It’s time to start thinking about our Christmas decor ideas for 2023. The stores have been full of seasonal decorations for weeks, showing off so many colours and decor items to grab our attention and spark excitement in the joyful world of Christmas decorations.

Some of you have already been decorating for a few weeks now. Others of us, myself included, have a few little things displayed and will dive in fully in the next few days.

I’m sharing my best tips and this years top trends and colour schemes, to help you create a cozy, festive holiday atmosphere in your home. And one that won’t break the bank.

The Palette of the Season: Unveiling 2023’s Trending Colour Schemes

The tried and true Christmas colours of red, green and gold are here, but with an exciting twist this year. They’re here in soft, muted shades that are sophisticated when layered in with this year’s dusky blue and the ever pretty neutral rose gold.

Pastel pinks, baby blue and those yummy soft yellow shades bring a warmth to our holiday spaces, adding a nice balance to the cold, snowy weather outside.

Don’t overthink it. Add these news colours by changing out your pillow covers, add a festive table runner, refresh your Christmas tree ornaments, (more about this to follow), or make a pretty trayed collection for your coffee table.

I always decorate our main bathroom with lights, soaps and hand towels working in seasonal colours where they fit.

These same patterns extend to your exterior decorations as well. It’s been said that what welcomes you on the outside introduces the colour story and decor style you’ll see on the inside. I’m breaking that rule a little bit this year and I love it!

Most of these new colours that are trending for Christmas decor 2023 will blend beautifully with your existing home decor. That’s good news when it’s time to take everything down and return to everyday living. It makes the transition hassle-free and that’s what we want and need.

Look at this beautiful old-world looking tree in the traditional red and green palette. Notice how the red and brown red balls with the texture of the velvet bows pop against the deep green boughs.

Christmas Tree Decor: Tradition Meets Trend

The Christmas tree. The focal piece of our Christmas decor that often holds memories, both old and new, sets the tone of our decorating palette, and this year carries the trend of blending tradition with more modern style elements.

fruit, nuts and berries laid out in a Christmas tree pattern

Your personal touches of family ornaments traditionally placed on the tree, and some hand crafted pieces that are trending this year, warm the heart. Gather your little ones and bake some gingerbread cookies to hang on the tree for a fun time, some wonderful Christmas smells and a truly personal touch.

Christmas trends 2023 are going natural and more rustic. Add in ornaments of dried fruit, wood, and burlap to get this eco-friendly look and feel. Tied in with your more sophisticated bling pieces, together they will bring balance and beauty.

Growing up in our house, the tree topper was always a star carefully placed at the end of the tree decorating. I want to share a great tip I learned this year. Put your tree topper on first. This ensures your hard work won’t get mussed up or even knocked off the tree. No awkward reaching required.

Visitors love to look at your tree and hear your Christmas stories, while admiring your decor flare and expression.

Non-Traditional Christmas Trees

A quick mention of something we’re seeing more of that I think is a great help to those who can’t decorate a full tree this year for whatever reason.

You or someone you know might be in a health challenge, dealing with a tight budget not allowing for a traditional Christmas tree, enjoying small space living or wanting a touch of the holidays even if they’re not going to be spending them at home.

Put up a ladder and wrap it with garland and twinkle lights, gather some branches on your next walk and mount them to the wall in a tree shaped arrangement, or create a chalkboard wall or large board - simply paint it with chalkboard paint - and draw your own Christmas tree wonderland.

House and home Designer Lauren petroff. photo kim jeffrey

Return To Nature and Sustainability

A strong trend in Christmas decor ideas 2023 is sustainability and the return to nature. It makes sense to continue this established home decor trend to our Christmas decorating.

Paired with a focus on eco-friendliness and sustainability, it’s the perfect time to include handmade decorations that blend with your own style and personal traditions.

A fresh evergreen garland, boughs of white pine, spruce or cedar to adorn tabletops and shelves styled with your favourite things, or tucked behind a mirror or your artwork, instantly say traditional nature-inspired Christmas. Add rustic pinecones and cinnamon sticks to a bowl of greenery for some easy, cost effective nature elements. Weave in some pretty fairy-lights and you’ve created instant holiday enchantment.

