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Five irresistible festive decor trends to try this Christmas

When it comes to decorating this Christmas it really is a matter of taste.

FROM NOSTALGIC NUTCRACKERS to oversized bows, food-inspired decos to merry and bright, whether your style is bold and colourful or more understated, there’s a decorating style to suit you this festive season writes Ruth O’Connor.

1. Nostalgia

Whether it’s Nutcracker-core or a Ralph Lauren Christmas there’s a certain sense of nostalgia in the air this year. Opt for Nutcrackers large and small, Putz Houses, old fashioned toy-inspired and 1960s-style baubles and lots of tartan.

very_ireland-three_kings_120_cm_lit_giant_christmas_nutcracker-traditional_eur179.99-very.ie-ref2217675 Three Kings Lit Giant Christmas Nutcracker. 120cm. €179.99. Very.ie. very.ie very.ie

ARNOTTS-CHRISTMAS-SHOP3035 A selection of nostalgic Christmas decorations at Arnotts. arnotts.ie arnotts.ie

Neptune Tree Decorations 1 A selection of Christmas baubles at Neptune. neptune.com neptune.com

Christmas_Collection_Sostrene_Grene_2025_138 Christmas collection Sostrene Grene.

2. Good Enough to Eat

They say that you shouldn’t play with your food but when it comes to Christmas decorating it’s all about foodie fun this year. Growing year-on-year in popularity, food-themed decorations are everywhere again with something to satisfy every taste whether you’re a lover of sugar or spice.

April and Bear A decoration for chilli lovers from April & The Bear. €13.95. aprilandthebear.com aprilandthebear.com

 

Glass-Hanging-Sardines-Decoration Glass hanging sardines bauble at M&S. €6.75. marksandspencer.com / ie marksandspencer.com / ie / ie

croissant Croissant decoration at Flying Tiger. €2. flyingtiger.com flyingtiger.com

marks_spencer-ms_ice_cream_dessert_decoration_5-ref2161737 Retro icecream dessert-inspired decoration at M&S. Food-inspired decorations continue to grow in popularity this year. marksandspencer.com / ie marksandspencer.com / ie / ie

very_ireland-the_christmas_co_set_of_3_fancy_cocktail_christmas_tree_decorations_eur15.99-very.ie-ref2217639 Set of three cocktail decorations €15.99. very.ie very.ie

3. Nature Inspires

There are lots of beautiful nature-inspired decorations around this Christmas – from realistic-looking wreaths and garlands to tree baubles inspired by woodland creatures. If you have the time and inclination you can even make your own from a mixture of foraged and bought flowers and foliage, dried orange slices or simply some beautiful branches in a large vase strewn with delicate lights. Local garden centres like Pergola Nurseries in Co. Cavan have brilliant waxed Amaryllis bulbs or why not sign up for a wreath making class?

 

Christmas_Collection_Sostrene_Grene_2025_32 Nature inspires at Sostrene Grene this Christmas. sostrenegrene.com sostrenegrene.com

 

KATIE LARMOUR DESIGN OCTOBER 25 (NATIVE IVY) (68) Katie Larmour's beaded linen hedgehog decoration is a sweet addition to any tree. katielarmour.com katielarmour.com

Mixed Green Leaves & Pine with Gold Berries Garland, €45 (1) Mixed Green Leaves & Pine with Gold Berries Garland. €45. Kilkenny Design. kilkennydesign.com kilkennydesign.com

dwell-eilish-rickard-interiors-silver-branch-candle-holder-02 - Copy Dwell by Eilish Rickard Interiors have a lovely range of tabletop accessories this Christmas. dwellbyeilishrickard.com dwellbyeilishrickard.com

the_garden_florist_christmas_wreath_pink_pepper_berry_3_720x Nothing beats the real thing: The Pink Pepperberry Wreath by The Garden. €125. thegarden.ie thegarden.ie

4. Go Big on Bows

Bows are back! Last year’s love affair with bows has gone supersized and this year they’re everywhere from hanging decorations from your tree or dining chairs to giant ones for your front door or the top of your tree. Try Next or the Sophie Robinson x Dunelm edit online or closer to home try Joy Thorpe in Kilkenny.

oliver_bonas-pearl_bow_red_ribon_garland_19.5-ref2134782 Bows and ribbons are big news again this Christmas. oliverbonas.com / ie oliverbonas.com / ie / ie

Extra Large Blush Pink Velvet Christmas Bow - 70cm x 140cm Go big and bold with an extra large bow on your tree this Christmas. melodymaison.co.uk melodymaison.co.uk

Christmas_Collection_Sostrene_Grene_2025_140 Bows are big - whatever their size - this festive season. Hanging bow decorations from Sostrene Grene. sostrenegrene.com sostrenegrene.com

Meri Meri x Liberty Velvet Bow Crackers (x 6) Meri Meri x Liberty bow crackers. €48. merimerieu.com merimerieu.com

5. Merry and Bright

Turn up the joy with bright and beautiful decorations this Christmas. Whether you’re opting for retro tinsel, over-sized paper decorations or colourful paper/ ribbon chains it’s all about dialing up the dopamine. Why not cover your tree in multicoloured ribbons or go full 1980s retro with some of those springy foil garlands or some disco balls. Anyone for a miniature Nokia 3310?

Vondel Tree Deco Cellphone €17 (1) Retro phone decoration.€17. Vondels. brownthomas.com brownthomas.com

dunelm-xmas25_kitschmas_christmas-ref2136189 Kitsch and colourful at Dunelm. dunelm.com dunelm.com

Tinker Tree Deco Beaded Shamrock €28 Tinker Tree Deco Notions €22 Tinker Tree Deco Craic €22 Tinker Tree Deco Guiness €20 Messages €15 Postbox €15 Bye Bye €15 Tinker Tree Deco Beaded Shamrock €28. Tinker Tree Deco Notions €2.2 Tinker Tree Deco Craic €22. Tinker Tree Deco Guiness €20. Messages €15. Postbox €15. Bye Bye €15. All at Brown Thomas. brownthomas.ie brownthomas.ie

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