Furry, fuzzy, fluffy: holiday decor with a soft touch
This season, faux furs, wools and other softly textured materials are giving holiday decor a cozy, festive feel.
The trend was prominent at this fall’s Maison et Objet trade show in Paris. Booths were populated with winsome, appliquéd, felt people and animals. Glamorous, jewel-toned feather trees dressed up tabletops. There were furry pillows printed with wildlife photos or embellished with metallic threads, sequins and pearls.
“That natural, organic, homespun feeling was all over the runways and it’s trending at home too,” New York designer Elaine Griffin says. “For holiday, it manifests as an emphasis on bringing the outdoors in – think stylish, simple-chic arrangements of branches, leaves, berries, pine cones and moss – coupled with cozy, textured, wintry textiles like felt, faux fur and chenille.”
There’s a lot of versatility in these materials because faux fur, brushed wool, hides and even velvet or feathers can say “winter cabin” as easily as “luxury suite.” It’s all in how you incorporate other style elements.
Emily Henderson, host of HGTV’s “Secrets from a Stylist” and a Target home-style expert, is also a fan.
“Yarn and wovens are two of my favorites – they make a space feel extra warm and welcoming, which is what the holidays are all about,” she says.
Some examples from retailers:
– Little cone trees wrapped in cream-colored yarn, from Target’s Threshold holiday collection, make a cozy tablescape. Here too are felted wool deer, bears and snowmen ready to create an arboreal winter woodland. A photo-printed stag on a soft, velvety throw pillow makes for a welcoming accessory. (target.com)
– Restoration Hardware’s felt stocking garland is a different take on the advent calendar. And there are plushy gift bags and stockings in faux fur. (restorationhardware.com)
– At Z Gallerie, long-haired faux fur runners, tree skirts and wine bags come in cream or gray. (zgallerie.com)
– Frontgate has Christmas stockings crafted of sumptuous coral or burgundy velvet. (frontgate.com)
– Grandin Road has a collection of hooked wool pillows with whimsical images of moose, cardinals, foxes and various canines sporting holiday garb. A faux fur throw that looks like pheasant feathers could be repurposed as a glamorous tree skirt. Or get creative with 5 feet of chocolate-y brown faux fur trim, from New Orleans-based ribbon designer Donna Stevens. It could edge a mirror, wrap a gift or garland a tree, perhaps. (grandinroad.com)
– Children and nature lovers might enjoy Pier 1’s whimsical stockings embroidered with owls or squirrels and embellished with a faux fur collar and tail. Red and white felt snowflakes come in garland or placemat form. (pier1.com)
– H&M Home has sets of white, faux-fur balls on gold ribbons, and black or white feathers nestled in clear glass ornaments on silvery loops. (hm.com)
– Wisteria has a collection of fun, furry round pillows that look like giant snowballs; set a pile of them around an indoor evergreen or toss them in the playroom for faux snowball fights. (wisteria.com)
This undated photo provided by Restoration Hardware shows their Luxe faux fur drawstring bags which make glamorous gift holders, as well as décor. (RH via AP)
This undated photo provided by Target shows a soft, cozy throw pillow which features a plaid and stag print, from Threshold. (Target via AP)
This undated photo provided by Restoration Hardware shows their Luxe faux fur drawstring bags which make glamorous gift holders, as well as décor. (RH via AP)
This undated photo provided by Target shows creamy felt winter animal ornaments that can decorate lots of different things, and can stay out after the holidays to warm up winter. (Target via AP)
This undated photo provided by Target shows a tabletop tree dressed in strands of yarn and makes a soft and welcoming decoration. (Target via AP)
This undated photo provided by Restoration Hardware shows their charming wool felt advent calendar stocking garland, which is a clever way to count down the days to Christmas. (RH Baby & Child via AP)





