Get ready to deck the halls – Christmas is almost upon us. Every year, new trends emerge, from last year's Country Christmas look, full of coppers, russets and golds and whimsical nods to the woods and fields. Then there were the soft pinks of Urban Fairytale – a soft, calming, modern minimalist look. And who could forget the riot of joyous colour brought by A Right Royal Christmas, regal reds and purples and golds jostling for space on a bountiful table poised for lavish festive feasting.
This Christmas, it's all about nostalgia – leaning into cherished memories of Christmases past, from hand-painted ornaments to hand-crafted retro decorations and artisanal gifting. It's about being together with loved ones: mulled wine and mince pies; handmade wreaths hanging on the door; fires roaring; candles flickering and lights on the tree aglow. Fast consumerism is out, slow craftsmanship is in, with an emphasis on unique, meaningful, handmade pieces carefully made and gifted with love.
Annie Blackledge heads up the Interior Design team at Holloways. At this time of year, every corner of her Herefordshire barn conversion is filled with Christmas cheer, from hand-made wreaths to garlands, a bountiful Christmas tree dressed to the nines with family treasures, festive drinks stations and beautifully-laid tables ready to welcome treasured friends and family.
1. Nostalgia
Channeling the warmth of family Christmases past, nostalgia is a key decorating trend this year. From homespun decorations on the tree to embroidered napkins and Victorian-style glassware on the table, it's about clever curation, making even your newest buys look as if they've been there for ever. We love Neptune's new papier mache baubles decorated with homely candy canes, circus stripes, snowflakes and even the big man himself.
"There's a lot of country house style in this year's nostalgic trend," says Annie. "A wonderfully busy, even slightly eccentric, tree decorated with baubles you've brought down from the attic year after year. Ones that don't match, but go together perfectly. It's childhood whimsy meets riotously grand family celebration, and we love it."
Don't forget scent, the most powerful of senses. Our new collection of festive home fragrance – candles and diffusers made for us by an artisan studio – evoke the warmth and comfort of Christmases past. They're available in our Gift Shop and make perfect stocking fillers or thoughtful gifts for festive hosts.
2. Arts & Craftsmanship
A welcome step away from the mass-produced and a considered lean towards celebrating artists and craftspeople has been on the agenda all year. The trend for thoughtful, handcrafted design comes has come into its own this Christmas – smaller, more meaningful gifts; considered decor with an eye on the planet and an appreciation for artistry will make this year's festive celebrations so much more special.
Think original art on your walls – you'll find exceptional examples in our Fine Art Exhibition (14/11/24-12-12/24) in the Gallery Showroom – and hand-thrown ceramics on your table, whether that's tableware, lamps or vases. Fermoie's bespoke lampshades are made from linens hand-printed and hand-sewn in Wiltshire. They're new to our Interiors Room – you'll find a fabric you'll love.
Neptune's new Halcyon ceramic table lamp with its woven rattan shade offers soft light for cosy evenings by the fire, its green ombre glaze a nod to the great English 20th century potters. The deeply textured Lavington vase is made for festive greenery from the garden – blue spruce picks up its blue tones, while holly and witch hazel adds a festive flourish to contemporary and traditional Christmas interiors. You'll find both in our Neptune store-in-store.
In our Gift Shop, discover hand-thrown pottery, carved wooden serving boards and etched glasses to collect or gift. It's about artisanal design, traditional craftsmanship and care in the making process which creates one-off pieces for your home to give every room a considered, curated, timeless feel.
3. Gorgeous Georgians
This artisanal, timeless trend continues with this year's Regency Christmas trend – a nod to the lavish Georgian style epitomised by period dramas like Bridgerton. Luxurious velvet stockings, lashings of warm, spiced colour, decorative accessories, heirloom tableware and ornaments and ornate patterns characterise this opulent, candlelit look.
You'll find Islington glassware and this elegantly fluted Stuart tableware in our Neptune store-in-store, plus napkins, candles and table decorations galore in our Gift Shop.
