2025 Holiday Decor Trends: A Kansas City Designer’s Guide to a Heritage-Rich, Elevated Christmas
The 2025 holiday season is all about nostalgia, warmth, and refinement—decorating with intention, leaning into tradition, and layering your home with textures that evoke comfort and luxury. And nowhere is this shift more beautifully expressed than in the rise of the Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas Aesthetic, a look that blends heritage patterns, rich colors, and timeless materials with the cleaner, modern styling Kansas City homeowners love
Across the metro—from the tree-lined streets of Prairie Village to the stone-front estates in Mission Hills, from downtown lofts overlooking the Plaza lights to the new builds in Overland Park—families are gravitating toward a holiday style that feels storied, meaningful, and in harmony with the architecture of their space.
This is the year of the heritage holiday revival: deep greens, classic tartans, warm brass, layered lighting, and decor that tells a story.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeply into the holiday trends shaping 2025 and show you exactly how to bring them to life in a Kansas City home. Get ready for rich color palettes, timeless holiday motifs, elevated styling ideas, and room-by-room inspiration designed to make your home feel beautifully curated this season.
The 2025 Holiday Mood: Rich, Nostalgic, and Comfortingly Sophisticated
Every few years, the holiday world shifts from whimsical to refined, minimal to cozy. In 2025, we’re seeing a powerful return to classic winter styling with modern restraint. Instead of maximalist color explosions or all-neutral minimalism, the goal this year is balance—mixing luxurious materials and heirloom patterns with airy styling and intentional negative space.
Elevated Nostalgia:
Holiday decor is leaning heavily into nostalgia—but not in a kitschy, overly themed way. Instead, think:
Vintage collectibles
Family heirloom ornaments
Old books styled into vignettes
Needlepoint stockings
Wood and brass details
Handmade pieces mixed with modern accents
People want decor that feels meaningful, lived-in, and reflective of family traditions.
Rich, Moody Color Palettes
Color is back in a bold way this year. Deep, saturated tones steal the spotlight, paired with creamy neutrals and warm metals.
Expect palettes like:
Forest green + burgundy + aged brass
Navy + hunter green + camel leather
Wine red + ivory + walnut wood
Black watch plaid + gold + rich wood tones
These timeless combinations feel elegant yet comfortable, especially in the winter months.
Heritage Textures
From wool to velvet to leather, texture is the hero of the season. This year focuses on tactile materials that evoke warmth and comfort, with a distinct nod to American heritage design.
Soft, Ambient Lighting
Lamps, candles, string lights with warm bulbs, and layered lighting schemes are essential. The atmosphere this year is glowing, not bright.
Realistic, Organic Greenery
Garland and wreaths are less sculpted and more draped, natural, and abundant. This shift toward organic styling brings softness to the moody palette.
Trend Spotlight: The Ralph Lauren Christmas Aesthetic
If one trend defines 2025, its the Ralph Lauren-inspired holiday look—a blend of old-world Americana, equestrian luxury, and classic winter lodge styling. This aesthetic feel especially at home in Kansas City, where warm architectural details and traditional floor plans pair seamlessly with heritage-inspired holiday decor.
Below is an in-depth look at how to execute this beautiful holiday trend.
The Color Palette: Deep, Saturated, Timeless
The signature palette of Ralph Lauren holiday is rich, moody, and full of depth. It plays beautifully with winter light and instantly elevates any room.
Core Colors
Forest Green: The new neutral for Christmas 2025. Works with wood tones, brass, and leather.
Burgundy & Oxblood: Adds warmth and richness without leaning into bright red.
Navy & Midnight blue: Creates a grounded, classic base—especially in black watch patterns.
Camel & cognac: Introduce warmth through leather, wool, and upholstered materials.
Soft Ivories: Keeps the palette from feeling too heavy.
Antique brass and aged gold: Warm, old-world metal tones that complement the saturated hues.
In Kansas City’s many Tudor, Colonial, and historic homes, these colors feel entirely natural-echoing the wood trim, brick fireplaces, and classic layouts.
Patterns & Motifs: Heritage Reinvented
Patterns are essential to the Ralph Lauren look, and 2025 brings them into holiday decorating in fresh ways.
Tartan & Plaid
Black watch, red Stewart, Hunting Stewart, tartan mixes—these patterns are iconic and instantly festive. Use them in:
Throw pillows
Table runners
Wrapping paper
Tree skirts
Ribbon
Upholstered dining chairs
Layered blankets
Equestrian Details
Key equestrian influences this year include:
Leather straps
Buckles and bridle motifs
Horse silhouettes
Framed vintage equestrian art
Riding boots styled near the tree
Leather-bound books
These elements add warmth and sophistication without overwhelming the room.
Crest, Monogram & Heraldic Symbols
Small touches that feel elevated:
Monogramed stockings
Crest pillow embroidery
Wax seals on gift boxes
Heraldic ornaments
These give your decor a bespoke, customized feel.
