Christmas tree trends 2026: colours, decor styles and what to buy
The ten tree trends named for 2026, the colours that recur across them, the tree styles behind them and what to buy to follow each look.
The Christmas tree trends for 2026 share one idea: a tree that reflects the people who live with it. Christmas Tree World, which published ten tree trends for 2026 in June, says individuality is what connects all of them, and its list runs from dark academia and cherry cola palettes to statement velvet bows, heirloom trees and a small tree in every room. Across ten trend palettes from Christmas Tree World and Cox & Cox, gold, deep green and burgundy come up most. Below are the trends, the colours, the tree styles and what to buy for each look.
Christmas tree trends 2026 at a glance
Christmas Tree World’s list, published on 23 June 2026, names ten trends. The table gives the colours, the key pieces and the tree each one is built on.
| Trend | Colours | Key pieces | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romantasy | Emerald, sapphire, deep plum, antique gold | Velvet ribbon, moons, stars, woodland creatures, lantern-style lights | Realistic or snowy |
| Dark academia | Burgundy, forest green, chocolate brown, antique gold | Velvet bows, aged metallic baubles, faux candles | Realistic or slim |
| Black fantasy tree | Deep red, antique gold, dark green | Gold decorations, gold lights, dramatic ribbon | Black |
| Cherry cola | Cherry red, burgundy, chocolate brown, metallic gold | Glossy red baubles, velvet ribbon, string lights | Any |
| Fandom tree | Any | Decorations from films, books, gaming, musicals or Formula 1, mixed with ordinary baubles | Any |
| Statement bows | Burgundy, cream, gold | Oversized velvet bows all over the tree, warm cluster lights | Any |
| Heirloom tree | Mixed | Handmade ornaments, travel souvenirs, childhood decorations | Any |
| Christmas in every room | Any | Small trees by the front door, in kitchens, guest rooms and hall corners | Pencil, pop-up, 3ft or half trees |
| Smart trees | Any, set by app | App-controlled lights: colour, brightness, custom displays, timers | Any |
| Joyful maximalism | Bright multicolour | Oversized baubles, colourful lights, novelty ornaments, nutcrackers, giant ribbons | Any |
Its summary is that the best trees this year feel personal rather than perfectly styled, and half of the ten trends have no fixed palette at all.
Christmas colour trends for 2026
We compared the colours named in ten trend palettes: the five trends on Christmas Tree World’s 2026 list that name colours, and the five Christmas looks on Cox & Cox’s trend pages this autumn. Three colour families stand out.
| Colour | Palettes that use it (of 10) | Looks |
|---|---|---|
| Gold, from antique to metallic | 8 | Romantasy, dark academia, black fantasy tree, cherry cola, statement bows, Festive Jolly, Christmas Kin, Masquerade |
| Green, from emerald and forest to natural foliage | 7 | Romantasy, dark academia, black fantasy tree, Homespun, Christmas Kin, Nordic Nook, Masquerade |
| Burgundy and deep red | 6 | Dark academia, black fantasy tree, cherry cola, statement bows, Festive Jolly, Christmas Kin |
| Cream and white | 3 | Statement bows, Homespun, Nordic Nook |
| Chocolate brown | 2 | Dark academia, cherry cola |
| Teal | 2 | Festive Jolly, Christmas Kin |
| Pink, from shell pink to fuchsia | 2 | Festive Jolly, Masquerade |
| Silver | 1 | Masquerade |
So the Christmas colour of 2026 is a combination rather than a single shade: burgundy or deep red with deep green, finished in antique gold. Silver appears in only one of the ten palettes.
Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026 is Cloud Dancer, PANTONE 11-4201, an off-white (hex #F0EFEA). It follows Mocha Mousse, the brown chosen for 2025. Pantone’s pick covers fashion and interiors in general rather than Christmas, but white trees, cream bows and Scandi schemes sit comfortably with it.
Christmas tree styles for 2026
- Realistic artificial trees carry the romantasy and dark academia looks, and Christmas Tree World pairs dark academia with slim trees too.
- Snowy and frosted trees suit romantasy, and Cox & Cox dresses frosted trees in shell pink and pistachio for its Masquerade look.
- Black trees, decorated in gold with gold lights and dramatic ribbon, make the fantasy look inspired by House of the Dragon.
- Small trees everywhere: pencil, pop-up, 3ft and half trees by the front door, in the kitchen, the guest room or a hall corner.
- App-controlled lights that change colour and brightness, run custom displays and set timers from a phone.
Artificial trees are the norm in Britain. In YouGov’s Big Survey on Christmas, published in November 2025, 76% of Britons who put up decorations said they typically have an artificial tree, against 18% with a real one.
Where a room has no space for even a pencil tree, a figure on a shelf does the same job: our Christmas gonks and gnomes include small shelf figures as well as larger standing ones.
