These Christmas Trends Will Have Shoppers Catching Feelings in Your Store

Shoppers are looking for pieces that make decorating feel special and create memorable moments at home, whether they’re hosting family gatherings or simply enjoying the season with loved ones,” said Naomi Huber, brand manager for Melrose International, when asked what was trending in the holiday category.

There’s no contesting that Christmas gifts and décor are mainstays on retailers’ seasonal shelves, and for good reason. The category consistently tops the charts of stores’ bestsellers and draws in customers for the pivotal fourth quarter. According to the 2026 Today’s Gift Retailer Survey, 88 percent of independent retailers carry holiday goods, with Christmas being the No. 1 holiday stocked for. But why do holiday products still sell despite economic headwinds? It’s likely due to shoppers’ emotional impulses.

“Holiday décor is unique because it combines tradition, emotion and seasonal excitement,” Huber said. “Consumers often view holiday decorating as part of the experience of celebrating, which creates strong annual demand. Many shoppers return each season looking to refresh their décor, add to existing collections or find meaningful gifts, making holiday one of the most dependable categories for retailers.”

Traditional Decor Still Reigns Supreme

With so many different styles of Christmas décor — and consumer preferences — available, from traditional red-and-green décor to pink and baby blue assortments, determining which holiday pieces to carry can be a difficult task.

Dan Loughman of Roman, a leader in the holiday category for more than 60 years, recommends retailers “find their niche,” but adds that traditional décor and nostalgic designs are always safe and successful bets. The brand’s Confetti Lites, also known as “swirl lanterns,” continue to be strong sellers, year after year, Loughman said, many of which feature traditional icons like Santas, snowmen and cardinals.

“I continue to see a wide gamut of aesthetic themes within the holiday category,” said Peggy Pak, SVP of product development at Tag. “The strongest ones will always be the classic stories that celebrate traditions and being together during the holiday season.”

“Our Winter Berries collection has become a signature holiday story that retailers eagerly anticipate each season,” added Thom Petrouski, SVP of sales at Tag. “Built around the enduring appeal of seasonal botanicals, rich reds, classic plaids and festive details, the collection offers a fresh interpretation of traditional holiday décor while maintaining the warmth and familiarity consumers love.”

Transpac is also seeing strong interest in heartwarming and classic designs. Its largest and strongest-performing collection remains Traditions, which features classic imagery, a timeless color palette, and broad decorating appeal. “Customers are increasingly drawn to décor that evokes nostalgia and cherished holiday memories, and Traditions delivers on that emotional connection,” said Rachael Stanfill, director of product strategy at Transpac Brands. Stanfill said the company has also seen success with its Lodge collection, featuring traditional reds and greens, classic plaids and stripes, and winterberry motifs.

“We’re seeing strong interest in traditional patterns and motifs, including … classic holiday icons such as teddy bears, illuminated houses and vintage-inspired toys like rocking horses,” she added. “These designs evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity, which continues to resonate with shoppers looking to create meaningful holiday experiences at home.”

Gina Cullen, executive vice president of product development at Mud Pie, said traditional red-and-green palettes and motifs like Santa and reindeer are staples for its buyers; however, lately, they’ve been leaning into gold decorative accents. “They’re sparkly, festive and provide a feeling of elevated holiday magic to neutral home décor,” she said. “Elements of rich greens are also an elegant addition to a neutral color palette for Christmas.”

Religious Christmas Decorations Gaining Traction

Tapping into the most traditional theme for Christmas is religious décor, featuring iconic scenes like that of angels and the birth of Jesus. Both Tag and Roman are seeing a strong demand for religious offerings, especially nativities.

“There is a lot of reporting indicating a return to faith in our society, so it’s important to include nativities in a retailer’s Christmas offering,” Loughman said.

Petrouski agreed, adding: “At Tag, our inspirational collection has been particularly strong this season, led by a hand-carved wooden nativity set that has emerged as one of our top-performing holiday items. One trend we continue to see gaining momentum is the consumer desire for meaningful, heirloom-quality holiday décor.”

Mud Pie’s holiday collection, which consistently claims to have “something for everyone,” also includes holiday goods tailored to a religious audience. Whether its wicker angel figurines or a decorative plate featuring a chapel, the company makes religious holiday décor that fits seamlessly into other non-religious traditional pieces for a well-rounded display.

Glowing Decorations Light Up the Season

The benefits of low lighting, like that of a flickering candle, are well documented. In fact, it has been scientifically proven, according to Science Sensei, that low, focused lighting like that from a candle relaxes the brain and has a calming effect on those around it. This comforting and soothing effect might be one reason why holiday candles and lighted holiday décor are so popular for the season.

According to the 2026 Gift Book Consumer Survey, candles are consistently the No. 1 holiday item consumers are likely to purchase for the season. For the 2026 holidays, specifically, several wholesale manufacturers expect soft-lighted décor to be among some of the most popular items, as well.

