Christmas 2010 Decorating Trends

There's something so boringly cynical about Christmas but I just love it, every last twinkling light. And they don’t call it the bleak mid-winter for nothing; as the nights close in and the weather turns, home can seem a long way away. But what saves me from a thermo decline is the knowledge that just around the corner is the irrepressible sparkle of Christmas.

Christmas is the best time of year for gorgeous home and outdoor décor. Trimming or decorating the tree means a festive occasion when families pull out the boxes of ornaments, lights and other adornments. It’s one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time and to be honest… to me a tree trimmed in traditional red and green emphatically says "Christmas".

But just like in fashion, every holiday season the colors, new cuts and patterns change. And while the 2010 Christmas Season is approaching fast, every year the same question arises: how is the tree to be dressed?

Now before you start shopping for your holiday decorations this year, find out about this year’s the latest trends in Christmas tree trimming and home decoration.

In turbulent times, people always seek security in the familiar. The Christmas tree, real or synthetic, is the focal point of Christmas decorations. For Christmas 2010, manufacturers go with voluminous balls and imaginatively designed animals, angels and fairytale figures. Lametta and tinsel are out, instead artificial snow on pine branches will be extremely popular.

A natural style and the use of natural materials like bleached wood, cotton and glass complete an authentic look. Combining old, cherished pieces with new purchases creates original recycling chic, especially when using collectibles with a patina.

In terms of color, almost anything goes. Like last year, various shades of purple are still on trend this holiday season but red, silver, grey, white, vibrant green, orange, lemon and gold are also extremely popular.

If you want to be very trendy, purchase blue’s and brown’s as these colors are said to be the Christmas season 2011 favorites, whether printed with silver dust or decorated with white frost and snow.

Pillar candles and tea lights in a wide variety of colors, designs and fragrances dominate the candle market. Warm candlelight, whether fragranced or not, remains a symbol of romance and contemplation. Candles are predominantly simple in form but colorful and elaborately printed. Although wax sculptures, some intricately worked, have a wick, they function more as home accessories.

Artistically designed candle cards are raising in popularity each year and are perfect to mail as a gift for the recipient to burn straight away.

Everyone has heard of the ability to save a ton of money with LEDs and the LED Christmas lights now present the traditional candle with serious competition. In chain or mesh form, these small, energy efficient wonder lights are taking over Christmas trees, windows and walls. Wrapped in plastic to form 3D lighting objects and dynamic LED lighting, LEDs bring variety to stiff decorations.

With outdoor LED Christmas lights you can run twice as many lights and still save on energy costs over incandescent lighting. An added bonus, LED's burn longer (around 300,000 hours) and brighter than traditional lighting options.

A trendy, sparkling Christmas table is this year decorated in a glamorous style with colors like gold bronze, olive, wine red, dark ruby red, an amber color and/or a deep blue-green. Animal skin optics as well as materials like velvet, embossed leather, feathers and wooden beads create lovely effects.