10 Trends That Will Be Everywhere This 2021 Holiday Season

We’ve sung the praises of faux fur blankets, but this winter, you can cover your whole house in fluffy stuff. Exhausted before the holidays even begin? Rest your head on a jewel-toned faux fur pillow while wearing a plush, lavender-scented eye mask. Need a white feather tree straight out of Whoville? How about a matching ball ornament to hang on it? Or a Harry Potter Pygmy Puff to put under it? But wait! Pet-like accents aren’t just for indoors. This glitzy pink wreath either says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” or “Elle Woods lives here.” Either way, we’re dreaming of a soft Christmas.

Shop the trend: Feather Ball Ornament ($6); Mila Faux Fur Pillow ($29); Fluffy Large White Tree ($35); Large Purple Pygmy Puff ($35); Faux Fur Relaxation Gift Set ($58); Flecked Pink Wreath ($65)

Call it shire chic. There’s no doubt gnomes are having a moment. But in related news, mushrooms are absolutely everywhere. From elegant ornaments to Goop-endorsed, mushroom-based hot cocoa mix, to mushroom-lidded crock pots, fabulous funghi are finding fertile ground. In fact, reports Etsy’s resident trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, searches for mushroom décor are up by a whopping 366% this year. Dig a little, and it all starts to make sense: Mushrooms are non-denominational, organic and unintimidating. Need an irreverent stocking stuffer? Try this toadstool ringstand. Or deck your halls with a whimsical mushroom and moss wreath. Who says fairy garden vibes have to be a Spring thing?

Shop the trend: Toad Stool Ring Dish ($15); Mushroom Lidded Soup Crock ($18); Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix with Reishi ($20); Nathalie Lete Mushroom Ornament ($22); Mushroom + Moss Wreath ($198)

Over on Etsy, there’s been a 228% surge in searches for custom neon signs. The trend is gift-able: Give a teen’s room an instant makeover by putting her name in lights. It’s also refreshing: Skip the poinsettias and simply hang a festive neon sign instead. Or pick one with a cozy, calming mantra. Merry. And definitely bright.

Shop the trend: Custom Neon Name Sign ($99); “Joy” Neon Wall Light ($60); “Let’s Stay Home” LED Neon Sign ($499)

Leave the fire pits to the campers and cavemen. There are now indoor electric S’mores roasters. Engravable S’mores roasting sets. High-end gift kits like Frog Hollow Farm, featuring an organic chocolate bar crafted from hand-selected Peruvian cacao beans. But no one has changed the S’mores game like LA’s Smoreology. They will ship their innovative, artisanal kits (or even a “flight” of mini-S’mores) nationwide. Sweet.

Shop the trend: Personalized S’Mores Roasting Set ($25); Nostalgia Indoors Electric Stainless Steel S’Mores Maker ($35); Smoreology Salty Ex S’Mores Kit ($65); Frog Hollow Farm S’Mores Kit ($70)

The leveling-up of pool floats and sprinklers has come for sleds. Chic-beyond-your-wildest-dreams design. Intended for epic action. We are coveting the inflatable shotskis and Cardigan Toboggan from the game changers at Fun Boy. Or we were… because we are now tracking shipping.

Shop the trend: Plaid Inflatable Shotskis (2-pack for $39); Cardigan Toboggan Snow Sled ($79)

Speaking of inflatables…These days, stunning, muted, pastel bounce houses worthy of Architectural Digest are showing up in influencers’ feeds. A way for kids to release all that pent-up winter energy that also complements our color scheme? Jump on these before they sell out.

Shop the trend: Rainbow Gate Bouncer ($369)

Purse Pets are not just adorable accessories. Press their foreheads and they’ll blow kisses, release a flurry of camera clicks (Who called the paparazzi?!) and bat their lashes. Peek-A-Roo is a cuddly marsupial from the makers of Hatchimals, who births a mystery baby when you squeeze its foot (apparently, mythical creatures need no epidurals). This responsive Baby Yoda (See: moving head, blinking eyes, arms that reach up to be held) reacts when you put stuff in his hands. He’s also a picky eater. “Put an accessory in his mouth, and he'll make eating sounds that let you know if he thinks it's yummy or yucky!” say the instructions. Just like an earthly toddler.

Shop the trend: Purse Pet ($25); Peek-A-Roo ($60); Star Wars: The Mandalorian Galactic Snackin' Grogu ($80)

Gender-neutral Legos. A Jojo Siwa Cabbage Patch Doll. American Girl Dolls with hearing aides, service dogs, wheelchairs, Diabetes care kits, and more. The list of toys that reflect kids’ diverse needs and identities is growing longer. Representation matters. And thankfully, toy store shelves are starting to show it.

Shop the trend: JoJo Siwa Cabbage Patch Doll ($40); American Girl UltraLight Wheelchair ($42)

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Lifting Serum. The practice of packaging high-end samples into a countdown calendar has reached fever pitch. And why not? Is there any greater gift than good skin? Joy to the world: My Augustinus Bader has come.

Shop the trend: Net-A-Porter 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar ($350); Dr. Barbara Sturn Advent Calendar ($495) on Revolve

Innovative waffle makers are 2021’s answer to the cool cookie cutter and novelty ice mold trends of yesteryear. The Hong Kong Bubble Waffle Maker produces tiny spheres you can dust with powdered sugar for an edible snowman. Or simply sprinkle some of the sweet stuff on your Snowflake waffles. Toddlers won’t be able to resist 3D cars and trucks for breakfast. Or perhaps you’d like to eat your waffles in the shape of Texas? And behold: a waffle iron that makes buildable, edible bricks! Lego my Eggo indeed.

Shop the trend: Snowflake Waffle Maker ($40); Cars and Trucks Waffle Maker ($40); Hong Kong Bubble Waffle Maker ($50); The Texas Waffle Maker ($54); Building Brick Waffle Maker ($60)