We’ve officially unlocked holiday host mode – from spooky season kickoffs to end-of-year celebrations, your social calendar is about to fill up with events to plan and gifts to give! Each gathering is your chance to show off your style, serve up the festive vibes, while every present is an opportunity to spark genuine joy and show how much you care. Whether you eagerly volunteered or got lovingly “voluntold” to throw this year’s festive bash, or you’re searching for that one special gift, staying on top of the latest trends is your secret weapon for party legend status and gift giving guru reputation. With fresh holiday trends leading the way, hosting and gifting just got a whole lot more exciting – and way easier to nail!
Hand-Drawn Scribble
The whimsical hand-drawn scribble trend is having a major moment, bringing that carefree, artistic vibe to your holiday celebrations and cards! This whole aesthetic is about embracing sketchy lines, playful doodles, and casual lettering for designs full of personality. Picture place cards with deliberately wonky script, napkins covered in adorable squiggly snowmen, or paper garlands that have that ‘made with love’ energy. It’s absolutely perfect for cards, menus, and those gifts waiting underneath your tree.
Vintage Christmas
Vintage Christmas décor is trending this season, combining nostalgic charm with sophisticated elegance through rich plaids, classic monograms, and heirloom-quality details that feel like they’ve passed down for generations! For your celebrations, embrace traditional elements like delicate glass ornaments and ceramic figurines while creating country estate vibes with candlelit tablescapes featuring vintage brass and classic red-and-green plaids. When selecting gifts, curate vintage-inspired sets featuring classic holiday treats in delicate wrapping, antique silver serving pieces that become family treasures, or beautifully bound notebooks with vintage covers. This trend creates that perfect mix of elevated and cozy that makes everyone feel like they’re starring in their own holiday movie.
Togetherness, Reimagined
Holiday hosting is getting way more personal and more intentional… and it’s about time! This season, it’s not just about getting people in the same room; it’s about curating a mood, a theme, and a full experience that people will actually remember. Think intimate dinner parties with hosts leaning into cozy, themed settings that feel magical. Imagine candlelit tablescapes, custom menus, and those perfect small-batch party favors that people will actually want to keep. The same thoughtfulness extends to gift giving, where experience gifts that bring people together are taking center stage. Whether you’re crafting the perfect evening or selecting the ideal present, the focus is on facilitating meaningful moments that make everyone feel valued and connected.
Retro
Retro is making a bold comeback and it’s absolutely everywhere! We’re talking checkered art that pops, classic stripes that scream timeless, and those playful vintage fonts that channel mid-century vibes. It’s all about mixing those classic patterns with cheerful color palettes that just make people smile. Think groovy ’70s energy meets happy modern styling, with décor that transports people straight back to the good ol days. Complete the look with custom vintage-style signs featuring those iconic bubble letters and atomic-age graphics, paired with glassware and those classic dinner plates that instantly scream retro chic. Throw on the decade-appropriate playlist, mix up some cocktails that were popular when your parents were young, and definitely encourage people to dress up!
Personalized for Who They Love
We’re talking about celebrating the people who matter most, whether that’s boyfriends, girlfriends, pets, kids, or grandparents. From custom mugs featuring their dog’s face to socks with inside jokes printed on them, these playful, giftable touches add that joyful, heartfelt element that’s ideal for laughs and lasting memories. The idea is to make everyone think “wow, they really get us!” by incorporating the people and things guests actually love. It’s personal, and it turns your celebration into something that feels like it was created exclusively for your loved ones.
Happiness Is Homemade
DIY gifting is in full swing and it’s giving everyone those warm, fuzzy feelings! Whether it’s sourdough starters or infused cocktail kits that’ll impress your friends, this trend is all about helping people package and personalize their creations with serious style. Think fresh bread filling the house with amazing smells, craft stations where people can make their own ornaments while they chat, or everyone pitching in to create something special together! The allure is in offering creative designs for labels, tags, and accessories that elevate every handmade gift.
Whether you’re planning an intimate family gathering or searching for the perfect gift, these trends offer endless possibilities for creating memorable experiences that guests will talk about long after the season ends. The key is in selecting approaches that reflect pure creative spirit while establishing an experience that brings joy and connection to everyone involved.
Remember, after all, the best gifts and gatherings you can give during the holidays is an experience that feels both timeless and timely, where every guest feels valued and every moment feels intentionally crafted with love.
Meg is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. Born and bred Corkonian. An avid animal lover with two cats named Beamish and Biscuit, a dog named Fudge, a fish called Panda and a fiancé called Leigh. Favorite pastimes include wearing anything animal print, vintage and charity shopping, venturing down the rabbit-hole on niche conspiracy theories, reading books and board games.
