Christmas 2024 trends you’ll regret if you hate cleaning 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with homes across the UK embracing the festive spirit as they adorn their spaces with twinkling decorations. 

Whatever your go-to Christmas theme is - traditional, whimsical, minimalist, or modern - there are always new trends going viral on social media in the lead-up to the festivities. 

And while it can be tempting to hop on everything new and sparkly, added decor = added cleaning, which might not leave too many people feeling all that jolly. 

As such, our interior design experts here at Online Carpets have analysed the last two years of Pinterest trends data around Christmas decoration ideas and revealed the 5 worst ones to do if you hate extra cleaning. Check them out below: 

The 5 Christmas decoration ideas to avoid if you hate cleaning

1. TikTok’s DIY Garland Hack

Perhaps the trend of the season, the DIY shower curtain rod garland hack from TikTok is EVERYWHERE, but you may want to think twice if you hate cleaning. 

Most shower curtain rods use tension to be held up, and if you are putting a fair few garlands, lights, and decorations on it, you’ll most likely want it to be very secure to avoid your display from falling. 

However, if the shower curtain rod is very tight it can end up damaging the paint on the wall and leaving impact marks like it’s been pushed in. Leaving you with some new walls to colour match and paint come January. Not to mention, all the decorations you pop up on the rod are dust collectors! 

2. Christmas Village Sets

Miniature Christmas village sets are popping up in every homestore, giving you the chance to make custom creations of magical wintery scenes with a touch of nomadic design. 

While there’s no denying Christmas village sets add a warm and cosy feel to your Christmas decor, these miniature village sets tend to be made up of lots of little features, making them notorious dust collectors. Cleaning these detailed displays can be a delicate task, as each tiny piece must be dusted by hand to avoid damage. 

If you’re dead set on this trend, opt for larger pieces that are easier to clean and don’t need as much TLC.

3. Tinsel Trees

Tinsel trees are perfect for those who are short on time and space! From golden trees for a more traditional look, or if you're a maximalist, bright colours that match your decor.  Tinsel is a classic staple of any Christmas decor, but it’s also notorious for shedding glitter and strands everywhere, sticking to just about everything but the kitchen sink. 

Once tinsel gets in your soft furnishings like rugs and carpets, it’s nearly impossible to vacuum up completely, and you’ll likely spend the full of 2025 finding tinsel strands in rooms the tree wasn’t even in, making it an unideal choice for low maintenance homes. 

4. Artificial Snow

From snow spray to flocked garlands and Christmas trees, the artificial snow look is undoubtedly the go-to trend for 2024, with John Lewis even releasing a Christmas theme, Dawn & Dusk, around this trend. 

While these decorations may make your home look like a winter wonderland, they can have their disadvantages when it comes to cleaning. And new research from 100Green also found that they’re not particularly great for the environment either. 

Snow spray on windows or garlands often leaves a sticky residue that’s difficult to remove. Over time, it collects dust and dirt, turning yellow and requiring multiple rounds of scrubbing to clean off. 

Instead, opt for LED snowflakes or adhesive-free window stickers if you prefer a low-maintenance, snow-kissed effect.

Similarly, flocked trees are notorious for shedding white powder that can cling to carpets, laminate, and other upholstery. The ‘snow’ can even clog vacuum filters over time. 

If you love the look, consider a white tree or use small flocked branches instead, which are easier to manage and clean up.

5. Dried Orange Slices and Cinnamon Sticks

Natural and rustic, dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks add warmth to Christmas décor, often seen on garlands and wreaths. 

However, they’re susceptible to mould in humid homes and can attract insects if left out too long. Plus, they tend to lose their vibrant colour and become brittle, leaving behind tiny pieces that can create sticky messes on surfaces. 

If you are going to opt for this trend, you’ll need to be certain they’re fully dehydrated, otherwise they won’t last any more than a few weeks. 

From decorations to countless guests and maybe a spill or two during the festive fun, it’s only natural that our homes might feel a bit more chaotic over the Christmas period. 

To ensure you’re always prepared for when festive accidents happen, check out some of our household cleaning blogs: 

• How to keep your carpets clean
• How to clean laminate flooring 
• How to get chocolate out of carpet 
• How to get spilled candle wax out of carpet
• How to clean pet mess out of carpet