HOLIDAY DECORATING TRENDS FOR 2018.

Here we are, again. The Holiday season has begun and we all would like to update our home decorations with a look at the trending holiday looks for 2018. For the latest holiday styles and decorating ideas I refer to the last "Christmasworld", a global show for holiday decorations held annually in Frankfurt, Germany, but you can easily find them on display ifna tour of the local stores dedicated to Christmas decorations. The main trend of this season can be defined as "Santa Claus classic coupled with the Mother-Nature theme", as natural materials and earthy motifs prevail on the tinsel, faux snow and bling-bling ornaments. Warm Holiday lighting is visibly taking over from cold white/bluish light, and transparent Christmas baubles filled with light have the potential to be favourite pieces, not only on the Christmas tree, but also in glass vases and jars.

So, here are in detail some of the main trends to get you inspired, as you plan your holidays:

Natural ornaments: Christmas decorations merge with flowers and blossoms, green plants and twigs, wreath designs and mantel swags, all enhanced with the scent of candles, room sprays and scent diffusers. The colour palette pulls in the colours of autumn leaves - red gold and aubergine as well as cinnamon, grey beige and white. Surfaces lean towards nature and grainy, as well as frosty and bark-like textures. Patterns are inspired by nature, including above all, fir trees, deer, twigs, snowflakes, stars and feathers, according to the well-known German tradition. So, if you want to be "in" as for Christmas decorating, envision design elements such as candle holders and lanterns with coniferous wreaths and hanging decorations in the shape of animals and fir cones.

Folklore/fairytale influences: Folkloric/fairytale motifs mix with patterns in a bright colour palette to create a richly decorated holiday-scape with unexpected, humorous touches. Design elements include differently glazed and inscribed ceramics, gift boxes with rich "Arabian Nights" patterning, and eye-catching elements such as papier-mache rams and horses painted by Ukrainian artisans, or gnomes and figurines from "The Nutcracker".

Minimalist motif: the holiday decor theme is an understated style in either pure white, pink + red gold, or cool grey + silver. Fragile ornaments make an appearance as tree decorations, such as artistically decorated, transparent glass baubles and porcelain stars with perforated patterns, together with high-gloss silver decorations and cones dusted with white snow, whose minimal look radiate a calm and meditative atmosphere.

Colourful gathering: it's the latest quirky, vibrant look, full of energy, multifaceted and intensely coloured. The colour story includes lemon, pink, mandarin, azure, turquoise and rosé, enriched with gold and silver. This is a look of contrasts with fanciful and exaggerated designs elements. Christmas baubles in neon colours and ombré-effect patterns, others embellished with sequins and mother-of-pearl work,  adorn the tree and work together to create a visual feast.

Eclectic opulence: the Christmas winter wonderland embraces colour palettes inspired by the ocean, precious stones and minerals. dark green, blues, warm golds, bronze and metallic tones with relief work, sprayed with glitter and studded with crystals and pearls combine to create a mystical opulent holiday scape. Gold bowls and ceramic dishes in the shape of large palm leaves are all part of this exalted style. Key colour stories venture far beyond the traditional red and green with this trend towards natural themes with blue/green shades surfacing as dominant colours on holiday décor. In the several iterations of this "Mother-Nature-meets-Father-Christmas" the look mixes animal, plants, insects and sea life in colourful, whimsical scenarios: either woodland scenes with deer, squirrels and owls, or jungles populated with iridescent birds ornaments, dragonflies dipped in gold, orchid blossoms, or even meadows with butterflies and underwater worlds swarming with glass jellyfish corals, seashells and seahorses dusted with gold.

Even if this last opulent palette is more reminiscent of my childhood Christmas memories, I'm certainly going to stick to the classic golden look for my holiday decorations, with some minor addition of transparent glass ornaments in the shape of shimmering crystals and some precious glass baubles with golden metallic ornamental patterns, to create an even more sumptuous but refined effect.
What about you? what style are you going to choose for holiday-decorating 2018?