Keeping up with holiday trends each year isn't easy; most of us have enough ornaments gathered from years gone by so adding more holiday decorations can seem simply too excessive.

This year's trends bring good news to our pocketbooks; there really aren't many Christmassy icons (candy canes, Santa bobble heads and elves) incorporated into the new trends. The buzz word for this year's three big looks is 'Winter" which allows these looks to blend easily with the holiday ornaments we already own.

The 3 Big Holiday Trends For 2009:

Elegant Nature:

  • Think of an elegant, cozy cabin. Lots of nature-inspired motifs like pine cones, reindeer and plaid.
  • Colours like chocolate brown, green and red plaid. It's a slightly elegant look that will help dress up a casual room.
  • Where to use Elegant Nature: Set the tone in a casual family room, kitchen or guest room. If you have a lot of brown furniture, then this is a look that will incorporate quite easily.

Glitzy Modern:

  • Think of an art deco penthouse apartment during the 1940's. Mirror, glitter, glass and shine.
  • Modern, simple shapes and luxury fabrics help to create a glittery backdrop to your existing holiday ornaments.
  • Where to use Glitzy Modern: A formal living room or any dining room can hold the glitter and shine of this look. If you have furnishings with black, grey or other neutrals then this look is for you.

Vintage Pastel:

  • Think romantic, pale colours like pink, soft green, champagne and cream. French gold tones help warm up this collection of feminine-styled d�cor items.
  • Velvet, satin, frosted sheens help to create an elegant and feminine style. Where to use Vintage Pastel: Any monochromatic coloured living room, bedroom, en-suite bath or guest room can hold this look quite eloquently. Got a creamy, beige-on-beige interior? This look will fit in perfectly!
  • All d�cor items featured on the segment are from Sears. www.sears.ca

Tips For Incorporating Holiday Trends :

  • Don't feel you have to completely redecorate your home to bring in a new trend. Concentrate a collection of trendy ornaments in a small area of the house like the front foyer, powder room or guest room. If your dining room is a separate room, add a trendy look there. Hint: where you can change a paint colour, you can change your Christmas d�cor!
  • One of the trendy colours in ornaments this year is dark chocolate brown. This colour will instantly update trendy colours from years past like the 1980's peacock colour trend (purples, teal and blue) or the Dusty Rose and Champagne trend that was popular during the 1990's.
  • If you like the look of a particular trend but don't want to keep it around for longer than one season; feature it in disposable items like candles, wrapping papers, cocktail napkins, pot pourri and fancy ribbon; all items that you can use up and not have to cherish next year.

Notes:

See Karl Lohnes LIVE at the West Coast Christmas Show, November 27-29, located at the Tradex Center in Abbotsford, B.C.

Karl will be reporting on the 3 big trendy decorating looks for Christmas and answering your decor questions! For more information about the show go to:

Got a question, comment or segment suggestion for Karl? Email us at homedecor@ctv.ca