6 Christmas decorations ideas to make your holiday decor merry and bright

A surefire way to wrap up the year in style and bring your home to life for the holidays is to deck your halls — and living room, entryway, dining room and the exterior of your home.

We asked the owner of Digs Home and Garden, 3905 Chenoweth Square, for ideas on what holiday decorating ideas will be on-trend in this holiday season, especially if you live in the Louisville area.

"Louisville is pretty traditional when it comes to decorating for the holidays but it's also fun to add a few new things into the mix, " Ben Palmer-Ball, owner of Digs Home and Garden, told the Courier Journal. "Some customers come to the store and buy the entire Christmas tree; lights, ornaments, garland and all. But it's more realistic to take an inventory of what you already own, decide on a theme, and update your tree by adding some trending colors in ribbons, garland, and sprigs."

According to a survey of almost 4,000 U.S. homeowners by the home improvement website House Method, most Americans, including those of us in Kentucky, start to decorate for the holidays on Thanksgiving weekend. The beginning of Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is another popular day to put up the Christmas tree. This year, Advent begins on Sunday, Dec. 3.

Decking the halls can do more than simply add a festive flair to the look of your home. If you were thinking of putting off your holiday decorating in 2023, here are a couple of positive reasons to reconsider. According to experts, it can make your spirits bright by boosting your mood and can contribute to social activity, which has proven mental and emotional benefits.

Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that when people see a home decorated for the holidays, they tend to view the residents as more social and approachable.

So, what are you waiting for? From the newest ideas in lighting to stylish color combinations, here are six holiday trends that will be popular in Louisville for the Christmas of 2023.

Light your tree for maximum twinkle

A well-lit tree needs about 100 lights per foot. For instance, a 6-foot tree requires 600 lights. Palmer-Ball likes to use Rice lights which are small round LED bulbs that look like large grains of, you guessed it, rice.

Additionally, he likes LED lighting over incandescent bulbs since, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times as long.

He says LED Christmas lights have come a long way since the first generation and today are available in bright and soft options, a multitude of beautiful colors, and sets that allow you to change colors simply by pushing a button.

Bold and beautiful blue tones will update your 2023 Christmas tree

It’s no surprise the color blue is welcome to the Christmas party. Blue is the world’s favorite color and is commonly included as one of the five main colors on Christmas lights.

For 2023, Palmer-Ball has decorated a number of trees in his store with pops of blue accessories in various hues.

"Blue is a trending color this year, "he said. "When you pair the blue ornaments with red ornaments it becomes a festive and fresh look."

Plush ornaments are a fun and colorful Christmas tree accessory

Brightly colored soft ornaments are a popular and unbreakable trend that adds a soft and whimsical touch to your Christmas tree.

Great for families with small children or pets, these vibrant ornaments can be cartoonish and clever and are easy to store at the end of the holiday season.

Sweet petite tabletop Christmas trees are in big demand

In 2023, Palmer-Ball is selling a lot of small trees that can sit on top of a coffee table or chest of drawers.

"I think some customers don't always want the big commitment of a full-sized tree," he said. "Plus adding a smaller tree to your decor like in the kitchen or the den can give you another space to display specific ornaments or a theme."

For instance, if you have collected a lot of the ornaments your kids' have made through the years, rather than clumping them in on your main tree, display them on their own tabletop tree. The kids will love it!

On display at Digs, we also discovered a bright tabletop tree for the kitchen filled with food-themed ornaments and another covered in nothing but adorable dogs.

Classic colors are updated with a twist on the 2023 Christmas trees

The classics, red, green and white will always spell C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S, but we're excited to see how the new Christmas decorating ideas for 2023 push the envelope.

"Red and green are always traditional at Christmas but maybe this year you focus more on the red accents and ornaments and find things that accentuate that," Palmer-Ball said. "The next year twist it up and focus more on the green accessories."

A tall white flocked tree at Digs is a centerpiece and a tradition at the store. Stocked with red and white glass balls, red plaid ribbons, and ornaments in the shape of Cardinals and cranberry sprigs, the red and white color palate could easily be flipped next year to variations in green and white.

Modern frosted Christmas trees are a popular trend in 2023

We know one way to guarantee it will be a white Christmas. Flocked or frosted Christmas trees have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to create a winter wonderland-like atmosphere in your home. Palmer-Ball said today's trees are better made than the clumpy flocked tree your grandmother displayed.

"These trees today are light and subtle and many have a lot of space between the branches so you can really see the ornaments," he said. "The colors really pop against the artificial white snow."

Digs Home and Garden, which opened in 2000, has become a year-round home decor and gift destination in St. Matthews. The store is especially festive leading up to the Christmas holidays when Palmer-Ball and his staff spend hours transforming the large space into a winter wonderland for the holiday season.

"Take a look around and you can tell, I don't know when to stop," laughed Palmer-Ball.

Luckily Palmer-Ball's overindulgence means more creative tree-trimming options and holiday home decor ideas for you. Happy holidays!

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Christmas decorations to try this season, from trees to mantels