The Christmas season is that magical moment when our homes are transformed into the real little enchanted worlds, filled with twinkling lights, sparkling garlands, and this cozy atmosphere that warms the heart. It's a time for hugs, laughter that resonates, and evenings under a cozy blanket sipping hot chocolate. But what really makes all the magic is the Christmas decorating! With a few well-chosen touches, you can transform your interior into a real haven of peace and festivities, ready to welcome family and friends in a unique and magical atmosphere.
Treat yourself at Christmas, but not at any price
In anticipation of the preparations for Christmas, the French are showing measured caution while maintaining their intention to celebrate this emblematic holiday, a tradition that endures. This is what Annick Boucher, Market Manager for Tableware and Culinary Arts at Galeries Lafayette, foresees. 'The French are cautious but plan to celebrate Christmas as they do every year. They are careful with their spending," she says. Portfolio management is at the heart of the concerns, with families making trade-offs to optimize their budget. In this context, the hope is that the focus will be on decoration, the home and tableware. These not only allow you to change the atmosphere quickly, but also to renew the aesthetics of the home in a creative way. In short, to have fun without spending too much.
Blandine Franc, spokesperson for Francéclat (professional committee for economic development serving the watchmaking, jewellery, goldsmithing and tableware sectors) rightly remarks that 'we did not receive for months during the health crisis and then we all met in restaurants. Now we are back home with inflation.' So there are reasons to think that the focus will be particularly on Christmas decoration this year.
Decorating trends to remember for this Christmas
It is likely that Christmas 2023 will be the scene of an impressive diversity of settings, where everyone can find inspiration to celebrate the season in their own way. Thus, the trends reveal two major orientations that seem to be opposed but which reflect singular means of expression. At Francéclat, a majority trend is emerging, favouring the classic combination of white and gold. This approach is reminiscent of a return to clean forms, to the essence of minimalism. The color palette is pure, immaculate, reminiscent of a snowy landscape. Gold is used sparingly as a subtle ornament, marking the return of yellow gold and ending the copper era that has prevailed in recent years. The result is a minimalist aesthetic, while remaining warm thanks to the abundance of golden lights, twinkling garlands and candles.
Our interlocutor at Galeries Lafayette notes, on the contrary, a radical change from the era of Scandinavian minimalism that has dominated decoration in recent years, and thus speaks of a bolder trend. Bright and intense colors take center stage. The pattern makes a comeback, revealing a penchant for boldness and originality. The accumulation, juxtaposition, mixing and matching of colours and patterns, hitherto considered eccentric, is becoming the norm if one dares to venture into it. This approach encourages creativity, especially in the art of the table, where you can play with plates of different sizes and mixes of services that you have long matched.
Oël 2025 marks the pinnacle of mix & match, both patterns, colours and styles to create a unique table decoration. Personalization is the order of the day, each guest has his own plate whose style is different from that of his neighbor. We also dare to assemble the motifs that punctuate the décor. Galeries Lafayette
In this confrontation between classic minimalism and the bold explosion of colors and patterns, consumers can find a new freedom to express their creativity. Both trends offer a wealth of options for creating a festive Christmas decoration, reflecting everyone's tastes and personality.
For those who prefer timeless classics, traditional Christmas decoration remains a warm and comforting option. 'Classic ornaments, nutcrackers, garlands and candles in the traditional colours of green and red, embellished with touches of gold' bring the traditional Christmas atmosphere to life, as Sophie Chalvin, Leisure Buyer at Galeries Lafayette, points out when interviewed for the occasion. She adds: 'For a very wintery and soothing atmosphere, the Christmas decoration can be bright white and sparkling silver. For lightness, glass balls are preferred, which can also be frosted or iridescent.'
Christmas 2025: Embracing trends in tableware
To appropriate Christmas decoration trends in the art of the table, betting on bold choices and personalization is at the heart of the approach. Materials, colors, and prints are the key elements that define two different approaches.
Key materials: The emphasis is on noble materials such as porcelain. The cutlery favours brass, brushed gold, or matte gold, playing on the finishes. To break the strict side of porcelain, linen is used in tablecloths, creating an interesting contrast. "Linen brings a matte touch that brings out the shine of the porcelain," notes Blandine Franc.
Reactive glazes are the new material trend that is generating enthusiasm in tableware for Christmas. The magic is in the firing process: the glazes mix randomly, creating variations in colors and textures. "There is no plate like it," says Annick Boucher, underlining the artisanal aspect of these dishes, which gives a special charm to the festive table.
The key colors: As we have seen, two colors dominate for Christmas 2023 according to the Francéclat committee: white and gold, offering a classic look to the table decoration. However, other shades are gaining popularity, such as navy blue going all the way to black, which brings a darker and festive vibe to the décor through the tablecloth or tableware.
Key prints: Here again, two trends are opposed, with on the one hand a décor composed of plain placemats, letting the tableware take center stage, and on the other, a strong attraction for bold patterns. Thus floral prints and strong patterns, such as leopard or stripes, are gaining popularity. Here, you shouldn't be afraid to put them together!
