When it comes to decorating for the holidays, time is on your side, but only if you shop early. Holiday décor doesn’t have to be a chore. The following new trends reveal dazzling holiday décor, and there are plenty of reasons to shop before the season.
Holiday Happiness
It may seem a bit premature to be thinking of holiday decorations, but psychologists say that decorating early might make you happier.
Psychologist Deborah Serani says there is science behind the belief that holiday decorating can lift your mood. Serani explained this decorating theory by stating, “It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness. Christmas decorating will spike dopamine, a feel-good hormone.”
“For a lot of us, Christmas is a magical time, it’s a time of innocence, it’s a time of joy,” Serani said.
Delving further into the theory, the bright lights and colors are thought to increase your energy level and boost mood. There is even a new field called neuro-architecture dedicated to analyzing how our designed environments can influence behavior and mood.
The element of nostalgia is also an important factor in the connection between holiday decorations and happiness. Many people associate Christmas decor with feelings of nostalgia and excitement from childhood.
Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown said, “Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement, so putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement.”
The nostalgia also reminds people of when they were children with no responsibility, and in our stressful lives, we rarely get the opportunity to feel irresponsible and unburdened.
If you are someone who also likes to decorate the exterior of your home for the holidays, there are benefits to decorating outside early. Studies have shown that people viewing homes that are decorated for the holidays deemed the occupants more open, friendly and sociable, compared to viewing homes that weren’t decorated, regardless of whether the occupants were friendly with their neighbors. If everyone in the neighborhood decorates, it creates a sense of unity.
Since we have already determined that those holiday decorations can enhance happiness, why not put them up early so you can reap the benefits even longer?
The Early Bird Bonus
There is a movement to make mindful purchases and doing so requires thought and time. When we wait until right before the holiday to shop for décor, we may be rushed into buying decorations we don’t really want. Also, the selection of available decorations will be greatly reduced, which may result in you not getting what you really want.
Another bonus to buying those decorations ahead of time and putting them up early is that doing so will give you more time to focus on other things once the busy holiday season is upon you. Instead of rushing into throwing up decorations, you can spend that time with your family and/or friends.
The extra time you are afforded when you decorate early can also give you a chance to try your hand at some DIY décor. Another bonus is that your holiday décor can create a beautiful backdrop for any Christmas photos you may want to take and share.
The History of Holiday Décor
The most iconic Christmas decoration is the Christmas tree. Long before Christianity, plants and trees that stayed green throughout the harsh months of winter held a special significance for people and offered hope during the long, cold winters.
Ancient people hung evergreen boughs in their homes, and this was thought to keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness.
The more modern approach to the tree’s association with Christmas can be credited to Germans in the 16th century when Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.
This tradition was not immediately embraced elsewhere due to a fear that it had associations with pagan practices. However, in 1846, the wildly popular Queen Victoria and her family were sketched standing around a Christmas tree, and it became the next big thing.
Fast forward to the present, and the Christmas tree has become a tradition that families of many different faiths enjoy.
When looking to the latest trends in holiday décor, things come full circle to the Christmasworld global show for holiday decorations that is held annually in Frankfurt, Germany.
Holiday Decorating Trends for 2019
The holiday designs for 2019 have trends to fit every style and taste. There are natural, earthy designs with some even incorporating real flowers, blossoms and succulents, richly colored designs incorporating elements of folklore, minimalist decorations utilizing understated Japanese designs, decorative, mystical designs with different shades of blue and quirky, vintage designs.
Decorations That Are Nurtured by Nature
Since there is a move toward sustainability and an appreciation for the beauty of nature, it is no surprise that Christmas decorations reflect these ideas. The creativity of these designs blends the natural world including animals in a woodland environment, ocean scene or jungle setting. While tinsel and glitz haven’t entirely been abandoned, the earthy patterns and materials like orchid blossoms, pinecones, wood, bark and palm leaves give it all a more natural sensibility.
Festive Florals
To accomplish the shift to nature-inspired decorations, flowers and greenery are important staples for holiday décor to keep with the shift to nature-inspired decorations. To stay with the bold, lively colors of the season, red roses and poinsettias are gorgeous when mixed with the natural textures and elements like wood, twigs and bark.
Much like the décor, the florals and plants have minimalist shapes and nature-inspired designs contrasted with bold colors, unexpected shimmer or glow, and the styles can be updated with differently glazed or inscribed ceramics, translucent glass or the addition of pinecones or greenery.
For festive florals that are a celebration of the current holiday décor styles, our florists at 1-800-Flowers Winter Park in Winter Park, FL, would be glad to help you select a holiday arrangement or centerpiece to match your décor.
Lights, Camera, Christmas
Lighting is always important, but for the holidays, the light needs to be a warm, golden light. There should be no more cold, white light. Christmas ornaments lit from within are tantalizing to behold and moving lights can bring figures to life.
Merry Metallics
Metal hues and materials are moving in a warmer direction just like light, giving the décor a glow. Patina and rust give warm texture and combining one bold color with metallics is very trendy. Rust, a trending metallic, combines red, orange and brown in a festive, unexpected way, and when matched with dark, brooding colors, creates comforting and inspiring holiday décor.
Funky Folklore Décor
Unexpected and wildly colorful, folklore motifs come in rich, intense reds, yellows and blues. This style takes patterns from different cultures to design unique decorations like lobster shaped lights and gift boxes with batik patterning.
Very Vintage Christmas
Traditions exist for a reason, and reimagined vintage designs will always be a part of Christmas because of the feelings of nostalgia and excitement the season inspires. The opalescent ornaments of the past receive a makeover with color palettes inspired by precious stones and the ocean.
Dark greens and blues come with metallic effects, relief work and patinas mimicking nature. These decorations are often veined in gold or sprayed with glitter with transparent glass with shimmer in unconventional shapes.
Dreamy Christmas Décor
Quirky, energetic and intense, some of the new decorations include colors like lemon, pink and rose mingling with gold and black. This style is exaggerated and flashy with neon, sequins and unusual shapes like iridescent birds, gold-dipped dragonflies and glass jellyfish.
Putting up Christmas decorations early gets you into the holiday spirit and extends the excitement. When decorating and celebrating, being present in the moment allows you to enjoy the present and reflect on past holidays and time spent with loved ones.
It is good to remember a sentiment shared by the writer Michael Holbrook who said, “If you can’t find the spirit of the holidays in your heart, you’ll never find it under a tree.”
Holiday décor may enhance happiness, but it is also important to appreciate moments as they occur. Happiness starts at home, so if you want to start decorating, there is no time like the present to make your home a haven for the holidays.