Move Over Grandma Chic, Etsy Says the Holidays Are All About Grandpa Chic

It might only be the beginning of fall, but the holiday season will be here before we know it. We're looking forward to decking out our homes in holiday finery and creating new memories just as much as always. Thankfully, Etsy has just released its holiday trend report to help guide us with beautiful decorating, entertaining, and gifting ideas. One key takeaway from the report is how many people are looking for unique, handmade gifts—Etsy reports that searches for handmade gifts have increased by more than 16 times in the last three months alone.

Before you head into the holidays, take these holiday trends into account for some festive inspiration to make this season the best one yet.

Elevated Entertaining

Entertaining during the holidays is a big part of the season, and hosting a gathering in your home means making sure you have the right items on hand to make the event as memorable as can be. According to the Etsy report, searches for entertaining products have increased by 10 times over the past three months in comparison to 2022. People are more apt to gather in person now, after years of smaller, more intimate gatherings or virtual-only events. Well-made entertaining options are top searches as shoppers look to purchase hosting items that will last for years to come. Items like handmade glass- and barware have seen a 4,109 percent increase in searches, while beautifully crafted items like linen placemats have seen a 5,980 percent increase in searches.

In addition, searches for single-use or plastic entertaining products have trended down, signifying a greater emphasis on sustainability.

Gingerbread Girl

You might have heard of "tomato girl" summer earlier in the year, but this winter will be all about "gingerbread girl" season. Etsy describes the gingerbread girl trend as returning to a rustic, wholesome lifestyle rooted in simplicity and, of course, baking. Think of it as cottagecore's younger sister but with more baking thrown in.

To achieve this, Etsy shoppers are looking for items that lean heavily into warm tones, cozy textures, and vintage pieces. Searches for items like ruffled bedding and gingham bedding are both up by 35 and 34 percent, respectively, while kitchen baking supplies like personalized recipe boxes and holiday cookie cutters have seen a 28 percent and 24 percent surge in searches, respectively.

Grandpa Chic

If you love rich tones like forest greens and tobacco browns and leather accessories or wood accents, you might already be living the "grandpa chic" aesthetic. Etsy names this emerging trend as related to the popular coastal grandmother and grandmillenial trends we've seen but with a slightly more masculine bent. How does this show up in holiday decor? Dark green plaid textiles, darker wood, and leather all characterize this aesthetic, according to Etsy. In fact, Etsy has seen searches for things like leather poufs and wood and marble coasters increase significantly—up by three times and four times the average, respectively.

Mantlescaping

Why should tablescapes have all the fun? We love a beautifully decorated mantle any time of the year, but the holidays offer such a unique time to really go all out and make the mantle sparkle. According to Etsy, mantlescaping (or, styling your mantle in a beautiful and unique way) is the newest trend to take over for the season. Searches for items like candle lanterns, ceramic trees, and accent ornaments are all up over 50 percent. Mantlescaping is a great way to add some depth to your home holiday decor this year.

Candycore

The holidays aren't complete without some candy—otherwise, how would you embellish your gingerbread house? Etsy is dubbing 2023 the year of Candycore, inspired by a year of all things pink but taking on a slightly more pastel hue moving into the holidays and incorporating motifs inspired by a sugary fantasy world full of gumdrops, lollipops, and of course, candy canes. The trend plays into playful patterns, delicious colors, and bright, shiny materials.

To that end, searches for items like cotton candy cakes have doubled in search interest on Etsy, while searches for things like beautiful stained glass ornaments and iridescent sequined items are both up 34 and 50 percent respectively.

Meaningful Memories

The holiday season would be nothing without the memories that give us the reason for celebrating each year. With more people traveling to spend time with their loved ones again, searches for travel essentials on Etsy are up over 10 times, with travel planner searches doubling in the same three month period.