A collection of fine porcelain, delicately flowered, can be a basis for imagining your Christmas table decoration. The floral pattern is on the rise, in micro or macro versions. Marni x Serax
It is possible to break the codes while respecting the essence of trends. When you want a different Christmas table, colorful tablecloths with vibrant prints can bring a festive atmosphere while keeping tableware clean. For fairytale lighting, string lights and gold light fixtures add a touch of magic to the table. Strong pieces, such as slushies, tureens, and unique pieces of glassware, are essential to creating a generous and memorable table. In this respect, the Market Manager for Tableware and Culinary Arts at Galeries Lafayette adds that 'transparent glassware containing a small animal or a small character is a hit at Christmas.' One example is the Ichendorf Milano brand, which gives life to poetic and design borosilicate glass objects. Enough to arouse wonder and promote family ties around the table...
The centerpiece: The decoration trends for Christmas 2023 invite us to rethink the centerpiece in a creative way. One of the main trends of this season is the evocation of naturalness. Rather than overloading the centerpiece with imposing elements, we favor simplicity. A tree branch, a little moss, or forest compositions are in the spotlight.
A strong piece, the cake dish marks the decoration of the festive table. It also brings together all the codes of a successful table: small gifts for the guests, a refined centerpiece, warm candles. La Redoute Interiors
Object diversion is also a fashionable approach. For example, a grandma's candelabra can be transformed into a centerpiece. All you have to do is add a few touches of personalization, such as golden holly branches or ivy, to give this object a second life. 'Grandma's soup tureens can be used as planters to hold Christmas roses', suggests the spokesperson for the Francéclat committee to create a personalised centrepiece full of charm.
A more virtuous approach from year to year
We have been sensing it for several years now, the ethical and virtuous approach to Christmas decoration is becoming more and more assertive. Instead of opting for compulsive purchases, the trend is to use what we already have in our cupboards, experimenting with creative mixes. This goes hand in hand with economic constraints that push "recycling and second-hand on old grandmother's services, for example," says Annick Boucher. In practice, this method coincides with the mix and match mentioned elsewhere: instead of buying four courses to compose a personalised table decoration, we dare to take out of our cupboards a few flowery plates from the Gien or Limoges factories, which we combine with others in more contemporary coloured reactive enamels. Mismatching becomes the rule rather than the exception, allowing to create tables with retro and authentic charm.
There's no need to spend a fortune to put together a pretty festive table. Pick from the cupboards, grandmother's crockery combined with contemporary glassware and cutlery, and it's all played. Galeries Lafayette
The attraction for silverware, porcelain tureens, ceramic slips and glass decanters of yesteryear is becoming more and more prevalent. They are hunted for in flea markets or rediscovered in attics. These pieces also make it possible to create generous and sophisticated tables for the holidays.
The Galeries Lafayette Tableware and Culinary Market Manager also notes that 'handmade and made in France occupy a central place.' Hand-painted plates are gaining in popularity. Unique and handcrafted pieces, they underline the originality of the décor.
Creating a warm decoration for Christmas: the do's and don'ts
In the delicate art of creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the holiday season, all you need to do is follow a few simple rules to achieve this. Blandine Franc and Annick Boucher list good practices and things to avoid:
The do's:
Focus on light and customisation: Create a warm atmosphere by playing with lighting, avoiding the ceiling light that is too intense and preferring ambient light sources, such as candles and fairy lights. Personalize the table by adding special touches for your guests, such as handmade place cards.
Be creative and don't be afraid to be different: Don't be afraid to experiment with bold mixes: mixing and matching colours, patterns and styles can bring a unique touch to your festive table. In short, let your creativity run wild, don't be afraid to add unusual elements to your decoration to make it unique.
Be generous: Christmas is the perfect time to be generous, whether in terms of effort for decoration or attention to your guests with small personalized table gifts for example.
In addition to Christmas gifts, think of small table gifts or personalized attentions (such as a napkin embroidered with the name of the guests for example) in a spirit of generosity. La Redoute Interiors
The don'ts:
Avoid drowning the Christmas table with flowers: Imposing floral arrangements can hinder communication between guests, especially when they obstruct the view of the people sitting in front of them. Opt for more discreet arrangements to preserve interaction.
Keep glitter at bay: While glitter can add a touch of glamour, it can quickly become overpowering. Avoid excess and favor subtlety for a more elegant decoration.
Beware of scented candles: Scented candles can have aromas that don't appeal to everyone and can even alter the taste of the food being served. Opt for candles that are neutral in terms of smell, at least on the table, so as not to disturb the pleasure of tasting.
Decorating the Christmas tree
This year, the focus is on natural colors, with shades of greens, browns, and ochre that recall the beauty of nature in winter. The Christmas trees will be adorned with baubles of different materials, featuring brown and green tinted glass baubles, as well as textured baubles evoking the plant world. In addition, "we will also find natural decorations such as pine cones, but also slightly more original decorations such as mushrooms reminiscent of walks in the forest," says Sophie Chalvin of Galeries Lafayette. Simplicity is the order of the day so as not to overload the tree, giving way to its natural charm, while being illuminated by a small electric garland. To perfect this natural atmosphere, Christmas wreaths are made from vine or wicker shoots.
