Deck the halls: From Gothmas to retro, the five trending festive looks

If you haven’t started thinking about decorations, we've done your homework for you. Here are all the catwalk-inspired ideas 

Gothmas doesn't have to be gloomy. Tablescapes can take elements of the trend for an alternative to colourful looks. Picture: April & The Bear

Any day now, we’ll walk into a shop and have our eardrums pierced by Mariah Carey belting out All I Want for Christmas Is You. From then on, expect Love Actually on repeat as there’s no avoiding the festive season countdown.

If you haven’t started to think about decorations and your preferred look, the trendsters have already done the legwork for you, but if Christmas is about rituals you’ve had for years, even generations, go for it. Somewhere in everyone’s Christmas, there’s at least one treasured tradition, and it’s non-negotiable, whatever the trends dictate.

Those of us who love the preparations and the slow unwrapping of carefully stored baubles are still likely to get excited about a few new additions to help make the home feel alive.

Go kitsch

Here’s a look to catapult minimalists out of their comfort zone: Kitschmas. It’s silvery trees, pearlised baubles in pastel hues with outsize red bows and candy cane patterns. 

Bows are a trend this year as tree, chair and stairs decorations; from €4, Penneys.

Just take the Barbiecore look, naïve style and coquette trends, and you get the gist. Do you have an angel or star tree-topper (definitely a star, since you’re asking)? Throw tradition to the north wind and try a ‘70s disco ball.

Get the look: Silver LED Christmas tree, from €175, Objekt; red-and-white candy-stripe bow cushion, €25, EZ Living Interiors; Christmas tree napkin rings, €5, Penneys; gold light-up starburst tree star, €23.50, Next; Is Maith Liom Santa cushion, €12, Dunnes Stores.

Wine, anyone?

Straight off the Gucci fashion runway and into décor comes burgundy, giving serious shade to traditional red. It’s a colour for life, not just for Christmas, with elements to see you right through winter. It’s a sophisticated option with, admittedly, some maximalist leanings, but overall it has covetable taste credentials, especially in cushions, throws and napery. Adding in gold accents makes sure it’s sufficiently Christmassy.

Get the look: Flocked burgundy tree baubles, €1.50 per pair, The Range; gold doorscape lantern, €49.99, Homesense; Harlequin burgundy hall runner, €95, Kukoon Rugs.

Happy Gothmas

We never saw this one coming, especially as we’re just easing out of Halloween and abandoning the darkness for all the colour and sparkle of the festive season. There might be an argument for decorating once and celebrating twice, focusing on the shadowy side of Christmas for night owls, but isn’t that all a bit Scrooge and bah-humbug?

The Olav black candlestick adds a subtle touch of the Gothmas look; €4, JYSK.

At the same time, Gothmas is not outside the reach of the style-conscious, as there’s a more refined adaptation to delight the tablescapers in our midst who can’t wait to try a new look. With a deliberately limited colour palette of black, white and metallics with maybe a rogue sage green, you may well achieve the taste and restraint the expert 'scapers aspire to. Think candles in black holders with long, narrow velvet ribbons tied to the base and monochrome black and white tableware.

Get the look: Olav black candlestick, €4, Jysk; black modern candlestick trio in different heights, €49.95, Signature Editions; Elise green-striped tablecloth, €118.50, LNH Edit; Lofoten grey tweed throw,  €209, Nordic Elements; Tuft tree monochrome cushion, €15.99, Very.ie.

Nordic woodland

We’ve had Nordic notions for years when it comes to Christmas décor, trying to steer away from mass-produced baubles and, instead, foraging through woodlands for branches and pine cones to adorn hall consoles and mantelpieces. All with the promise of a hot chocolate afterwards, while we fill vases with crooked stems to look "sculptural". 

Vintage decorating can be super-practical with some Carolyn Donnelly Eclectic towels for guests; €10 each, Dunnes Stores.

It’s a restrained and wholesome look, but always stylish, which is something we’ve come to expect from our friends in the north.

Get the look: Calendar candle, €25, Normann Copenhagen; handcrafted willow wreath by Hanna Van Aelst, €68, Irish Design Shop; Spruce woodland placemats, €10.95 for four, matching Spruce Village napkins, €19.80 for four, Meadows & Byrne.

Retro-vintage nostalgia

Plain white fairy lights don’t get a look in with this one as the trio covers everything from Victorian nutcrackers and tinted glassware, right through to things that remind you of your childhood Christmases when blinking multi-coloured lights were a must. 

It's vintage style with the Cherise champagne drinks trolley for entertaining; €585, Dfs.

Nothing says retro quite like coloured baubles on the tree, snow globes and a well-stocked bar, ideally with bottles, glasses and cocktail shakers piled onto a bar trolley.

Get the look: Cream and red trimmed tree napkin, €4.64, Sostrene Grene; Cherise champagne gold bar trolley, €585, Dfs; Nativity snowglobe, €85, Kilkenny.