Festive decorating is taking a more personal turn in 2026, with expressive colour combinations, handmade ornaments and creative table settings shaping the season’s celebrations.
Image: Supplied
From edible centrepieces and garden-inspired decorations to heirloom pieces and unexpected colour pairings, this year’s festive trends encourage South Africans to move beyond traditional Christmas styling. The emphasis is on creating spaces that reflect individual personalities, meaningful memories and the people gathering around the table.
Decorex Africa has brought together insights from South African retailers, designers and creative professionals to explore the ideas influencing festive entertaining in 2026. Contributors include Woolworths Home, @home, Babylonstoren, Poetry, interior design studio Cocoon Lifestyle and experiential food practice Food, I Love You.
Their recommendations offer inspiration for everything from festive colour schemes and decorations to thoughtful gifts and creating the right atmosphere at home.
Unexpected colour combinations take centre stage
Traditional festive colours are making room for more adventurous palettes this year. Rather than relying exclusively on red, green and gold, designers are exploring combinations that can work throughout the summer and beyond December.
Poetry Creative Executive Johan Van Der Merwe suggests pairing rich tomato reds with soft pinks, butter yellow, olive green and earthy tones. Unexpected touches of blue can also add contrast while creating a colour scheme that remains relevant beyond the festive season.
Image: Supplied
Babylonstoren’s 2026 festive collection, A Garden of Gifts, takes inspiration from nature. Its botanical approach incorporates embroidered table linen, garden-inspired baubles and natural textures. The colour palette moves between soft olive and deeper leafy greens, complemented by fresh yellow-green shades and muted gold.
For a more dramatic look, Mpho Phalane, founder of Food, I Love You, recommends working with a single colour palette. Deep ochre, terracotta and charcoal can create a layered, atmospheric setting, with raw textures taking precedence over multiple competing colours.
The festive table becomes part of the experience
Festive tablescaping is moving beyond traditional floral arrangements, with food increasingly becoming part of the decoration.
Phalane, whose recent work includes a culinary collaboration for the 100% Restaurant at Decorex Joburg 2026 alongside Botanicus and Lounge by Marble & Mauve, describes this approach as edible architecture.
Instead of treating food and table decor as separate elements, the idea is to create an arrangement in which the ingredients form part of the overall design. Bread pillars, sculptural butter and rosemary or olive branches can become centrepieces that guests are encouraged to share.
The result is a more interactive dining experience, where the table evolves throughout the meal.
Cocoon Lifestyle founder and Creative Director Bilala Mabuza offers another approach, drawing inspiration from art galleries and handmade objects. Her vision for festive dining incorporates ceramics, sculptural pieces and softer textures, allowing individual items to contribute to the table’s overall character.
The emphasis is on combining practical tableware with artistic expression, creating a setting that feels considered without being overly formal.
Image: Supplied
Handmade decorations and nostalgic details return
Craftsmanship and individuality are also influencing festive decorating in 2026.
Decorex Africa and 100% Design Africa Executive Creative Directors Garreth van Niekerk and Alan Hayward point to growing international interest in handmade objects, playful embellishments and renewed Art Deco glamour.
These influences are reflected in trends such as ‘Craftmas’ and ‘Merrymaxxing’, popularised by online retailer Etsy, as well as Pinterest Predicts’ ‘Neo Deco’ trend for 2026.
For South African homes, this translates into incorporating locally made decorations, inherited textiles and handmade ornaments. These objects can bring a sense of history and personal meaning to festive displays.
There is also an emphasis on experimenting with contrasting materials and unexpected combinations. Think checks paired with stripes, coloured glass alongside chrome, oversized bows mixed with playful baubles and decorations that combine different styles.
At @home, this expressive approach appears in its Grand Hotel aesthetic, which incorporates playful colours, florals, bows and whimsical ornaments.
Marketing Manager Lerato Mohapi says there is no longer one prescribed way to decorate for the festive season. Instead, homeowners are encouraged to combine traditions with unexpected details and choose pieces that reflect their personal style.
Image: Supplied
Thoughtful gifts with lasting appeal
Festive gifting is increasingly focused on finding objects that remain useful or meaningful long after the celebrations have ended.
Mohapi highlights glassware, serving pieces and accessories for coffee rituals as options that combine practical value with thoughtful design.
Babylonstoren’s farm-inspired Advent calendar and gift hampers bring a sense of place and provenance into gifting, while Poetry’s Van Der Merwe suggests choosing handmade objects or books that reflect the recipient’s interests.
Woolworths Home is also placing an emphasis on shared experiences through tabletop games and photo albums, encouraging gifts that help create and preserve memories.
Creating a festive atmosphere at home
Beyond decorations and table settings, atmosphere remains an important part of festive entertaining.
Woolworths Home’s summer 2026 concept, Home is a feeling, explores how lighting, fragrance and thoughtful details can influence the experience of a space.
Its festive collection includes floral Soft Bloom tableware and linen, statement lamps and an expanded fragrance range. Seasonal styling details include ribbon wrapped around cutlery, glowing paper angels and ceramic houses.
Senior Trend Forecaster Courtney Louw says the focus is on creating opportunities for connection and enjoying simple moments with loved ones. Ambient lighting, festive scents and a decorated Christmas tree all contribute to a warm, welcoming environment.
Ultimately, the festive decorating trends for 2026 share a common theme: individuality. Whether through expressive colour, handmade decorations, edible centrepieces or meaningful gifts, the emphasis is on creating celebrations that reflect personal stories and bring people together.
For more decor and design inspiration, visit Decorex Africa or follow @decorexafrica and @100percentdesignafrica on social media.
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