Deck the halls: What's hot when it comes to holiday decor this year

Holiday trends come and go, but one thing always stays the same: the quality time spent with family and friends who share in the holidays and make wintertime special. Cute and stylish decorations couldn't hurt, though. Use this list as your guide to keeping up with the beautiful and fun trends of the season.

__Plaids__

"Plaid seems really big this year," says Candi Winkler, owner of Sweet Designs Boutique in Cape Girardeau. "In the past years I haven't carried that much plaid stuff, but then this year it seems like there's more of it."

From ribbons and bows to ornaments, pillows, throws and stockings, plaid designs bring a classic feel to the holidays.

__Mixed metals__

"Champagne has been strong, which seems to lead into the use of mixed metals, because Champagne is basically some silver, some gold," says Kathy Knaup of Knaup Floral Co. in Cape Girardeau.

She says this holiday trend is moving in the direction of mixing gold, silver and rose gold to form decorative metallic combinations.

Holiday decor and gift items at Sweet Designs in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

__Lighted fixtures__

There's nothing like a decorative golden-lit village sprinkled with faux snow to make a home feel cozy for the holidays.

Janey Foust and Amy Beussink of Cobblestone Corner in Jackson say other lighted fixtures, including ornaments and decorative signs, also will be popular accessories this year.

By line:Cutline goes here righ here (Laura Simon)

Lisa Walker of High Street Station in Jackson says galvanized lanterns can also help add a rustic touch and are an element that ties into several of this year's woodsy trends.

__Deer and antlers__

Various ornamental forms of wildlife are consistently popular during the holidays, and decorative deer and antlers have taken the stage this year.

Winkler plans to sell ornaments shaped like deer with a plaid design, linking together two popular holiday trends.

She says the use of antlers and decorative deer items doesn't have to be limited to the holidays.

"We just went to a vintage market and there were antlers in every single booth," she says. "It's just a trend overall, like you're seeing it in baby stuff, you're seeing it all across the board."

__Nostalgia/vintage__

"The nostalgic vintage look, or whatever you want to call it, is still strong. That was in every book in every market," Knaup says.

She says repurposing vintage items has become popular, with people going to antique stores, taking vintage holiday items and adding their own modern twist.

Walker says vintage car and camper ornaments have been popular in her store for the past several years.

"Because vintage is so popular, we're seeing more pastels like pinks and aquas for Christmas, not just reds and greens, because those were popular colors in the '40s to '60s," Walker says.

Gina Keith, owner and operator of Vintage Marketplace Shabby Chic to Antique, says authentic vintage ornaments from Germany, Poland and other places are a big seller for her every year. She says customers call her store "the best kept secret in Jackson," because of her low prices for various vintage and antique items.

"I want people to be exposed to antiques and vintage and realize that they can have it, too," Keith says.

__Brick red, earth tones__

"More of a burnt red and mossy green with metallic gold is another. I think that is kind of stemming along the line of recycling; all that's trying to stay in the front of people's mind," Knaup says.

Holiday decor and gift items at Sweet Designs in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Rich tones have been pushed to the forefront, with warm reds and greens popping up in ornaments and all types of decorations.

__Personalization__

Monogramming and labeling are ever-popular and can be used to personalize gifts, say Foust and Beussink.

Sweet Designs Boutique also offers the opportunity to personalize various items, from ornaments to pullovers.

Keith says Vintage Marketplace offers personalized framed window panes as a holiday gift idea. A contracted painter from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, paints original work on the reverse side of each pane specifically to the request of the buyer, and can include a Bible verse, monogram or other design.

Holiday decor and gift items at Sweet Designs in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"We sell a lot of windows, and we'll have more coming in for Christmas, too," she says.

__Organic__

Eco-friendly choices are making their way into holiday trends, with companies like Bethany Lowe and Kalalou using environmentally friendly, recycled and reused materials in their products, say Foust and Beussink.

With the rise of environmental consciousness in recent years, eco-friendly and natural ornaments and decorations can make great additions to any green-living enthusiast's holiday decor.

__Chalkboards__

Foust and Beussink say the use of a decorative chalkboard is a hit around the holidays because it "fits rustic and vintage decorating styles and offers the personalization everyone craves."

With the ability to have festive messages or holiday schedules, chalkboards are versatile, functional and fun.

__Rustic elements__

Although Knaup says burlap is on its way out, Foust and Beussink say jute, papier-mache and other natural decorative elements are popular this year, and still give a feeling of homey comfort and warmth.

Walker agrees.

"I think the natural look is popular because it is fairly easy and inexpensive, and it gives a home a cozy-cabin feel," Walker says.

Pillow wraps, flour sack towels, wooden ornaments and pine cones are also popular items to help add that rustic, traditional touch.