Vintage- Inspired Accents
This year embraces pieces that look collected over time:
Antique candleholders
Crystal glassware
Brass bells
Old photos in brass frames
Wood boxes and trays
These details create a layered, cozy, and refined look.
Textures: The Secret to Making the Look Feel Luxe
Texture is where Ralph Lauren holiday decor truly comes to life. The goal is to create richness without clutter.
Key textures include:
Velvet ribbon draping down the tree
Heavy wool throw blankets
Knit stockings
Leather trays and coasters
Crystal and glass accents
Stoneware and handcrafted pottery
Brass and Bronze metals
Faux fur accents (sparingly)
When all these textures come together, the result is a winter interior that feels timeless, warm, and deeply inviting.
How to Bring the 2025 Trends Into Your Own Kansas City Home
Entryway: Set the Tone With Warmth & Intention
For Prairie Village cottages or Brookside Tudor homes:
A lush, oversized wreath with wide velvet ribbon
A tartan runner or vintage rug in deep tones
A wood or brass bowl for keys layered with ornaments
A slim console styled with evergreen clippings and candles
For newer Overland Park builds:
A more streamlined entry with layered greenery
A large-scale artwork swapped to something wintery
A leather tray with monogrammed matchbooks or holiday coasters
Living Room: The Heart of Holiday Decorating
This is where most families gather—and where the holiday decor comes alive.
THE TREE
The most impactful place to express your aesthetic.
Styling checklist:
Warm white lights only (no cool toned-bulbs)
Velvet ribbon (forest green, navy, burgundy)
Tartan ribbon or ornaments
Brass bells tucked between branches
Glass ornaments for sparkle
A woven, leather, or plaid tree collar
Gift boxes wrapped in coordinated paper + ribbon
SOFA & SEATING
Layered pillows and throws bring the holiday palette into your everyday living spaces.
Suggested pillow trio:
A deep velvet (forest green, navy, burgundy)
A patterned tartan or herringbone
A textured neutral (wool, cable knit, fringe)
Throw blankets:
Wool plaid
Thick knit ivory
Camel cashmere or faux cashmere
This is an excellent place to experiment with heritage patterns without overwhelming the room.
THE MANTEL
The mantel is a focal point and should feel layered and elegant.
Elements to include:
A draped garland—mixed greenery with cedar, pine, and eucalyptus
Candlesticks of varying heights (brass, antique gold, or wood)
Simple winter artwork leaning casually
Velvet stockings with monogramming
Ribbon tails cascading from the greenery
Small clusters of ornaments tucked into the garland
The look is abundant but not stuffed—natural, effortless, and glowing.
Dining Room: A Return to Elevated Entertaining
Kansas City is known for holiday gatherings—large family dinners, neighborhood parties, and winter hosting. The dining room is perfect place to embrace 2025’s heritage trend.
THE TABLESCAPE: LAYERED, MATERIAL-FORWARD & WARM
Layer 1: Foundation
A tartan runner
Or a natural linen runner over a wood table
Or no runner at all—just a showcase of rich wood and candlelight
Layer 2: Dinnerware
Stoneware or simple white plates
Vintage chargers (pewter, wood, or brass)
Cloth napkins in deep wine, forest, or navy
Layer 3: Centerpiece
Low greenery garland
Mixed brass candlesticks
Crystal or glass hurricanes
Seasonal fruit: pomegranates, pears, oranges with cloves.
Layer 4: Finishing Touches
Calligraphed place cards
Ornaments tied to napkins with velvet ribbon
Small wrapped gifts at each seat.
Kitchen: Functional, Festive, and Subtle
Even in a working space, small touches can elevate the holiday mood.
For Kansas City kitchens:
A wreath hung on the vent
Cedar clippings in a ceramic vase
Layered. kitchen towels in seasonal colors
A bowl of cranberries, pomegranates, or oranges
Brass bells hung on cabinet pulls
Wooden cutting boards stacked for warmth
Final Thoughts: A season of Storytelling, Comfort & Heritage
2025 is the year we lean into holiday decorating with heart. A year of:
Rich layers
Meaningful pieces
Nostalgic textures
Warm colors
Heritage patterns
Cozy lighting
Organic greenery
Shop some of our favorites on LTK!
The Ralph Lauren—inspired aesthetic isn’t about creating a themed holiday—it’s about crafting a winter story that feels timeless, personal, and incredibly inviting.
In Kansas City, where homes range from historic charm to modern new builds, this look adapts beautifully. It feels just as at home in a Brookside Tudor as it does in a sleek Overland Park living room or a Plaza high-rise condo.
It’s a holiday style that grows with you, evolved with your families, and makes every December feel like coming home.
Contact us today for all your holiday decor needs!