Dreaming of a Sugar Plum Christmas With These Holiday Trends

The magical feeling of the holidays intensifies once you put up your home decorations. They create a festive atmosphere, with every decoration and ornament serving as a reminder of the Yuletide season.

If you’re excited to move beyond the standard red and green, this year’s trends of whimsical fantasy and comforting nostalgia are perfect for you. Here are the most enchanting styles of the season and creative ways to bring them home.

The Sweet Appeal of the Sugar Plum Palette

Contrary to the name, the Sugar Plum is not a fruit but a traditional hard candy, and its sweet-as-can-be color palette is both modern and romantic. It includes dusty rose, blush pink, lilac, lavender, mint green and icy blues, all tied together with shimmering silver or iridescent accents.

The palette feels whimsical and dreamy. Lighter than traditional holiday colors, it offers a fresh, contemporary take on festive decor. Here are ideas to channel this playful look:

• Decorate your Christmas tree with baubles in soft pastel shades and different finishes, such as matte, glitter and glass, for visual depth.

• Use textiles to introduce the palette, such as a lavender velvet tree skirt, mint green throw pillows and dusty rose-colored stockings.

• Create a Sugar Plum landscape on your tables with light purple linens, pink glassware and a centerpiece of pastel-colored candles and frosted branches.

Iridescent Dreams and Frosted Finishes

Adding more shimmer and frost to the Sugar Plum palette elevates it from “simply pastel” to “truly magical.” This trend is all about capturing light and mimicking the shimmer of fresh snow and glistening sugar through colors and textures.

Cool tones tend to look best with neutral tones, so utilize pops of light blues, greens, and purples to integrate into more neutral decor.

The iridescent and frosted finishes add a layer of texture and dimension, preventing the pastel tones from feeling flat or one-note. These key elements are crucial to achieving this ethereal style:

• Iridescence: Choose glassware and ribbons with a pearlescent or opal finish resembling a soap bubble that shifts in the light.

• Frost: Use pre-frosted wreaths and garlands or lightly cover your greenery with faux snow spray for a DIY snow-kissed look.

• Glisten: Decorate with candle holders and ornaments that have an antiquated mirror finish to add a vintage, glittering effect.

Pair these finishes with warm-white fairy lights to enhance the soft rainbow shifts in the iridescent surfaces and create a cozy, ethereal glow.

A Very Nutcracker Christmas

There’s a resurgence of decor inspired by the beloved 19th-century ballet, The Nutcracker. This theme is rooted in tradition, styled up with theatrical elegance. Its opulent palette of reds, greens and golds pairs warm and cool tones together with stark accents, creating a classic, dramatic effect.

While Nutcracker figures define this trend, going beyond them and exploring the elements of the classic story can add dimension to your holiday setup. Look for decor featuring drums, ballerinas, mice in crowns and ornate stage curtains. Here are some ways to set them up:

• Create a grand mantel display by grouping Nutcracker figures of varying heights alongside brass candlesticks and lush garlands.

• Hang small, ornate gold-framed mirrors, mini drum ornaments and ballerina figures on your Christmas tree.

• Use tartan or plaid ribbons and a deep red velvet tree skirt to ground them in classic Yuletide tradition.

Holiday Bows for Festive Coquette-Core

This is arguably the most budget-friendly and versatile trend of the season, as it simply involves putting bows on everything. It’s rooted in “coquette-core,” an aesthetic that embraces hyper-femininity, vintage romance and delicate details.

Layer bows on top of any existing decor style — from traditional to rustic to modern — to update it. Think of them as festive accents for your entire home, not just your tree. Here are some unexpected yet creative places to add a bow:

• Tie small, delicate silk bows around the stems of wine glasses or rolled-up napkins.

• Add bows to everyday fixtures, such as kitchen cabinet handles and door knobs.

• Elevate your existing wall decor by adding a beautifully tied bow on its top corner.

• Hang small, lightweight bows from the individual arms of a sturdy chandelier.

Tips to Make These Festive Trends Your Own

Adopting any of these trends can be overwhelming, especially if the current decor you have doesn’t match them. The secret lies in blending new pieces with your existing, cherished Christmas collection. Consider these decorating tips.

Establish a Theme

Plan before you shop. Pull out your decoration boxes and sort their contents based on colors or styles, such as rustic, vintage and modern. Identify your “core collection” or the must-use items that define your holiday style. Once you’ve evaluated your current decor, find your theme.

Use your audit to decide whether to lean into what you have or pivot. For example, if your core collection is full of silver, gold and glass, you may have a great foundation for the “iridescent dreams” trend. A two-tone or monochrome magic tree will look great with it.

Find the Unifying Thread

Choose one element to tie everything together. If you pick gold as your unifying metallic, ensure most of your decor has it. For example, it can be found on the Nutcracker’s buttons or the ribbon on a dessert garland. Pair it with pastel ornaments to make them feel warm and festive.

Use the 80/20 Rule

Let your existing collection be the 80% foundation of your decor, then use new, trendy items for the final 20% of high-impact accents. These could be new ribbons, a set of special ornaments or fresh textiles.

For example, if you’re going for the Sugar Plum aesthetic, weave rolls of beautiful velvet ribbon in dusty rose or lavender through your trees and garlands. You can also get pastel-colored taper candles for your dining table.

Create High-Impact “Moments”

Instead of scattering new items thinly, create focal points that reflect your new theme. Concentrate on one or two dedicated areas, like the fireplace mantel, an entryway console table, a specific bookshelf or a bay window.

For a coquette-core corner, a reading nook or a bedroom dresser would be perfect. Place a small vase with a few delicate, frosted branches, then tie small, thin silk bows on each one. Next to it, add a few books with romantic covers and a single candle with a vintage-style holder. It’s a quiet nod to the trend that feels personal and chic. Feel free to replicate it in other dedicated spots. 

Create Your Own Holiday Magic

From the dreamy Sugar Plum palette to the nostalgic Nutcracker theme, this year’s festive styles are all about blending comfort with whimsical fantasy. Consider these trends as inspiration, not strict rules.

The best holiday decor for homes reflects the personality and joy of the people who live there. Choose the elements that appeal to you, whether that’s a simple ribbon on a cabinet or a full-blown dessert-themed Christmas tree. Most of all, have fun decorating your home.