LOOKING AHEAD: 2021 HOLIDAY TRENDS WITH CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER OF KEHOE DESIGNS

The Now

November 1, 2021

Holiday 2021 is filled with gratitude as we make our way back to celebrating together. We have never been happier to look ahead. As we step into the holidays, decorations are top of mind. Some have everything needed to create captivating designs from past collections of holiday décor, and some require a refresh.

Tradition mixed with a little bit of newness is sometimes all we need.

Unwrap the three holiday trends below!

NOSTALGIC ALPINE

Our first theme is about the great outdoors. Nostalgic Alpine — with its pine trees, ice skates, skis, open skies — red, green, white, and a touch of black plaid along with brown leather accents makes for a cozy setting.

Cottage Life, with soft creamy whites and flocked trees, takes on the look of snow-capped mountains. The feeling is a simple, handmade, natural aesthetic — traditional color palettes of red, green, and creamy white shades with natural woods accents complete this holiday look.

Swift and Sons Yurt Village, Holiday Season, Winter Pop-Ups, Activations, Nostalgic Alpine, Christmas, Decorations, Inspiration

Swift and Sons Yurt Village, Holiday Season, Winter Pop-Ups, Activations, Nostalgic Alpine, Christmas, Decorations, Inspiration, Ski

ALL COLORS IN PLAY

Let the joy of the holidays be expressed in a brilliant monochromatic palette. Favorites include all red, all green, or all blue. Yes! Blue is a prevalent color for the 2021 holiday. It works best to choose 3 or 4 shades of the same color and layer them into the décor. Choose a metallic gold, silver, or copper — these become accents, translating the cool avant-garde feel.

The other way color works for the holiday is rainbow hues. When styled correctly, adding all colors to your festive setup can be beautifully done. KEHOE DESIGNS’ suggests an all-white flocked tree. Make all colors pop! And, sometimes you have to have fun with this theme. The combination of a luminous playful palette creates a festive mood in your space.

What are other holiday decorations on trend for this year? Reports are back! Elves are this year’s favorite mischievous motif — in their candy cane striped costumes amongst the decorations. We see acid greens, bright reds, and pure whites kicking off a series of parties. Prepare for some mischief all month long!

Bridget Frizzie, KEHOE DESIGNS, Event Design, Chief Creative Office, Creative Director, Event Production, Floral Design, Flowers, Table Setting, Chicago, Antler

Blue holiday, Christmas, Tree, Wreath, Decorations, Winter Season, Decor

Blue holiday, Christmas, Tree, Wreath, Decorations, Winter Season, Decor, Elf, Chicago Restaurant, Elf on the Shelf

SLEIGH TO THE POP-UPS

There will be a pop-up craze this holiday season with brand collaborations. With the constant changes we face in the pandemic, versatility in design and emotional response lie at the heart of these pop-up environments. Heightened awareness of our surroundings is becoming essential.

Bringing the best professional disciplines from unexpected arenas is creating experiences we have never felt before. Yes, we mean FELT! 

Human connection and the need to have these moments together are the key drivers: surprise and delight. Holidays allow for extra experimentation within themed designs and interiors. In these pop-up displays, you will no longer experience the expected. With professionally-developed cocktails and fine comfort food, nostalgic energy, and elevated décor — all of these elements tie together to create the perfect themed holiday destination-worthy pop-up. This holiday season, be sure to visit our Chicago installations at Hotel Zachary, JoJo’s Shake BAR, The Fairmont, The Peninsula, The Four Seasons, and Waldorf Astoria.

Read our, CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO: KEHOE DESIGNS HOLIDAY MAGIC blog on Crafted!

Hotel Zachary Holiday Decor in Chicago, Mistletoe at Hush Money