The year is nearly over, and we have barely been able to recover from this recent pandemic. Luckily though, the holidays are coming, and what better way to celebrate the Holiday season than to decorate our home to help get our minds off of the world, and slip into a simpler life for a while!

Now, you might be wondering where exactly to start, well not to worry because we will give you a breakdown of some sweet and memorable decoration trend ideas for 2020.

• Decorations: There’s No Place Like Home for Your Decorations
• Food: Rocking Around The Christmas Tree With Sweet Snacks
• Drinks: What A Bright Time, It’s The Right Time, To Rock The Night Away With Drinks (For both adults and children)

Decor: Traditional Is Making a Serious Comeback, And Some Nordic Culture Influence Too

Keep on living with the memory of past Christmases with traditional decorations.

The holidays are right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than to obsess over the holiday trends of 2020. We believe traditional Christmas decorations will make an appearance this holiday season, as well as one style that’s almost unheard of-- Nordic holiday decorations. We agree, it’s a strange one, but keep in mind that Scandinavian design has been around for a long time, and so, it would make sense to see this trend come alive because the style is truly all about simplicity and functionality. Of course, though, both of these themes belong in separate categories.

We will post a few decoration ideas, compare them, and hope to inspire you this holiday season.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Both Nordic and Traditional Trees are Coming Back

We hate to break it to you, but the ordinary green pine tree that we all know and love is making a comeback. That’s not to say most will break tradition and attempt to make their blue, purple, or even orange, tree look traditional. Having an ordinary tree that we have read about in books, and seeing it adorned in red and gold ribbon, and adorned in shiny glass ornaments, and an angel or star that shines atop, all while it sits in a small corner of your home, shining through two nearby windows sure seems right about now. It feels like more than just a nightlight. That warm glow feels like a memory you did not know you had.

The Nordic Christmas Tree

The Scandinavians know how to decorate!

With the Nordic style, you are able to mess around with color, and citing from the RothWeiler Event Designs Blog, when “it comes to a Scandinavian Christmas, color is a main component to the design.” Of course we can only assume that our backdrop needs to be white, all white. Throwing in some natural colored decorations, and ditching the top piece for your tree, you won’t need to stress over how much you need to do to have a gorgeous tree.

Now, For The Decorations

Decorations are an essential.

For the holidays, we never want to see you stress about the smaller things. In this portion of the holiday trends 2020, we will go over each decoration for both traditional and nordic.

Garland Is Traditional

And it should be used by you!

Using a simple green garland with red ribbon will help add that traditional feel you are looking for in your home. Now, if you are curious about making this wrap around decorative garland for your staircase, keep reading!

For this quick DIY, you’ll need:

• Pine needle garland
• Some LED lights (optional)
• Satin ribbon (red is recommended!)
• Ornaments (again, optional)
• Green floral wire

Believe it or not, you can get these pieces pretty cheap from any local craft store, or even the dollar store. You can find the full tutorial on A Turtle’s Life For Me.

Traditional Stockings

Traditional stockings are a great add-on in case you have a fireplace!

Knitting and crocheting homemade stockings are another trend for traditional holiday decorations that are making a comeback. You will want to make extra stockings to use for smaller gifts or anything extra that you might have. For something like the above picture, we went ahead and found a tutorial on how to upcycle an old sweater by sewing it into a stocking.

For this fun project, you’ll need:

• An old sweater
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• ½ yard of cotton fabric linen.

For more insight on how to make the up-cycled sweater stocking, you can find the full tutorial on DIY Network.

Homemade Ornaments

If it’s not homemade, it shouldn’t go on your tree.

All of those ornaments that are sitting buried in your attic or holiday closet, this might be the year to sort through all of them, and redo them to suit your style and taste. Homemade decorations are the ultimate nostalgia this holiday season; we all remember those fun elementary school days when we got to design our own Christmas ornaments either for ourselves or family and friends.

