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Surprised to see a festive trend report so early in the year? Don’t be. In 2024, shoppers started early: 8% began in September, 19% began in October and just over half began in November. And this year, over one-third of shoppers intend on planning their Christmas celebrations three or more months in advance. For retailers, you need to be stocked before they start.
Being prepared for the festive rush can be crucial for your bottom line. According to Salesforce customer research, 34% of global consumers reported feeling optimistic about the current state of the US economy, a 22% increase since April 2024. Pair that with the knowledge that US e-commerce festive sales grew 8.7% to $241.4 billion in 2024, and it’s clear that retailers have a real opportunity to drive revenue in the upcoming months.
Because “festive” is such a broad and encompassing space on Faire, we’ve decided to break up our festive trends and predictions into two parts to simplify your planning. Up first is the Festive Decor report. Below, we’ll dig into what we expect will be the hottest trends for the frosty months ahead: how consumers will bring the cheer to their homes and community spaces – driven by viral trends, learnings from years past, and the latest data and insights on Faire. We’ll follow up next month with our predictions for top festive gifts.
The case for the classics
Some festive trends never go out of style but, if you need more convincing, below are the searches on Faire that retailers keep coming back to, plus plenty of examples if you’re looking to stock up.
Plaid
Plaid is a seasonal Faire festive favourite: searches are already up 28% year on year as of July, and we expect they’ll peak in October. From pyjamas and pillows to ribbons and table runners, this festive pattern pulls together all the season’s colours. Need some help bringing those festive vibes into your shop? This tartan mug is just begging for hot chocolate and whipped cream. Set it on this plaid tray with Christmas-ready sweets and treats. Better yet: Create a festive scene with these tartan candy cane pillows and this tartan throw. It’ll provide instant festive cheer (and warmth) to any space.
Vintage Christmas
Searches for “vintage Christmas” grew 21% year on year between 2023 and 2024, and we expect that it’ll grow even more, as consumers continue to yearn for nostalgia. From retro Christmas prints to charming mini pillows, there are many ways to spark memories of the good old days for consumers looking to reminisce. Try vintage-inspired tins of reindeer treats, little faded bowls for sweets, and weathered bells to bring a bit of jingle-jangle to every wintry gust.
Nutcracker
Here’s an interesting titbit: The term “nutcracker” is 2.5x more popular than “snowman” when it comes to searches on Faire. (And searches peak in November.) From eye-catching and modern acrylic Nutcracker coasters to a more traditional Nutcracker serving tray, there are countless ways to integrate this character into a festive home – whether you prefer something grown-up like Nutcracker wine glasses or kid-friendly like a Nutcracker stocking. For kitchens and bathrooms, there are Nutcracker hand towels; for living rooms, there are Nutcracker pillows. There are even Nutcracker candles. It’s enough to make the Sugar Plum Fairy jealous.
Best of Faire trends for the festive period
Above are the seasonal styles we know are coming, and below are the ones we anticipate, given what we know has been trending all year long. If your shoppers have been loving the trends we’ve spotted this year, here’s the latest data and our advice for how to integrate them into your festive assortment.
Modern stripes
When we first reported on the popularity of modern stripes in June, their resonance has only continued to grow: Searches are up 51% year on year as of July. So, how can you bring this trend into your festive decor? Simple. (The candy cane has been doing it since its inception!) Start with this stunning glass ornament and this striped candy dish. This striped stocking is sophisticated and low-key, while this striped serving tray is decidedly eye-catching. Here’s a colourful garland that is modern and striped. Does it challenge tradition? Absolutely. But that’s part of the fun.
Tropical
You may have heard of Christmas in July, but what about July during Christmas? That’s the idea for this festive trend, as searches for tropical have continued to climb since we first reported it – and searches are up 34% year on year as of last month. Want to set the scene for a tropical Christmas season? “Deck the palms”, says this festive tea towel. These light-up palm trees make a fun, tropical alternative to a fir. This felt monstera leaf ornament is definitely on theme, and pairs beautifully with these felt lei garlands.
Cherry red
Searches for red have maintained their volume since we reported them in May and are up 17% YoY as of July. This love of extra-ness, the va-va-voom of cherry red, reflects our Victorian Noir and New Romantics trends. While red has always been a staple festive colour, let’s see a few home pieces that take the simple red to the next level – on par with the trends we’ve seen this year.
There’s an extravagant red sweet jar to fill with festive treats and a cake plate to match. There are red velvet ornaments and this over-the-top red jewel ball ornament, too. Amp up your lighting with cherry red disco balls and deck the halls with red velvet ribbons. And toss this red throw blanket across a sofa for a lush, cosy, luxurious festive feel.
Ornaments
It should come as no surprise that searches for ornaments historically accelerate from July to August. So what are some snazzy ornaments on Faire? Here are some of our favourites that reflect other trends we spotted this year.
- Butter ornament: Loving the butter-yellow trend? How about an actual stick of butter?
- Book stack ornament: For all the #booktok fans.
- Mahjong ornament: For those who relish game nights with this viral game.
- Sardine can ornament: When sardine girl summer turns into sardine girl winter.
- Tack this caviar ornament on, too, for the full fisherman aesthetic.
- Cowboy boot ornament: Because the Western trend keeps going strong.
- Western cactus ornament: This ornament encapsulates two trends in one: You’ve got your vintage Christmas and your Western vibes. We’d say it’s a shoo-in.
- Hanukkah gingerbread house ornament: This best-selling ornament makes the celebrations more inclusive, inviting and cheerful for all.
- VHS tape ornament: This retro hand-blown glass ornament will evoke nostalgic feelings and even bigger smiles.
