls, foxes, squirrels and bears are among the wildlife you’ll see perching on the branches of trees. Tabletop items take the shape of deer and other creatures. Pinecones and colorful fruit (oranges, lemons, limes, apples and pomegranates) are filling bowls and vintage pieces such as dough boards.
Trees Galore!
Can’t decide on a theme for your tree? Terrain suggests that you place a tree in every room of the house. No, not seven-footers but small trees that add a touch of Christmas in unexpected places and allow you to explore various themes. Terrain is also on the bandwagon for helping customers get a little more creative with the bottom of their trees. For example, they are replacing the traditional tree shirt with a “container” made of vines and twinkle lights. Baskets, large crocks and garden pottery are also being put into service as tree containers.
From The Gilded Lily: Tim Arpin likes to have ornaments flow from the tree onto the floor.
Or you could follow Tim Arpin’s (The Gilded Lily) lead and fill the area around the bottom of the tree with ornaments of all sizes. Tim, who begins to decorate for clients as early as late October, is of the opinion that tree decorations shouldn’t suddenly stop with the lowest branch of a tree but should spill onto the floor.
Afternoon Delight
We hit the bonanza at Sycamore Springs Home & Garden outside of Reading, where all the trends were beautifully on display. Colors ranged from brilliant red to brat green, pastel blue and more. Gold and silver shimmered atop dining tables that were dressed in gorgeous linens. Ornaments resembled works of art. There was even “jewelry” for Champagne bottles. It was like being invited to Christmas dinner or a New Year’s Eve party. To top it off, the owner sent us off with pieces of raspberry cheesecake. If you’re looking for an afternoon getaway, by all means go!
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