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String lights and wrapping paper are already starting to crowd out the pumpkins and skulls at big box stores. The holiday creep is all too real, as people start searching for excuses to bust out the tinsel and menorahs earlier and earlier. And 2022 is no different—in fact, if this year’s trends reveal anything, it’s that we’re all seeking a little more comfort and joy right now.

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Maximalism lives on—particularly when it comes to the holiday season. Etsy has seen a 24 percent increase in searches for colorful wreaths year over year, signaling that people are over subdued, neutral decorations and want things to feel a bit brighter and livelier. (It’s not so surprising, then, that Etsy has also seen increased searches for vibrant wall art and hot pink clothes.)

Colorful wreaths can really go in two directions, depending on your tastes: Flocked foliage studded with pops of color, like the wreath above, or full-on rainbow pom-pom varieties.

When it comes to holiday dressing, skip the sequins—we just want to feel comfy. Etsy has seen a 183 percent increase in searches for knit balaclavas and a 163 percent rise in demand for puffer bags, and the brand’s trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, sees this as an extension of the early pandemic athleisure trend. At PureWow, we’re seeing huge interest in cuddly fabrics, particularly all things sherpa, like Lululemon’s wintry take on its fan-favorite belt bag.

Sure, there’s glory in finding the biggest, Griswold Family Christmas-style tree you can tie onto the top of your car, but…where are you going to put it? Riverbend Home predicts a rise in smaller trees this year, used to fill in awkward corners and extend the holiday spirit beyond the living room, with 2- to 3-foot-tall trees in bedrooms as well. You could even cluster a few trees in varying heights to create an enchanted forest vibe, for all those cottagecore fans out there.

Our clothes may be cozy, but our decor is going full glam. We first noticed the movement last winter, when Leanne Ford launched a set of disco ball ornaments with Crate & Barrel, which seem to be even hotter this year. (Similarly, Etsy told us searches for “disco ball decor” are up 346 percent year over year.) Add a bunch of mini balls as ornaments on your tree, or gather them in a bowl for an unexpected centerpiece.

It all started, like most trends these days, with a viral TikTok: slathering softened butter on a cutting board, topping it with flaky sea salt, edible flowers and other garnishes, and serving it alongside crudité and crusty bread for dipping. Butter boards are basically the low-effort (and more affordable) alternative to charcuterie boards, and our carb-loving hearts are here for it.

Reboots aren’t limited to TV, and if you’ve noticed a sudden influx of Pokémon, He-Man, Polly Pocket, Care Bear and My Little Pony toys in stores, you’re not imagining things. Toy brands are revisiting all kinds of nostalgia-inducing throwbacks, which could be a ploy to get millennial parents to open their wallets—or a way for moms and dads to connect with their kids over an old-school favorite made anew.

No, we’re not talking about Mark Zuckerberg’s brand or the metaverse; we’re talking about gifts that provide a surprise-and-delight moment for the giver and receiver. In fact, 49 percent of people prefer this type of present, according to a 2,000-person survey conducted by mega toy company MGA Entertainment. So, what are meta gifts, anyway? Think mystery box surprises—or anything that elicits an “ooh, what’d you get?!”—for all ages, like color-changing LOL Surprise dolls, Bokksu Japanese snack box subscriptions or Birthdate Tarot Candle, which reveal a tarot card charm necklace (and fortune) as you burn it.

Menorahs are getting a more sculptural, minimalist spin this year. In fact, some styles have such an artistic vibe you may want to keep them up long after the Festival of Lights has ended, like Lulu and Georgia’s arched design, CB2’s simple-yet-elegant marble number or this hexagonal Etsy find.

Literally everything: wine, cheese, jam and other foods; Barbies, art supplies and Thomas & Friends for the kids; Charlotte Tilbury’s best-sellers, L’Occitane skincare and New Yorker puzzles for the adults, even treats for your dogs. If you can dream it, there’s probably a countdown calendar for it.

Gnomes are everywhere, and they’re about to become even more ubiquitous this holiday season. Fact. (We’ve seen them everywhere from TJ Maxx to Harry & David.) Exhausted parents everywhere may find them a welcome alternative to the Elf on the Shelf, as they don’t require any preplanned nightly “hijinks” or Pinterest-worthy adventures.

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