Every year around Christmas, I confidently tell myself, “I’m just going to reuse my decor from last year. No new purchases.” And every year—without fail—I stumble onto whatever the latest holiday trend is. This year, the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic was no different. One mid-October scroll through Pinterest and suddenly that promise I made to myself didn’t stand a chance. At first, I wasn’t completely sold on the trend. It felt like such a shift from the modern decor I’d been leaning into over the past few seasons, and I honestly wasn’t sure it fit my style.
But as I kept scrolling, something about this Ralph Lauren Christmas look began to stir up this nostalgic feeling. The deeper I went, the more I fell in love with the warmth it brings. The rich, moody palette of burgundy, emerald, and sapphire—layered with brass accents, crystal details, and deep mahogany wood—just felt inviting. It was a completely different direction for me, but one that I couldn’t stop thinking about. At the very least, it felt like the perfect way to take a break from the decor I’d been using for so long.
And really, it made sense. Nostalgia is having such a moment right now, and with how much I love mixing old and new pieces throughout my home, this Ralph Lauren Christmas trend felt surprisingly fitting. I’ve been thrifting unique decor for years because I love the character it brings, so leaning into this style almost felt… inevitable.
Enter, Tartan.
So naturally, like any decor idea or project I take on, I commit. It’s never enough for me to grab a couple of plaid throw blankets and a few brass candlesticks and call it a day. I wanted to dig deeper—into the florals, the greenery, and the way everything was styled. Those details are what truly define a trend. I mean, poinsettias have been around forever, but it’s the vase you place them in—the texture, the finish, the scale—that transforms them into something that feels distinctly Ralph Lauren Christmas inspired.
Of course, that meant my first stop was the thrift store. If you’re recreating the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend, do not skip this step. I repeat: DO NOT SKIP the thrift or antique store. The gems you’ll find are unmatched, trust me. If I’d had more time that day, I would’ve hit every thrift shop within a 20-mile radius, but thankfully, the one closest to my home did not disappoint, and I walked out with several treasures.
Once I found a few gems, the next step was digging through all my Christmas decor bins at home. Some might argue this should’ve come first… and maybe they’re right. But when inspiration hits, I must shop. Truly, these steps are interchangeable, but both are essential. After reviewing what I already had, I made a list of the final pieces I still needed to pull everything together—and of course, you know tartan was at the top.
Tartan is a staple pattern in the world of Ralph Lauren. Pick up one holiday catalog and you’ll instantly see how iconic and prominent this print really is to the brand. It feels regal, elevated, and truly acts as the glue that brings all the elements of a Ralph Lauren Christmas look together. I grabbed a spool of red tartan ribbon and a few red tartan pillow covers because I knew my anchor color would be deep reds and burgundies.
For my dining room, I debated going with a full tartan tablecloth—which, admittedly, I haven’t used in years—but it’s a key staple of the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic. Still, I couldn’t quite commit. My dining table, while a good size, isn’t a formal piece that gets used once in a blue moon. It’s our everyday table, and a gorgeous tartan tablecloth would last about five minutes with toddler crumbs and spills. So instead, I took the practical-mom-with-a-toddler route and opted for a beautiful green tartan table runner. It brings the richness and warmth of the full look without the formality (or constant laundry) of a full tablecloth. I highly recommend this route if you want that inviting, classic warmth—without the full tablecloth commitment. Because let’s be real… it is a commitment.
Cue the tiny details.
Once I had everything I needed, I finally got to decorating. Now, I won’t lie and pretend I did this in a day—because let’s be honest, Christmas decorating rarely takes a day for anyone. For me, it took about four. There’s the digging through boxes, figuring out what you don’t need, moving ten things just to reach the one thing you do need… you know exactly how it goes. Any avid decorator will tell you: it’s a process.
This is also why I started decorating on November 10 (gasp!). I know—I broke my own rule of waiting until after Thanksgiving. But with Thanksgiving falling in the final days of November this year, four weeks just didn’t feel like enough time to enjoy all the effort this was going to take. I wanted to actually live in the cozy magic I was creating, not rush through it. And honestly, I’m glad I did. So don’t set arbitrary rules for yourself if putting your decor up early brings you joy. Thanksgiving is still hugely important to our family, and it still gets its own moment. But Christmas needed a little extra this year—and I’m not sorry about it.
Okay, let’s get back on track.
To truly achieve this beautiful Ralph Lauren Christmas look, my best advice is to decorate slowly. Move things around, step back, see how it feels… and maybe tie on a velvet bow while you’re at it. Just take your time. This aesthetic doesn’t feel rushed or hurried—it’s all about the pause, the slow-down, the savoring. So decorate with that mindset.
Mix your brass with your silver. Fill a deep mahogany bowl with lush florals. Add a velvet bow to your crystal candlesticks. Play with textures, because that’s the heartbeat of this trend. And once you’re done, you’ll be amazed at how beautifully everything comes together—I promise.
Tie a ribbon on it and call it a day.
And just as I encourage you to take your time decorating, there’s also a moment to step back and be content with how it all turned out—without feeling the need to keep adding more pieces. There is such a thing as too much, and with this elevated trend, you want to avoid clutter. As the iconic Coco Chanel once said, “Before you leave the house, take one thing off.” While she was talking about fashion, the same rule applies to home decor. Sometimes, less really is more—especially when you’re trying to capture the elegance of a Ralph Lauren Christmas home.
Now for the cheat sheet:
Here are my Ralph Lauren Christmas trend must-haves. Incorporate a few of these, and you’re sure to capture the essence of this beautiful, elevated look:
- Tartan patterns – Ribbons, bows, ornaments, throw blankets, and pillows
- Crystal or glass – Candlestick holders, hurricane vases, stemware, ornate ornaments
- Poinsettias and roses – All shades of red; the fuller, the better
- Holly berries – Stems, bunches or wreaths
- Lush cedar garland
- Velvet textures – Ribbons, bows, pillows, blankets, ornaments
- Brass and silver metals – Tree toppers, ornaments, candlestick holders, shelf decor
- Deep wood textures & colors – Decorative bowls, shelf decor, furniture pieces
- Candles – White, green, burgundy; candlesticks and pillar candles
- Old, vintage books and trays – Perfect for layering and styling
Happy decorating, my sweet friends! Be sure to check out my Amazon Storefront for so many more Ralph Lauren inspired items to help your Christmas decorating come to life! And don’t forget to tag me in your photos and videos on social (IG: @marie_ruskin or TikTok: @marieruskin). I love seeing how creative everyone gets with this trend!
♥ If simple Christmas decor is more your thing, this centerpiece is a great option.
♥♥ Five tips for hosting an intimate Friendsgiving dinner that’s sure to make you the hostess with the mostest
Leave a Reply