For a fun ornament such as this Tree Hauler, you’ll need the following:

• A toy car (preferably one that is designed like the 1960’s or 70’s classic cars)
• A mini Christmas tree
• Some baker’s twine (any twine will do, as long as it isn’t too thick or big)

For more fun ornament decoration tips and designs, check out HGTV Photo Slideshow of Make and Decorate Ornaments.

Christmas Rugs are Now a Thing To Make

Here is an easy how-to on Christmas Rugs.

Pom pom rugs did not really start becoming popular until about two years ago. Nowadays, you can see everyone of all ages, especially younger generations, making their own pom pom rugs, either for a holiday or just for fun. There are many intricate designs out there that can revolutionize your holiday season by making the traditional decorations feel a little more modern.

For an idea of what to get to create this kind of rug, all you will need is:

• You will want to buy four skeins of yarn, preferably chunky yarn.

• For colors, we recommend red, green and white.

• An area rug pad
• Scissors
• Large Pom-Pom maker

• TIP: If you do not have a pom-pom maker, you can always make your own or purchase pre-made ones.

For more information on how to make the pom-pom rug, visit the Little Yellow Wheelbarrow.

A Painted Christmas Plate

Here is another DIY Project that is fun for everyone in the family.

Here’s a throwback to those elementary school days, or even snow days in, when we’d gather around the table and paint our very own Christmas plate for Santa, or for you  to eat off of. Whether it is a professional design you are seeking, or a fun craft to keep the kids busy, the best craft has always been the plates. Plates are fun to make, and they are one to enjoy for years to come.

Here is what you will need to make a plate:

• White oven proof plates
• Pencil
• Assorted food and dishwasher-safe colored ceramic paint
• Paint brushes
• Oven

For more design ideas, and how to make this plate and other Christmas designs, visit HGTV.

Traditional Wreaths

Trust us, you will want to make a festive wreath this year.

Whether it’s a grapevine Christmas-themed wreath, or another style, you can never go wrong with adorning your door with a Christmas wreath. Wreaths a magical craft that brings the entire family together to work as a team and create the ultimate holiday wreath.

Here is what you’ll need:

• A premade wreath (either a branched one or a pine wreath)
• Floral Wire
• Some decorations (i.e. grapevines, branches, floral pics, flowers, leaves, a bow)
• Floral Tape
• Craft Glue
• Floral Pins

For more fun ways to craft your own styled-wreath, visit Martha Stewart.

Now that the holidays are right around the corner, let’s plan on exploring other themes that’ll be coming on trend this year, such as Nordic Christmas trends.

Nordic Ornaments

A wooden ball Christmas ornament is the perfect simple ornament you’ll want to use this year, and every year after that. The reason for simplicity is to help show that Christmas is meant to be a time to remember the good times, and to remain humble. That’s what this wooden ornament represents. In all its simplicity and glory, the wooden ornament is enough decoration you’ll need to help make your Christmas tree feel full.

Wooden Ball ornaments are hard to find, and are rare to come across. So, create your own! Here are a few things you’ll need:

• Wooden Balls (You can get these for cheap at the dollar store, hardware store, or a local craft shop)
• Eye Hooks
• Masking Tape
• White Paint
• Gold String

Start decorating with this fun how-to on Life Is A Party.

Christmas Decorations: Gnome Style

These guys are adorable and have a really interesting history behind them!

These little guys are not only fun and adorable, but they come from Scandinavian folklore! Back in the late 18th and 19th centuries, gnomes were believed to be household spirits responsible for the care and prosperity of a farm or family. They were tasked with chores around the home, and may even act out if the humans did not cater to their little gnome needs. It’s adorable, but a very interesting history!

Now, you can feel like you have a gnome around all the time with these Sock Christmas Gnomes. For one gnome, you’ll need:

• Two fluffy (chenille) socks in different designs to your liking.
• One simple sock
• Fake fur, about 10x10 cm (4x4 inches)
• Rice, you want approximately 500 grams (2.5 - 3 cups)
• Pillow stuffing
• Two rubber bands
• Rope, about 20 cms (8 inches)
• Wire, about 30 cm (12 inches)

We are not done yet, for tools you will need:

• Scoop
• Funnel
• Glue gun
• Scissors
• Exacto knife and cutting mat

• The cutting mat is important!