“Light-up sitters are a bestseller season after season,” Cullen said. From a traditional Santa by the fireplace to a playful St. Nick sitting in a cocktail glass, the brand has a large variety of light-up sitters that can be applied to serveware pieces and other home accessories to add a warm glow to any holiday setup.

“At Tag, some of our strongest performers have been LED Trees,” Petrouski said. “[They] help retailers create a warm, immersive holiday environment with a soft seasonal glow that naturally draws shoppers in.”

Transpac is also tapping into the emotional pull of lighted décor with its new Wix soy-blend candles housed in figural ceramic vessels. “Figural ceramic décor has been one of our strongest-performing categories in recent years, and we saw an opportunity to bring together two customer favorites: decorative ceramics and candles,” Stanfill said. “The result is a collection that functions as both décor and a sensory experience, offering consumers beautiful pieces they can enjoy long after the candle has burned.” Stanfill said the brand’s lighted trees and nightlights have also been some of its top performers.

Ornaments for Every Style, Taste and Hobby

Accessories that speak to consumers’ unique tastes or interests continue to be popular, as well, something that Old World Christmas has witnessed for several years. The brand has seen an uptick in demand for its ornaments that tap into personal storytelling and playful, character-driven designs.
This year, the brand has expanded its music-licensed collection, which continues to be a major driver of fan-led nostalgia. The lineup now includes Def Leppard, Kiss, Bee Gees, Elvis, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, the Who, Pink Floyd, and Elton John, with more fan favorites coming in 2027, including Blondie, Queen and Shania Twain.

Melessa Paynter, creative director for Old World Christmas, said the brand’s other top sellers include Meowmas Tree, Sisters and Mahjong. “Pet-themed ornaments continue to surge,” she said. “Consumers are leaning into cute characters, expressive faces and joyful color, especially in categories tied to identity and family life.”

“Relationship-driven ornaments are resonating deeply as well,” she added. “This design connects across multiple audiences, from actual sisters to sorority sisters, and taps into the rise of sentimental gifting and shared identity storytelling. Game night nostalgia and cultural touchpoints are also trending. We’re seeing renewed interest in analogue play, tactile experiences and traditions that bring people together.”

At Kurt Adler, a leader in the category for 80 years, food-themed ornaments continue to draw in retailers looking for quirky options that tap into personal tastes — pun intended.

“Food-themed ornaments continue to be one of the strongest categories in holiday décor. Realistic foods, sweet treats and everyday favorites resonate with families because they feel personal, relatable and fun,” said Michael Adler, account manager for Kurt Adler.

“Ornaments with exceptional detail like our tea snacks and cookies make retailers and consumers alike say ‘so cute’ as we hear in our showrooms all year. Fun holiday drinks with actual liquid inside the cups are also beloved and interactive, which help increase sales conversions.”

Hip Holiday Fills a Niche

Retailers looking for non-traditional holiday décor should lean into retro vibes and bright colors. From pink Christmas trees with glittering bows to disco-inspired holiday characters, manufacturers are having fun with non-traditional accessories.

“The fun and colorful trend for the holidays is definitely picking up momentum,” Pak said. “When you pair this joyful aesthetic with nostalgia, inspiration from the groovy ’60s and ’70s feels like the perfect match.” Pak points to the company’s figural French bulldog with disco-ball sunglasses as a popular example. The company’s All Decked Out collection for Holiday 2027 will also include surprising and colorful options, including brightly colored taper candles and holders.

“All Decked Out brings a completely different energy to the season,” Pak said. “It’s colorful, joyful, graphic and very on trend. It’s the epitome of playfulness, and the aesthetic lives beyond the holiday season. You’ll see unexpected color combinations, pattern play, a clean aesthetic and celebratory energy all at the same time.”

Kurt Adler also implemented whimsical twists on its holiday classics, like the 10 Lords A Leaping Hollywood Nutcracker, which depicts the 10th day of Christmas from the classic song “12 Days of Christmas” with 10 lord figurines leaping around the nutcracker. The company introduced “spirited twists” on everyday items, like its bestselling candy-cane-infused kitten ornaments. “Trendy icons on social media and home décor like the highland cow, Bluey and even Big Foot are very popular as well,” Adler added.

“Holiday plush is another standout category,” Cullen said. “It’s giftable, fun and taps into that childlike excitement people feel during the holidays. This season we introduced a Jumbo Plush Christmas Tree, which is the perfect soft décor for a living room or bedroom, or an adorable photo prop the kids will love.”

Whether retailers choose to stock more traditional goods, like angel figurines, nativity sets and classic Santas, or spring for quirky goods like reindeers playing a game of mahjong, it’s clear that holiday décor and accessories are a must-have for the fourth quarter, if not all year long. Destination shops are especially poised to sell souvenir ornaments and more throughout all of the seasons.

“Just about everyone celebrates Christmas, regardless of where you live or your background,” Loughman said. “You can celebrate it from a religious or secular point of view, or both. Consumers are not going to hit the stores any other time of year with the volume of money being spent on Christmas, and retailers need to capitalize on this. There’s a lot of impulse buying happening in the fourth quarter, so have those Christmas impulse items by the register and throughout the store.”