6 Holiday Decor Trends Designers Are Skipping in 2023

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's time to take stock of what seasonal decorations you have in storage and consider whether you need any new items for this season. To help you deck your halls in style, we've enlisted the help of three interior designers to share their thoughts on which holiday decor trends to skip this year, and what to try instead.

The consensus: It's time to trade over-the-top holiday decor for an understated, serene, and intentional aesthetic featuring natural materials, personalized touches, and a holiday color palette that complements your existing interior. From setting a cozy scene with twinkle lights and displaying foraged greenery to skipping the traditional color scheme and embracing a less is more look, these designers are sharing their best holiday inspiration for the season ahead.

Here are the trends the experts say are on their way out, and their predicted trends that will replace them. Of course, the best way to decorate for the holidays is by using decor you love—so don't let these trends limit your seasonal decorating.

1. Swap Ornate Decorations for Natural Elements

"A Christmas trend that is on the way out is over the top colorful, glittered, and overly ornate holiday decor," says Maggie Griffin, principal designer at Maggie Griffin Design. Tone down the color palette and celebrate the season with natural elements that complement your home's aesthetic instead of completely altering it.

Ami McKay, interior designer and creator of PURE Design: Interior Design, Build & Shoppe, recommends being thoughtful about what you bring in. "I choose natural materials and avoid too much sparkle and shine; I want my eyes to rest and feel relaxed," she says. To achieve this nature-inspired holiday look, McKay shares, "I love to forage outside and look for greenery and pinecones to make boughs and wreaths. I also love to put any greens I can find in large vases around the house."

2. Trade Over-the-Top Decor for a Serene Aesthetic

Take inspiration from Scandinavian interiors and set a calm and cozy scene this holiday season. "Don’t feel the need to go over the top with decorations; think Nordic and serene," McKay says. Swap bright colors and busily decorated surfaces for tonal neutrals, soft textures, and natural elements. Another Nordic-inspired element McKay suggests incorporating into your indoor and outdoor holiday decor is lighting. In addition to hanging twinkle lights around the house, McKay suggests stringing outdoor lights on your deck or porch to light up dark winter evenings.

3. Replace a Tree Skirt with a Collar

Skip the classic tree skirt and give your Christmas tree a polished finishing touch with a tree collar. "There are many fun options for collars, including metallics, wicker, and painted plaid collars that give a more tailored look than a wrinkled skirt," says interior designer Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors. Go the DIY route and create your own tree collar by repurposing a galvanized bucked or woven basket, and make it extra special by stenciling a monogram, house number, or date on the collar. Of course, there are plenty of shopable options on the market as well, so you're sure to find something that perfectly fits your aesthetic.

4. Ditch Traditional Red and Green for a Palette that Complements Your Interior

Rather than defaulting to a commonly used color scheme, opt for one that complements your existing interior. "Lose the traditional red and green colors in holiday decor for other palettes that may work better with your own interior, such as greens and blues," Williams says. This gives holiday decor a modern refresh and helps it feel more integrated and intentional within the space.

5. Go from Maximalist to 'Less Is More'

Instead of adding holiday decor to every surface in your home, take a more understated decorating approach this year. Editing is one of the most important steps when styling a space, whether it's the holiday season or not. "I think we are seeing more of an accentuation of highlighting holiday decor in understated ways to accent your home," Griffin says.

It's tempting to fill every empty corner and cover all the tabletops with the festive holiday decor you have collected over the years, but opt for a less is more approach for a streamlined, well edited, and intentional space. Plus, there's the added bonus of having to take down and store less holiday decor once the season is over.

6. Skip Perfection for Personalization

Take the pressure off and instead decking the halls to perfection, focus on adding thoughtful, personal touches throughout your home. "It’s more about tradition and using the same special and meaningful decorations and ornaments year after year," McKay says. She encourages getting creative and adds, "This past year I hung wooden napkin rings on our tree and tied gorgeous ribbons to them."

She explains it's not so much about how the decor looks, but the memories and feeling of nostalgia these items bring. "Use what you have, have fun, and enjoy memory-making and tradition," she says.