Handmade, Joyful & Full of Personality

Christmas crafting is getting a wonderfully personal makeover in 2026. This year, it’s less about creating a perfectly coordinated home and more about making decorations that tell a story, reflect your personality and bring a little extra joy to the festive season.

At Lilac Sprig, we love anything that encourages creativity, so here are some of the Christmas crafting trends we think will be big this year.

1. Handmade Christmas is back in a big way

There’s something incredibly special about decorations that have been made rather than simply bought. Handmade pieces bring texture, character and a sense of nostalgia to Christmas – and they can become decorations that you bring out year after year.

Felt is perfect for this trend. From Christmas flowers and foliage to little trees, stars and festive characters, felt decorations are soft, colourful and wonderfully versatile. Better still, you can choose colours that work with your existing decorations rather than starting from scratch.

2. Maximalist Christmas – more is more!

Minimalist Christmas decorating is making room for something much more playful. In 2026, expect to see colourful trees, layered garlands, quirky ornaments, plenty of texture and decorations that don't take themselves too seriously.

Think traditional reds and greens mixed with pinks, blues, lilacs or mustard yellows. Add bows, pom-poms, felt flowers and handmade ornaments for a tree that feels collected rather than perfectly matched.

The best thing about maximalism? There really are no rules!

3. Vintage-inspired crafting

Nostalgia continues to influence Christmas style, with vintage-inspired decorations bringing back the charm of Christmases past. Think traditional motifs, old-fashioned colour combinations, woodland creatures, handmade stockings and decorations that look as though they could have been passed down through the family.

You don't need genuine vintage pieces to achieve the look. Handmade felt decorations can give your Christmas tree that lovely homespun, heirloom feel – especially when combined with decorations you've collected over the years.

4. Sustainable Christmas crafting

More of us are thinking about what happens to our decorations after Christmas. Crafting your own decorations is a lovely way to create something meaningful while avoiding the need to constantly replace mass-produced seasonal décor.

Reusable felt decorations are particularly useful because they can be packed away carefully and enjoyed for many Christmases to come. You can also use leftover felt and craft materials to make smaller decorations, gift tags and embellishments.

5. Make it personal

Perhaps the biggest Christmas crafting trend of all is making decorations that are uniquely yours.

Why not create an ornament for each member of the family, make decorations in a child's favourite colours or craft something to mark a special event from the year? Handmade Christmas decorations don't have to be perfect – in fact, the little imperfections are often what make them special.

So, whether you're planning a colourful maximalist tree, creating a collection of handmade heirlooms or simply looking for a relaxing festive project, 2026 is the perfect year to get crafting.

Put the kettle on, gather your favourite colours and enjoy making something beautiful for Christmas. After all, the best decorations aren't just the ones we put on the tree – they're the memories we make while creating them.