Holiday decorating is a ritual steeped in nostalgia—maybe there’s a beloved childhood ornament that makes an annual appearance, or a party tradition you never miss. But even the most well-stocked collections could do with a little update each year, and if you’re looking for inspiration to help fill in the gaps, we scoured our favorite shops for the best new holiday decorations. No need to wait until December.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Holiday Decorations
For the frequent host, look to small tableware updates that can make even a simple setting look festive: Candy cane-striped dessert bowls and red-and-green napkins steal the show against a basic white tablecloth and minimalist glassware. In the home decor realm, colorful ornaments and trimmings in interesting textures work for the tree and beyond—why not run a velvet ribbon garland over the side of a sideboard to create a living room or entryway vignette? From printed stockings to velvet tree skirts to the chicest menorah you ever did see, we found 34 elevated holiday decorating pieces to get you right into the spirit of the season.
Tree Trimmings
Even if your Christmas tree takes the shape of a few Christmas branches lovingly displayed on your kitchen table, you can still get creative. Lulu and Georgia’s glass ornament looks like a one-of-a-kind treasure; for affordable tree decor, we like H&M’s miniature paper lanterns. Then, there are the sets of baubles that would look equally nice displayed in a large silver bowl as a centerpiece for your next fête.
Decorative Linens
For the low-effort entertainer, the secret to an on-theme holiday party may be as simple as picking up a few key table-toppers. A regular martini? Boring, quotidian, unimaginative. A martini served on a snowflake-shaped cocktail napkin? Delightful, merry, immediately celebratory. Pick out pieces for your dining table that incorporate the palette of the holiday season in interesting patterns; green squiggles and block-printed red paisley feel festive but fresh.
Cheery Tabletop Finds
You don’t need to overhaul your collection of entertaining staples, but swapping in a few key dinnerware pieces will give your holiday parties some distinction. Trade in your regular cutlery for a crimson bistro-inspired set from Sabre Paris; or, line your bar station with red-and-green-stemmed wine glasses from La Double J.
Sculptural Hangings
Leave no surface unadorned, be it via a faux cedar garland snaked around a banister or a pink pepperberry Christmas wreath used to bring life to a bland rental apartment wall (tip: wrap a piece of velvety ribbon around it to make it your own).
Dainty Tree Skirts
It’s an inevitability of getting a fresh tree: Pine needles will, somehow, find their way onto every square inch of your floor. Cut down on cleaning and add a hit of color while you’re at it with a trimmed skirt.
Statement Stockings
Tartan plaid! Red velvet! Pearl-encrusted satin! Patchwork florals! Today’s stockings aren’t just meant to be hung up by the chimney with care—they may just eclipse the tree.
Festive Final Touches
From the alabaster menorah you put in the windowsill to the garland of olive green ribbons you hang on the mantel to a velvet string of miniature bells you tack onto your front door, these are the little details that create a cozy space for the holidays. (And, if TikTok is to be believed, Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas decor is trending; bring the look home with a plaid throw to drape nonchalantly over a bare sofa or armchair.)