Christmas decor trends 2026 beyond the tree
Five themes across the house
Christmas Tree World’s decoration guide for 2026, published in August, sees five threads running through the whole house:
- Personalisation over perfection: heirlooms mixed with handmade pieces.
- Collected styling: textures, colours and finishes blended in layers.
- Warm lighting: a soft, atmospheric glow.
- Nature-led decorating: wood, dried fruit, pine cones and foliage at the centre.
- Decorating beyond the tree: mantelpieces, staircases and doorways.
Cox & Cox’s five looks
Cox & Cox’s Christmas trend pages, live this autumn, split its range into five looks:
- Festive Jolly: teal, fuchsia, gold and burgundy with iridescent finishes, honeycomb paper decorations, organza bows and sequins.
- Homespun: copper, cream and forest green, with felt animals such as owls and foxes, brush hedgehog baubles, acorns, pine cones and frosted or textured glass baubles.
- Christmas Kin: berry red, forest green and gold with flashes of teal, candy stripes, tartan, velvet bows and wooden nutcrackers.
- Nordic Nook: white, brass and natural greenery, with paper snowflakes, wooden houses, star garlands and a paper star topper.
- Masquerade: shell pink and pistachio baubles on frosted trees, with midnight blue, bottle green, silver and gold, velvet ribbon and beaded garlands.
Nordic Nook is the Scandi style in brief, and our guide to Christmas decor styles explains what defines Scandi, rustic, modern and glam decor.
Trendy Christmas wreaths for 2026
The trend lists we read do not name a wreath trend of their own, but the same threads reach the front door: nature-led wreaths of pine cones, dried fruit and foliage, berry accents for the Christmas Kin look, and an oversized velvet bow tied at the base for the statement bow trend. Pine cone, berry and eucalyptus wreaths are in our wreaths and garlands.
What to buy for the 2026 Christmas trends
- Dark academia and cherry cola: burgundy minis and copper and gold bauble sets from our Christmas baubles, with a gold glass finial on top.
- Statement bows: wide wired velvet ribbon in burgundy, cream or gold, tied into bows of one size and spaced in a zig-zag.
- Fandom and heirloom trees: character ornaments, keepsake decorations and wooden shapes to paint from our tree decorations, and a plush character topper from our Christmas tree toppers.
- Joyful maximalism: extra-large 10 cm baubles in mixed colours, nutcracker soldier decorations and multicoloured lights.
- Smart trees: an LED star topper with a remote control, or tree lights with a remote, a timer or dimming.
- Nature-led and Nordic looks: dried orange slices, wooden bauble slices and clear glass stars.
The Christmas Workshop
White angel tree topper, diamante bodice, feathered wings, 30 cm
To turn a trend into a full scheme, with the lights and topper that suit it, see our Christmas tree decorating ideas, then pick the pieces from our tree decorations range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Christmas tree trend for 2026?
Individuality, according to Christmas Tree World, whose ten trends for 2026 include statement velvet bows, dark academia and cherry cola palettes, black trees, fandom and heirloom trees and app-controlled lights. The common thread is a tree that looks like its owner rather than a shop display.
What is the Christmas colour of 2026?
There is no single official one. In the ten trend palettes we compared, gold appears in eight, green in seven and burgundy or deep red in six, so burgundy and deep green with antique gold is the combination of the year. Pantone’s general Colour of the Year 2026 is Cloud Dancer, an off-white.
What are the Christmas trends for the UK in 2026?
Personal trees built from heirlooms and handmade pieces, nature-led decorating with wood, dried fruit and pine cones, warm lighting, and decorations spreading to mantelpieces, staircases and doorways. Christmas Tree World also expects smaller trees in more rooms, with pencil, pop-up, 3ft and half trees in kitchens, hallways and guest rooms.
What are the trendy Christmas wreaths for 2026?
Natural wreaths of pine cones, dried fruit, berries and eucalyptus, in line with the nature-led trend, and plain green wreaths finished with an oversized velvet bow in burgundy, cream or gold. Iridescent and jewel-toned finishes suit the bolder Festive Jolly and Masquerade looks.
Is gold or silver in for Christmas 2026?
Gold. It appears in eight of the ten 2026 palettes we compared, from antique gold in dark academia to metallic gold in cherry cola, while silver appears only in Cox & Cox’s Masquerade look. Silver still works in a winter white or blue scheme.
How do you make a cheap Christmas tree look expensive?
Fluff every tip, keep to two or three colours and mix gloss, matt and glitter finishes within them. Add a wide wired ribbon or a few large velvet bows, use warm white lights and finish the base with a skirt or collar so the stand does not show.
What is the new trend in Christmas trees?
Bows hung all over the tree instead of only on top, black trees decorated in gold, app-controlled lights and small pencil or pop-up trees in rooms that never had one. Christmas Tree World lists all four among its trends for 2026.
