Visual merchandising for business

23.03.2018

While parents are wondering where to hide the Easter eggs for their children, retailers are already contemplating decorations and decor for the upcoming 2018/2019 Christmas season. After all, the design and presentation of stores and display windows are an important factor that helps to get consumers in a festive holiday mood and inspires them to start buying their many Christmas presents early.

And that’s why we have decided to take a look at this year’s design trends for this Christmas season and show the decorations and accessories you can‘t go wrong with this year. Get inspired by the colors, materials, and styles presented here and transform your business into a customer magnet in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The somewhat different Christmas tree

Needless to say, in this part of the world, the Christmas tree adorned with ornaments is one of the classic decorative elements of the season. If you think a real tree takes up too much space, drops too many needles and is simply impractical as a decoration in your store, maybe it’s time to consider some contemporary craft alternatives. After all, beautiful ornaments shine just as brightly on “Christmas trees“ with a purist and minimalist design made of metal or wood to display or hang decorations.

Christmas decoration copyright: iXtenso/Pott

Craftsmanship

You simply can’t go wrong with decorations that are a symbolic representation of Christmas trees. Simple adornments made of wood in its natural, untreated state combined with other materials such as glass, metal, felt or paper are perfectly suited for this.

Candles and Christmas decorations © iXtenso / Pott

This year features an aesthetic trend that emphasizes artisanal craftsmanship. This nod to tradition can be enhanced with modern elements and warm colors such as red, yellow or gold.

Poinsettia from branches ; Copyright: iXtenso / Pott

Noble aesthetics

The combination of wood and metal can be used for whimsical decorative elements. Materials like metals or sheet metal create perfect accents. When you think of metal, the material might at first seem cold and not very festive and full of Christmas cheer. Yet decorations that feature a rust effect are very trendy at the moment. The rust color exudes warmth and adds a vintage and romantic feel.

Christmas decoration in chrome look; Copyright: iXtenso / Pott

Patina

A different store design, style, and product selection call for an entirely different and rather cool design: one that is elegant and classy. This type of design can also benefit from metal-based materials and alloys such as silver, sheet metal, brass or bronze. The predominant colors of this type of refined and classic esthetic include white, silver, and gold. Stone and colored glass are also featured in this setting.

Christmas decoration in wood and rust optics; Copyright: iXtenso / Pott

Colors of nature

The use of rich, dark colors in the blue/green color spectrum also feels chic, elegant and timeless. High-quality decorative elements are inspired by fauna and coniferous forests and accentuate in shades of aquamarine, aventurine, powder blue and azure.

Hello Christmas elves

Something that is a must in every store window this year – and especially if you want to appeal to children – are Christmas elves (or gnomes). Thanks to the Secret Santa gift exchange custom before Christmas (called “Wichteln“ in Germany) that’s avidly facilitated by the helpful elves, these tiny mythical creatures are inextricably linked with Christmas presents. Their beards and pointy hats bring up childhood memories. Elves can also be handmade.