What’s hot in holiday decor and accessories this year

  • By Kim Cook Associated Press
  • Friday, December 6, 2013 3:29pm
  • Life

Following the general trend in home decor, holiday trim and accessories this year are an eclectic mix of traditional and nontraditional colors and styles.

While red and green are popular hues, they are not married to each other. Red might be paired with ivory or amethyst; green may partner with copper, caramel or bright white.

As for what goes on the tree or the mantel, well, that’s the thing: Anything goes. Some general trends:

Holiday hues

While jewel tones and creamy palettes hold strong, red is red-hot.

“When it comes to an ‘it’ color for Christmas this year, it’s red — a bright, cheery red like you find on traditional Scandinavian ornaments,” says Sara Peterson, editor in chief of HGTV Magazine.

Ikea has a cheery collection of traditional Scandinavian ornaments including folk people, stars and goats. Land of Nod’s Rising Star tree topper features curly white embroidery on crimson felt.

Cranberry red candlesticks from Pier 1 take mercury glass down a different road, while beaded reindeer and snowflakes bring glamour to red velvet and satin throw pillows.

Winter white continues to appeal to holiday decorators; with or without touches of sparkle, it’s calming, elegant and chic. And don’t disregard earthier colors — think of bare birch branches hung with gold and silver stars; luxe bowls brimming with copper ornaments; chocolate brown mohair throws.

Conserve

Take stock of what you already have around the house.

A throw blanket makes a cozy tree skirt. Use a scarf as a table runner. Use nature for holiday decoration — think backyard branches, berries and pinecones.

Fill a vase or candle holder with jingle bells or peppermints. Wrap red, green or metallic ribbon around plain white pillar candles.

Evoking the festive spirit without overt reference: faux fur or knitted throws and pillow covers; throw pillows with snow scenes or deer, antler and deer accessories; glittery pillows.

Retro holiday

Vintage is going to be a popular holiday theme, especially when it comes to typography. Look for throwback fonts on everything from toss pillows to serving trays. HomeGoods has decorative hanging signs done in old-fashioned type with words like “Believe.”

Imaginative holiday

Critters both exotic and domestic abound. Land of Nod has felt dog ornaments, as well as rabbits, walruses and unicorns.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.