Christmas decorating is the perfect platform to express your own personal style. Go all rustic, or try a blend of glitzy glam with these rustic elements if that’s what you like.

Sustainable decor means incorporating items that are reused, recycled or responsibly sourced. Don’t forget to repurpose what you already have. This year we’re seeing a lot of old-world inspired accessories in our home decor industry. This is spilling right into the Christmas decor as well.

It’s the perfect time to paint over some of your outdated tree ornaments with chalk paint for example, to create these old-world looking elements of this year’s new colour palette.

I saw a recommendation to paint over the glittery balls in particular to create a velvet looking texture. I’m giving this a try. The matte finish in soft green or brown tones mixed with creams and whites - oooo la la! Mix in some soft metallics and you’re there.

Glisten and Glow: Christmas Lights for All Spaces

No Christmas tree or outdoor display would be complete without the lights. They bring a warm, inviting glow and really set the mood for the holidays.

Festive cheer happens for me like no other part of the holidays when the Christmas lights turn on. Christmas for me is about Christ, the light of the world. How could we celebrate this Holy season without the lights?

They often set the perfect ambiance for the holidays and there are so many options in the marketplace now. I love the traditional fairy lights that both shine and twinkle off and on. Try combining a string of each kind in your decor. They can be placed in glass containers, are perfect tucked into garland and boughs, wrapped around the banister, adorning the door wreath and they hold their own on any shelf or mantle.

Large bigger than life size Christmas star lit up — photo daniel tanase

LED options make good sense for our environmentally responsible choices. Battery operated options make them super versatile for placement and my son is telling me about timers that interact with my iphone for the outdoor lights he helped me put up. I love that idea. Who wants to be caught in their pajamas and bare feet on those cold winter nights? Heck, who wants to go out of the house at all at that time?

A well lit Christmas tree makes a huge statement. If you have a pre-lit tree, and most of us do now, consider adding in another string of mini lights and see what happens.

A Flash From the Past

Another quick mention here. Did you know that those old style oversized coloured lights your grandparents used to have are totally back in the mix for Christmas decor ideas 2023? Add some super childhood memories and a fun retro trend to your house if you’ve got some.

Deck The Halls: Trending Christmas Decor Accessories

The 2023 trends are all about individual, artistic, handcrafted pieces that add that special touch to your own decor style. Shop local artisans, visit holiday markets and check out some online options for those one-of-a-kind pieces that fit your budget.

Accessorizing brings the holiday look all together. It’s the fun part of the decorating process where you lay out all your decorations and relax inside your head - does that sound weird - and let the creative juices flow.

I mentioned earlier that I always decorate the main bathroom. Don’t limit the accessories and decor to the living room. Use holiday dishes, table runners, holiday inspired towels in the kitchen and dining room and spread the spirit around a bit. Always put a little Christmas decor at your entry to welcome both your guests and the season.

Layering with different nature elements and textures is a strong 2023 trend. For instance, add a nice thick faux fur or knit throw blanket to the couch, lay on some Christmas toss cushions for a pop of colour and interest, and you’ve set a warm and inviting look and feel.

Christmas Decor Ideas 2023 Recap

soft muted greens, reds, golds
dusky blues and rose gold
less is more
put the tree topper on first
natural and eco-friendly
sustainability, redesign, handcrafted
tradition meets modern
accessorize with textures - knits, velvets, burlap

I know we all like the yearly trends when decorating for the holidays. They’re here to guide and inspire our choices. However, decor is not and never should become a contest or something you copy from someone else. We’re not cookie-cutter people and we shouldn’t live in cookie-cutter homes.

Have fun decorating. There’s nothing better than a space that expresses your own personal style. Let your Christmas decor ideas for 2023 be a reflection of you.

Christmas is all about the love, good cheer and the joy of this Holy season.