Top 10 Holiday Decor Trends to Retire: Lisa Holt's Designer Tips

The holidays are fast approaching and so are festive decorating sins!

In her recent video, Lisa Holt of Lisa Holt Design shares her insights into holiday decor trends that should be left behind in favor of more refined, designer-friendly options. Below, Lisa breaks down the top 10 holiday decor trends that need to be in the rearview mirror this year:

1. Yard Inflatables

Lisa starts off by addressing yard inflatables, emphasizing that they are far from a designer look. While they may be fun, they lack the elegance that many homeowners strive for in holiday decor. Instead, Lisa suggests focusing on simpler, more sophisticated decorations that emphasize your front door or key areas of your exterior.

2. Laser Outdoor Light Shows

Next on the list are laser outdoor light shows. According to Lisa, they can make your home look more like a nightclub than a festive holiday retreat. She encourages homeowners to stick with classic lighting options, such as single-color strands placed thoughtfully around trees, doorways, or architectural features to achieve a more timeless, designer look.

3. Tinsel

Tinsel ranks third on Lisa’s countdown of trends to avoid. Not only is it messy and harmful to the environment, but it also doesn’t align with a modern aesthetic. If you’re going for a retro vibe, Lisa suggests looking into alternative decorations that evoke the same nostalgia without the mess.

4. Bathroom Holiday Decor

Lisa strongly advises against holiday decor in the bathroom, especially the use of items like toilet seat covers featuring Santa’s face. Instead, she suggests adding more subtle, elegant touches, such as a blooming amaryllis bulb or a seasonal orchid, to give the space a festive feel without overdoing it.

5. Rainbow-Colored Christmas Lights

Rainbow-colored Christmas lights, particularly outside, are another trend that Lisa feels needs to go. She points out that they often make homes look chaotic rather than festive. Instead, Lisa recommends choosing a single color scheme, whether it's blue, amber, or classic white, to create a more cohesive and sophisticated outdoor lighting display.

6. Star Wars-Themed Holiday Decor

While Lisa admits to being a longtime Star Wars fan, she argues that characters like Darth Vader and Yoda have no place in holiday decor. These inflatables are far from a designer statement. If you want to embrace the nerdy side of the holidays, Lisa suggests doing so subtly, as this trend is losing its charm in the design world.

7. Red Wreaths

To keep things simple and elegant, Lisa recommends focusing on classic decor elements like a red wreath by your front door. It's a subtle nod to Santa Claus without crossing into kitsch territory. A well-designed wreath can make a significant impact while keeping your decor classy.

8. Christmas Cars

Lisa expresses her skepticism about the trend of transforming vehicles into Christmas cars by adding red noses or antlers. This decor trend, she says, is as outdated as the pink Lyft mustache. Instead of decorating your vehicle, focus on creating a designer holiday look in your home.

9. Fake Snow

Fake snow, especially spray-on snow for windows, is another no-go for Lisa. She highlights the disconnect it creates in regions without real snow and suggests swapping it out for more sophisticated window treatments, such as LED candles on the windowsill, which give a warm, festive glow without the artificial look of fake snow.