At stores large and small, holiday decorations span a wide range of tastes and styles, from old-fashioned ornaments and traditional trees to cartoon character inflatables and high-tech lighting.
At Homestead Gardens in Smyrna, red and white decorations are still the best sellers, but there’s a new number two, according to customer service manager Carmella DeLuca.
A gingerbread baker hangs out on the “Sugar and Spice” Christmas tree with red and white decorations at Homestead Gardens in Smyrna.
“Peppermint or candy cane colors have always been popular, but this year there are more people looking for pink and mint green shades,” DeLuca said. “It’s still close to that red and green style, and those colors work well with gingerbread decorations.”
Some people move away from bold, bright styles and opt for earth tones – tan and brown – perhaps adding a touch of copper or gold to that same color palette.
At Homestead Gardens in Smyrna, customer service manager Carmella DeLuca decorates the “Peace on Earth” Christmas tree with a “stick” ornament on a rod that extends into the tree.
Old-fashioned ornaments are making a comeback: the shiny, metal ornaments in a wide variety of styles, not just holiday themes, but also ornaments depicting a hobby, job or talent. Hand-painted glass ornaments, usually depicting nativity scenes, are also popular with those looking for a traditional theme.
Some of their best-selling decoration brands come from Bella’s Garden, Glenhaven and Old World, while trees from Universal Statues are popular, especially those with flexible wire branches that can be easily positioned.
Garden decorations are still in high demand, but DeLuca sees a trend toward fewer inflatables and more “crystallized” animals that resemble those made of thin white metal with beams of light, but with a wrapped shape around the metal skeleton to look more lifelike to see. .
In this new style of garden decor available from Homestead Gardens, instead of just the wire metal shape with lights, the structure is wrapped in a shape that looks more lifelike day and night, like this deer.
“The shape of the animal stands out better even during the day,” DeLuca said, “and it radiates throughout the entire shape, rather than just the individual lights.”
There is also a collection of large snowmen, Santas and penguins with a fluffy outer fabric that looks nicer than plastic for most customers.
When it comes to lighting, more and more customers are asking for LED lighting, which typically lasts longer and uses less electricity than traditional light bulbs.
At Homestead Gardens in Smyrna, holiday trees and decorations are displayed in and around the model train layout designed by the Shore Line Garden Railroad Club.
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Decorating trends and hacks
DeLuca said a new trend is how you top your tree. Instead of the traditional single star or angel, more and more people are using multiple decorations, a kind of bouquet at the top of the tree.
These are called ‘stems’ or ‘picks’ because they usually have a thin stick with the decoration on the end. They can be placed on the tree as flower arrangements.
They can also be used with or instead of traditional ornaments, making decorating a tree faster and easier – no hooks required.
“It’s great when decorating one tree has become a chore or you have multiple trees to decorate, perhaps for people whose children are grown and are no longer around to help decorate,” DeLuca said. “The stems or picks take up more space than traditional ornaments and can be quickly inserted into the tree.”
Snowflakes in various sizes and styles are popular at Homestead Gardens.
“They can be used alone or on a tree,” DuLuca said. “We have large foam flocked snowflakes that you can hang from the ceiling, place on a mantle or use as a tree topper. We have beautiful, sparkling crystallized snowflakes and plush ornaments that are fun and great for kids to interact with.”
Snowflakes, large and small, are popular with customers at Homestead Gardens this season, as tree decorations or on their own, hanging from the ceiling or on a mantle.
A gift trend is a decoration that looks great as a playful ornament, but can also be used in the home or garden after the holidays. Ideas include a small, colorful watering can, teapot or even cooking utensils. Look for an item with a handle or hook that makes it easy to hang.
“It could be something fun, maybe a surprise to hang on your tree,” DeLuca said.
For decorating ideas and assistance, Homestead Gardens offers classes and workshops. For more information, see the website www.homesteadgardens.com.
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Bestsellers at some major retailers
At Lowe’s, “notable new items” relate to a popular holiday ballet, including a 6-foot white and gold Nutcracker and a 7-foot Bluetooth Nutcracker animatronic figure, “a unique and interactive holiday decoration that is incredibly popular has been among customers’. said Monica Reese, Lowe’s director of trend and style.
“For those looking for playful outdoor decor, our Holiday Living 8-foot pop-up Santa has been a hit,” Reese said.
As for the tree trend, Lowe’s exclusive Tree Classics from Balsam Hill are gaining popularity “as a premium choice for those looking for elegant, lifelike Christmas trees,” she said.
In recent years, some of the company’s best-selling Christmas decorations have been:
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Twinkly smart lights, a hit with tech-savvy customers, offering app-driven customizations for a personalized holiday look
At The Home Depot, the latest bestsellers include Home Accents Holiday’s 8-foot-tall LED Santa tower decoration and the 4-foot-tall animated Disney Mickey Mouse, according to Lance Allen, senior holiday decorative merchandiser.
Some of the traditional fan favorites at The Home Depot include:
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at rrace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in Delaware News Journal: 2024 Holiday Decorating Ideas: Traditional, High-Tech and the Latest Trends