"It's at the table that the trend for Regency style really comes into its own," says Annie. "Neptune's new hand-blown Islington glassware catches the light with gorgeous Georgian twisted design flourishes. The wine glasses, tumblers and carafe look fabulous on a Christmas table and the Champagne flutes make festive fizz feel even more special. And because each pieces is handmade, they're all unique."
Hang lavish wreaths over the table, dress mantelpieces with opulent garlands and weave in string lights and LED candles – there's a huge selection in our Gift Shop – to complete the look. It's a trend that works to great effect in country homes. Read how Edward Bulmer, interior designer, architectural historian and natural paint pioneer, channels it in his 17th century Herefordshire farmhouse, pictured above, here.
Journal: Christmas with the Bulmers
4. Supersize me
It's time to go big and go home. In the Holloways Gift Shop, discover enormous white wooden stars, beautifully homespun wicker Christmas trees, oversized mirrors, striking wreaths and contemporary festive lighting. Playful and luxurious, add a giant star to your tree. Create a drinks station dressed with giant baubles. Tie a huge bow to the newel post at the bottom of the stairs or hang huge bunches of mistletoe in the hallway.
Running out of space? Sleek, white Christmas trees and these charming houses, illuminated with twinkling tea lights, create a big impression for their compact size. They're available in our Gift Shop and Neptune store along with homespun, recyclable paper decorations.
5. Back to the 80s
Put on the razzle dazzle with 70s and 80s inspired decorations for a full-on party vibe. Maximalist interiors are in this Christmas with disco glam, sequins and even animal prints adding to the joyful, feel-good mood which will carry you into New Year celebrations. In our Gift Shop, discover fabulous tableware in candy stripes handmade by Herefordshire company Musango, or the iconic fruit and vegetable designs of Bordallo Pinheiro. Or splash out on the dazzling chrome and glass Manhattan drinks trolley for all those retro cocktails. Snowball, anyone?
6. Joyful Maximalism
More is more this year when it comes to Christmas decor this year – particularly when it comes to trees. And if the new breed of joyously kitsch, brightly-coloured hot pink, blue and unexpected red theory trees on the high street aren't for you, you can still dress your traditional spruce to impress. Neptune's faux trees, beautifully realistic, are available in myriad sizes to fit any room.
Take a tip from this year's double drenching playbook and mix mood-boosting shades of red and pink, or fern green and candy red, for a daring alternative to the traditional red and gold.
"Buy the biggest tree you can squeeze in," says Annie. "And dress it bountifully. It should be the centrepiece of whatever room its in, and carefully layer your decorations, placing larger baubles deep into the foliage and fill the gaps with smaller baubles as you go."
Whimsical bows are another top trend this year, says Annie. "Tie red velvet ribbons on to the branches of your tree or table centrepiece, weave into a garland over the fireplace, or use to tie napkins. Bows are always a lovely playful flourish."
7. Christmas doorscaping
Kerb appeal is everything when you're welcoming holiday guests to your home. And there's no doubt that a beautiful wreath hung at the door creates the right first impression. Discover stunning faux wreaths in our Gift Shop, from traditional blue spruce to frosted berry rings.
Making your own wreath is easier than you think using a floristry ring, florist's wire and bunched foraged greenery from the garden entwined with countryside treasures like cones, berries and feathers. Learn how to make your own Christmas wreath in simple steps here.
But why stop there? A living tree, planted in an ornate Italian terracotta pot – you'll find examples in every shape and size in the Holloways Garden Antiques courtyards – and dress with large baubles. A generous garland woven with holly, ivy and mistletoe is a glorious sight hanging over the porch, while wicker baskets piled with logs add to the winter wonderland. Hurricane lanterns take on a fabulously festive twist when they're filled with baubles.
8. Cottagecore
The last of the chrysanthemums from the garden, the ruby-red stems of dogwood and gnarled witch hazel, holly and berries and trailing ivy... Cottagecore is the subtly rustic, homely aesthetic defined by a delicate, soft, nature-inspired palette. Think wicker baskets from our Gift Shop, faux flowers, vintage ceramics, heirloom decorations and home-baked treats.