• Measuring Tape

• Another important item!

• Marker
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Pliers

For more information on creating the gnomes, visit Instructables.

Nordic Stocking Ideas

Upcycling is encouraged.

Now, this style does not need a whole lot to use in order to make your own stocking. For the most part, all you will need is a simple needle and thread, some scissors, and something that you want to upcycle.

For more fun ideas, be sure to visit My French Twist.

Food: You’ll Want to Gather and Enjoy These Nordic and Traditional Holiday Snacks

There’s nothing like trendy food for the holidays, no matter how far away you go.

Food is the most fun part about the holidays. You get to experience cooking with your family, learning from them, and even hearing stories you never heard before-- or if you have, they make you smile all over again. With these two desserts, we want to share what will become the most popular trends of 2020. Starting off, we will focus on a Nordic dessert.

Danish Donuts

During the holiday season in Copenhagen, you would expect to find these donuts on every corner, filling the air with a guilty delight hoping that your mother will allow you to eat one before dinner. These donuts are quite easy to make, as long as you have a cast iron pan.

Your ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons dry yeast
• 3 ½ cups lukewarm milk (yes, it must be lukewarm)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
• 2 whole vanilla pods
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 stick of butter for frying.

In total, the donuts should take no more than fifteen minutes to make. For more information on this recipe, and others like it, visit Oregon Girl Around The World.

Traditional Yule Log Cake

Yule logs have the biggest reputation of being delicious, but also the hardest dessert to make, because of how delicate the cake is, and how difficult it is to transform it into a log, and essentially decorate it with intricate detail and design. Let’s be sure to clear up a discrepancy: you can make this cake, and there is no skill level needed to make it!.

For more information on ingredients and directions, visit Wilton.

Drinks: Both Kid and Adult Approved

For drinks, we recommend sticking with the traditional drinks for both adults and kids. Instead of volunteering to bring soda or another type of alcohol, consider making your own. Traditional drinks bring many personal traits and stories along with them, and there is a history that is shared between each one.

Mulled Wine: A Nordic Delicacy

Mulled wine is a traditional holiday drink that is often called a centuries-old warm punch. It is a favorite in many European countries, and each country has their own version of it. There are many recipes to explore, and the website that has listed many different types of mulled wine is The Spruce Eats.

Kinderpunsch: A German Non-Alcoholic Drink for Kids

If you are bummed about not being able to go to a German Christmas Market this year, don’t fret. You can still bring the market to you with this non-alcoholic punch for both adults and kids. This drink will have you enjoying the refreshing fragrance of warm spices, and tickling your nose with the fine smell. For more information on this punch, visit The Daring Gourmet.

A Traditional Christmas: Eggnog

Whether it’s a family recipe, or one you crafted yourself the night before, eggnog is sure to be the one drink everyone will be talking about. The recipe is quite simple, and the holidays deserve to be the same way. For more information on traditional eggnog, visit Ann’s Entitled Life.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Milkshake: a Traditional Drink Approved by Kids

If your kids enjoy Rudolph and many of the other classic Christmas films and stories, this should be one of the many treats you give them on Christmas. This Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Milkshake was invented by the blog The Tiptoe Fairy as a way to celebrate Christmas with her family. For more information on how to make it, visit The Tiptoe Fairy.

No matter your style, find your forever and merry home this holiday season

The housing market can be pretty scary year-round. Whether it’s moving houses, finding your next favorite restaurant, or finding a place to get a haircut. Which is why you need to check out HER, REALTORS®, they will take you step by step through the process of finding your forever home. If you are looking for your next home to get your traditional or Nordic Christmas on, visit our website to find a HER office near you.