Marketplace Insights: 2023 Holiday Trends

Before you know it, shoppers will be looking to spruce up their homes for the holiday season and starting to tackle their gift lists. And that means now is the perfect time to introduce new items in your shop, or update perennial favorites with fresh photos featuring seasonal styling. From alternative Christmas trees that last past the season, to attention-grabbing red dresses, this celebration season will be filled with smart, stylish choices—and some unexpected flair.

Read on to learn about the festive themes we anticipate will be popular in the coming months, based on historical Etsy search data and industry forecasting.

We’ve broken down this year’s annual guide by seasonal themes: style, decor, and gifting. To see how trends within these buckets have evolved in recent months, check out our last Marketplace Insights report on 2023 fall trends.

The year-over-year (YoY) increases below were calculated by comparing search volume on Etsy from June through July 2023 to the same period of 2022.

How to use this report

Key timing and occasions

How to use this report

In this quick video Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson explains how to put the content here to use.

The insights here can inspire you to make updates both big and small, from adding to your inventory to optimizing your titles and tags. Prep your shop for the upcoming season by:

Getting ideas for new products.
Brainstorming content ideas for your social media promotions.
Updating your photos with on-trend styling.
Refreshing your Shop Banner with seasonal details.
Including seasonally relevant top-searched terms in your tags, titles, and descriptions.
Timing your inventory to take advantage of upticks in relevant searches and in advance of key occasions.
Choosing which listings to promote through Etsy Ads.

Key timing and occasions

Holiday decor shopping typically starts as early as September and picks up in early November, followed by a shift in focus to gift shopping immediately after Thanksgiving (in the US). Aim to get your holiday products out as early as possible in the season to catch the wave of early planners through last-minute purchasers. Here are some key dates to consider:

October 9: Thanksgiving (CA)

November 1: All Saints (FR)

November 11: Singles Day (CH)

November 11: Armistice (FR)

November 23: Thanksgiving (US)

November 24: Black Friday

November 25: Small Business Saturday

December 3-December 24: Advent

November 27: Cyber Monday

November 28: Giving Tuesday

December 6: St. Nicholas Day (Europe)

December 7-December 15: Hanukkah

December 8: Christmas Jumper Day (UK)

December 21: Winter Solstice

December 24: Christmas Eve

December 25: Christmas Day

December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa

December 26: Boxing Day (UK, CA, AU)

December 31: New Year’s Eve

Decor trends

Cozy kitsch: Call it cottagecore, grandmillenial, or just charmingly chaotic, this festive decorating mood is all about nostalgic details. Its whimsy comes from not taking itself too seriously and being unafraid to blend different styles.

Eclectic table settings: This mix-and-match approach to dining decor feels creative and approachable. Appeal to shoppers with a variety of patterns, new and vintage pieces, and colored glassware.

225% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “colored glass dishes”

Layering: Show shoppers there’s an art to combining different styles. To tap into this trend, adopt maximalism in your product styling and photos.
Rural chic: The gingham patterns and natural woods associated with summer can work into the winter with the right styling. Showcase these alongside dried flowers, farm animals, and prairie aesthetics.

47% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “gingham bedding”

Mantel moment: Rivaling last year’s focus on the table, mantels are taking center stage this season, as they’re the natural place for displaying small impactful collections. Vases, fauna, candles, and art all help to tell a seasonal story that can easily be updated for each fresh occasion. Use your photography and styling to show shoppers how mantels are the perfect place to go bold within a limited space without breaking the bank.

673% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “candle lantern”

Evergreen holiday: Budget-minded and environmentally conscious shoppers should love this shift towards seasonless holiday decor. Help them achieve a festive look that functions past the holidays with alternative and minimalist Christmas trees, modern art menorahs, faux foliage, and a soothing natural palette driven by earth tones. Explore unexpected materials like dried mushrooms or velvet leaves when updating classic wreaths.

277% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “wooden christmas tree decor”

With sustainability in mind, many buyers are opting for ornaments made of solid hardwood over plastic. They’re looking for reusable advent calendars (including ones for pets), store-flat folded paper decorations, and reusable wrapping paper. Showcase timeless white or solid color dishes in your holiday tablescapes, highlighting how even basics can be updated for the season with smaller statement pieces like napkin holders.

Vintage vibes: Help shoppers channel the charm of holidays past with festive details from bygone eras. This year’s styles borrow and freely mix elements from a number of decades.

Candy pastels: We’ve been seeing pastels appear as a softer alternative to traditional holiday reds and greens for a while. But thanks to hints of shimmer and digital influences, this year’s muted tones are even sweeter. And don’t forget to incorporate pink: We anticipate the summer’s hottest hue will continue to play a part in autumn and winter decor.

106% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “iridescent sequin items”

Flocked reindeer: These soft, velvet-like textured creatures capture the popular retro holiday spirit. This nostalgic style befits natural reindeer and rainbow-colored versions featuring pink and bright colors.
Faux food: There’s something strangely fancy feeling about inedible fruit. Displayed on a platter, mantel, or hung on the Christmas tree, glossy apples, oranges, and pomegranates emanate mid-century style. For an extra sweet take, consider crafting too-good-to-eat bakery items like cakes.
Silver spotlight: Opt for silver finishes over gold for a fresh-feeling yet nostalgic take on holiday glam.
Antiques appreciation: Delve deeper into the past to surface Victorian details. Intricate patterns will appear on vases, platters, giftwrap, and ornaments.
Ceramic trees: Leading the pack among trending mid-century designs, these petite light-up beauties quickly deliver vintage charm. Style them with smiling Santas, nutcrackers, and Christmas village-style houses.

41% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “ceramic tree”

Country classics: Thanks to the enduring popularity of rustic farmhouse decor, we continue to see these festive looks appear as standby styles: tartan fabrics (think tablecloths and runners, cloth napkins, throw pillow covers, seasonal bedding, and tree skirts), poinsettia prints, and toile patterns in go-to Christmas shades of red and green.

60% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “ruffle bedding”

Style trends

Fairytale fashion: The most festive looks of the season take inspiration from rustic cottagecore fantasies, but add in luxe elements like satin for a bit of holiday spice. Help shoppers get the look with the following features:

Oversize bows
Over-the-knee socks
Patterned tights
Rich textures
Cozy knits
Soft velvets
Vintage costume jewelry
Detailed patterns like toile, busy floral, and landscape scenes

143% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “toile pattern”

Terrific tartan: Appearing in tasteful touches and head-to-toe ensembles, no pattern says holiday quite like plaids. This season, help shoppers get the look by layering pieces like scarves, tops, jackets, and skirts.

59% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “tartan maxi skirt”

High-contrast pairings: Black and white sets are the ultimate evergreen fashion move. Looking as fresh in winter as in the peak of summer, this dynamic duo can be dressed up or down, and it’s an easy way to tap into the refined minimalism looks trending today.

Rich earth tones: Brown is a key color this season, joined by a sea of beiges. Showcase the versatility of these neutral hues in your photographs and styling.

Red hot: As the tomato girl trend heads into holiday, we’re seeing splashes of red everywhere. This bold hue is perfect for making a statement, so use in large pieces like a coat or dress.

7% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “red dress”

Winter brights: Here to keep things from feeling too sterile, pops of playful color are appearing in all sorts of pieces, from small pick-me-up accessories to full-body statement styles.

Liquid metal: This holiday, shoppers may trade sequins for metallics in bronzes, silvers, and golds. Explore texture in the form of reptile-inspired embossing.

Gorgeous goths: Winter is the perfect time to try out dark romantic fashion styles, and this season’s take on goth keeps things slightly soft with moody florals and lace details.

Maxi moment: Shoppers opting for coverage are in luck, as hemlines are getting longer. Floor-grazing skirts feel fresh thanks to sturdy fabrics such as denim and utilitarian details like pockets and zippers.

75% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “denim maxi skirt”

Pretty ponchos: Equal parts practical and fashion-forward, capelets and blanket shawls could dominate this season. Treat them as a canvas for featuring other trends like tartan, brights, and earth tones.

‘50s revival: Recent runway shows suggest we’ll be seeing more full skirts, tapered waists, and playful polka dots come winter into spring.

Gifting trends

Practical presents: As shoppers look for value, everyday items sure to get lots of use offer extra appeal. Making special versions of routine items (like mugs, napkins, hats, and pillow cases) can help you find a sweet spot with shoppers. The key is in making ordinary objects feel a little luxurious and more enjoyable to use with upgraded materials and handmade details.

46% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for personalized ceramic mugs

Host and hostess gifts: A gesture of thoughtfulness will never go out of style. Make it easy for shoppers to thank their holiday hosts with creative gift ideas. Think: Festive wine bottle bags, sculptural candles, or linen tea towels.

162% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “tea towel gift”

Entertaining essentials: This seasonal staple is showing no signs of slowing down, as shoppers scoop up kitchen and serving items with an eye for unique handmade and vintage styles.

5,536% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for handmade barware or glassware

Cozy crafts and activities: ‘Tis the season for time together. Offer shoppers imaginative ways to bond with friends and family through creative projects. Baking tops the list of holiday pastimes, so stock sweet supplies like engraved rolling pins, custom cookie cutters, sugar stencils, measuring cup sets, and bakeware.

150% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “christmas cookie cutter stamp”

Also consider crafting DIY kits made for groups to tackle together across a range of ages and skill levels. Shoppers are also looking to make their own gifts and holiday decor, so invest in sets for making holiday items like ornaments.

Hyper-personalized gifts: Build on a classic Etsy trend with new and creative modes of customization. How can you offer new takes on existing personalization styles? Consider custom colorways or color combos, fonts and hand lettering based on a customer’s handwriting, or ways to incorporate a buyer’s family tree.

30% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “custom cocktail napkin”