If you want to get ahead of your Christmas decorating, these are the 2026 tree trends to know about. From dark, dramatic schemes to nostalgic heritage styles, these bold and characterful ideas are set to shape the festive season.
The most popular Christmas 2026 decorating trends are already proving that big, bold and dramatic is back. So it should come as no surprise that interior experts are predicting a few seriously distinctive tree trends for this year – especially for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses novels and Wuthering Heights.
Sarah Barclay, founder of The Dressed Tree, shares her predictions for this year’s Christmas tree trends: 'These below styles are really about people wanting their tree to tell a story rather than just tick a colour scheme – whether that's the nostalgia of an heirloom tree covered in pieces collected over the years, or something moodier and more theatrical like a dark academia or cherry cola palette.'
So, which Christmas tree trends are we set to covet most this December? Here, experts reveal the weird, wonderful and downright heartwarming decorating styles to inspire your festive scheme.
1. The Romantasy Christmas Tree
David Sumner, sales manager at Christmas Tree World, predicts that Christmas trees inspired by the 'romantasy' book genre are going to become beloved in homes this year, almost as much as the books themselves. 'With readers counting down to the next Sarah J. Maas release and BookTok still firmly under the spell of romantasy, magical Christmas trees are set to be everywhere in 2026,' he explains. 'Think enchanted forests, hidden kingdoms, celestial skies, and a touch of fae magic.'
So, how can you bring the look to life? Interior designer and trends forecaster for Balsam Hill, Whinnie Williams, suggests using unexpected lighting to embrace the whimsical romantasy trend. 'To embrace this look, you can opt for an unlit tree to hark back to days gone by, with LED candles clipped to branches, providing that all-important Christmas tree sparkle,' she says.
Whinnie suggests: 'Build decorations with a base of silver baubles – primarily shiny chrome as I love the way these reflect candlelight. Then, layer with frosted icicle ornaments and accents of red berries, and why not finish the look with a metallic tree collar?'
Rich, deep colours can also be fitting for a romantasy-esque tree. 'Emerald green, sapphire blue, deep plum, and antique gold create a rich fantasy-inspired colour palette, while velvet ribbons, moons, stars, woodland creatures, and lantern-style lights help bring the look to life,' David tells us.
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2. The Cherry Cola Christmas Tree
One trend that has been dominating social media recently is the 'cherry cola' colourway. And experts predict that this deep, rich tone will provide the inspiration for many Christmas trees in 2026 – especially as it is already a truly festive colour.
Victoria Robinson, trend expert at Hillarys, says 'the Cherry Cola trend has gained momentum in interiors because people are gravitating towards richer, more indulgent colour palettes. Deep cherry reds paired with glossy finishes, touches of burgundy and accents of chocolate brown create a scheme that feels both festive and contemporary.'
And it's one of the simplest trends to experiment with in your own home, too. 'Pair glossy red baubles with velvet ribbon and string lights for a look that's cosy, elegant, and effortlessly on trend,' adds David.
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3. The Dark Academia Christmas Tree
The dark academia aesthetic has long been a favourite on social media and remains a popular interiors trend. Built around deep greens, rich browns and moody reds, it channels the atmosphere of a cosy, book-lined study, with inspiration drawn from autumnal university campuses and classic literature.
So how does this translate to Christmas tree decorating?
'Dark academia Christmas swaps bright colours for rich burgundy, forest green, chocolate brown, and antique gold,' David says. 'It feels cosy, nostalgic, and a little bit mysterious, like Christmas at a centuries-old manor house.' Sign us up!
'Dress your tree with velvet bows, aged metallic baubles, faux candles, and warm white lights. A realistic or slim Christmas tree works beautifully here, especially when paired with traditional decorations and luxurious textures,' David adds.
Whinnie notes that additional greenery can add atmosphere to a ‘dark academia’ Christmas tree. 'This trend reflects a desire for moody and earthy vibes. Because this trend is less about traditional baubles and more about quality greenery, investing in highly realistic, quality faux foliage is a must,' she says.
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4. The Heirloom Christmas Tree
If dark and moody isn't your thing – but cosy and nostalgic is – you might prefer the heirloom tree trend that experts expect to be huge come December.
'For years, Christmas decorating was all about perfectly coordinated colour schemes. But this year, decorators are embracing trees with a little more history. The heirloom tree celebrates family traditions, handmade ornaments, or travel souvenirs,' David says.
For Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA, the heirloom tree trend is the perfect celebration of our collective history at Christmastime. She says, 'there is nothing better than a tree dripping in decorations collected over the years, passed down by loved ones, handmade, or picked up on your travels. I think it adds a real charm.'
And if it's mismatched and slightly chaotic, all the better. 'Don’t worry about everything matching; it’s that lovely mix of memories, colours and textures that makes a tree feel like yours,' Sue adds.
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5. The Fantasy-inspired Black Christmas Tree
Once considered outdated, colourful Christmas trees are making a comeback, with black, fantasy-inspired designs emerging as a standout look for 2026. 'Black Christmas trees are becoming one of the boldest Christmas tree trends for 2026, with searches for "black Christmas tree" up 96 per cent in the last year,' says David.
He explains that black Christmas trees can look incredibly atmospheric as a canvas for colour and sparkles. 'The black Christmas tree creates the perfect backdrop for deep reds, antique golds, dark greens, and dramatic ribbons,' David continues. 'Gold decorations pair particularly well with black trees, glowing against black branches, while gold lights add depth and warmth.'
Victoria notes that while a black Christmas tree may not be for everyone – particularly those who love the tradition of a green tree – you can still create a dark, fantasy-inspired look without buying one. 'For those who aren't ready to invest in a black tree, the same effect can be achieved by incorporating darker decorations and dramatic accents into a green tree,' she suggests.
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