When decking the halls with the finery of the festive season, these four trends from East Coast experts are as diverse as they come, maximizing the merry and bright in your home.

Reinventing iconic vintage designs with contemporary modern art for a novelty tree ornament, relaxing in a rustic winter wonderland, timeless and traditional with pops of colourful cheer, or a serene Scandinavian scheme — ’tis the season to shake up your decorating routine.

Modern ornaments from Christmases past
Suzanne Saul, co-owner of Attica Furnishings Limited in Halifax, N.S., says she has noticed a rise in small-space dwellers opting for quality over quantity to keep the festive clutter at bay. With a minimalist approach, Saul suggests one way to captivate guests is with an ornament that’s more than a mere tree decoration but a thought-provoking piece. “A reinvention of a bygone era rekindling the warmth of yuletide while merging harmoniously with a modern sensibility.”

Saul, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, has been stocking up on what she expects to be a hot trend: influenced by a neo-impressionist painter from the 19th and early 20th century.

“Conceived during a trip to the places associated with the famous French writer (Marcel Proust), in which Alessandro Mendini perceived the affinity between the writer and the Parisian pointillists, the Proust decoration was born from the reinterpretation of a detail in a painting by Paul Signac,” explains Saul.

“The iconic decoration (dotted bauble) now embraces Christmas, proving its innate expressive power can transform any medium into an artistic object. To make every decoration a miniature work of art.”

Proust influences or even le palle quadrate, where familiar Christmas imagery like Santa Claus or a toy marionette is reimagined into blocky, fun (glass-blown and hand-painted) cartoonish video game graphics, are fun updates on traditional decorations whispering stories of Christmases past.

Nurture nature with warm neutrals
Lush pines and cedar garlands inspired by a woodland winter landscape, natural evergreen scents, twinkle lights, taper candles, and organic colour tones that include burgundies, creams, and browns bring a sense of calm and comfort that will never go out of fashion, says Helen Champion. Champion is Modern Komfort’s co-owner, a store specializing in modern and contemporary furniture, lighting and décor, and other standout pieces in Fredericton, N.B.

“We’re seeing a lot of wicker bells with angels and other nature-inspired holiday décor. Folks want to set the mood and the ambiance while bringing people together,” Champion says.

She suggests adding a holiday charcuterie board of jams, spreads, and mustards to the timeless display as a conversation starter that adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere. Sprinkle some whimsical tree ornaments, such as baguettes, and small mice dressed as skiers or off to work with briefcases, within the cohesive theme to bring sweetness and joy.

“Our traditional approach focuses on bringing people together in a warm and inviting environment. But we are seeing more pops of colour with red and white, and a little bit outside of our palette of neutrals and natural tones is a Swedish theme we are adding, where blue and white stockings, tree skirts, and ornaments elevate the look.”

Timeless traditional with a twist
Over the chilly season, warm hearts with familiar and timeless tree ornaments, including fairytale folk like the Nutcracker, the iconic Santa Claus and his reindeer, or cheerful winter creatures. Then, add a dash of cranberry red as an accent in a palette of neutral greens and browns, suggests Toshia Noye.

“I have been purchasing a lot of traditional festive décor for the store. The theme is to keep it nostalgic, starting with warm natural tones that are great for pairing and not too trendy. Mix in layers of faux garlands that have a real texture and are lush without overwhelming. Then add throws, cable-knit stockings to soften structures, a string of brass jingle bells, and maple or nutmeg-scented coconut wax candles to elevate and evoke all the senses,” says Noye, interior designer and owner of Tosh Co. Home Store in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Noye, who has revamped countless homes since opening her shop in January 2022 and designed spaces for half a decade before that, says decorating lends itself to many twists with colours.

“We see a lot of monochromatic colours, where cranberry red or greens in different shades are sprinkled on a tree or throughout the décor,” she explains. “Although traditional and timeless, where some may even add tinsel to their tree (not sold in the store), shines the brightest for our clients.”

Embracing a serene Scandinavian theme
Picture the crackling of a fire in a wood stove, candles flickering, a family curled in blankets exchanging books, a festive table in the background with beautiful napkins and decorative bowls for any occasion filled with locally handpicked holly and dogberries — cue the snowfall outside.

Susan Drover, owner of SAM Design, a design firm and retail showroom in St. John’s, N.L., says, “At SAM Design, we believe that good design can influence how we live and contribute to our community. We can positively make people’s lives better. This belief extends to our Christmas offerings, where we strive to create a unique and memorable experience for our clients.”

Their festive theme blends elegance, rusticity, and relaxation. It includes carriers for logs and utensils for the wood stove, a curated collection of Nordic-style home design books that inspire and guide your holiday decorating, woollen woven blankets from Finland, Scandinavian ceramic tea sets, and a refreshing return to nature with evergreen-scented candles, reindeer skins, foraged dogberry and pine branches, all aimed at evoking that peaceful hygge feeling.

“Christmas is about unplugging, spending time with loved ones, and experiencing traditions. So, in our store, we stock up on items from Nordic countries to create a feeling of coziness and comfort with natural and neutral tones, minimalism, and that inviting indoor-outdoor feel,” says Drover.