Holiday decor for every tradition on display

What’s the big trend for holiday home decorating this season? Nothing in particular – and it’s almost by design.

Instead of a mass focus on a single decor element – reindeer, snowmen, candy canes – shoppers will see a lot of everything on display and available in stores this season, according to some independent Modesto merchants.

“Nothing really stands out,” said Pam O’Brien, co-owner of At Home at Dale and Pelandale avenues in Modesto, where a large display of life-like bears greets customers at the door. “We couldn’t find an ‘it’ and we shopped for it for weeks.”

Instead, stores are offering all sorts of Christmas items and, yes, colors. But the emphasis leans toward traditional this year and a lighter hand with hues that stray from reds and greens or icy blues. Still around, however, are nods to black that add a level of rustic sophistication to some designs and the kicky chartreuse evident in more whimsical displays.

A somewhat new look – one that mirrors a current general interior design trend – is the melding of silver and gold elements rather than limiting the glitter and metallic tones to either/or in displays.

The emphasis on traditional decor this year answers a call to what most people in the region prefer, O’Brien said. “People in the valley are a little more conservative and traditional down deep.”

“It’s gone back to a little more traditional,” agreed Chandra Cunha, owner of Mulberry Lane in McHenry Village, which specializes in vintage decor. “Traditional materials, colors, silver and gold, black, tin items – this year there’s a lot of that.”

At David & David in McHenry Village, traditional Christmas wares are king, with shelves and tables filled with items that conjure a nostalgic feel.

Owner Ron David said his perennial top sellers include a porcelain Santa in a vintage car as well as a large leather sleigh that can be filled with any number of holiday decorations.

Like many shops, Farmer’s Daughter in the Village has set up several small Christmas trees decorated with ornaments in themes such as cooking, sports, pets, travel, hunting, farming and others.

“People have their collections, they have their own themes, so they want to add to those,” said owner Cheri Merenda.

At Keller’s, customers will find a change from one store tradition – the one that sent customers upstairs annually to the locally famous Christmas shop. This year, the McHenry Village retailer has holiday wares downstairs, at the back of the store.

While this is not the first time the Christmas shop has been downstairs, it’s best known as an upstairs feature. Co-owner Joyce Keller said they moved the display this year when extra space became available.

“During the recession we made our store smaller. This year the Village rented the back space that we had relinquished and built a wall to separate us from the new tenant. When that happened we realized we had approximately 2,000 square feet in the rear of our store that could accommodate the Christmas Shop. We wanted a new fresh look and our customers have responded very positively,” Keller said in an email interview.

One tradition that Keller’s father began 40 years ago at the store continues – a free ornament from a children’s tree for little ones who stop by.

Speaking of tradition, Christmas decor doesn’t get much more traditional than in nativity scenes and several stores are featuring a variety this year, from simple to elaborate, including At Home, Keller’s and Portico.

At Portico – also in McHenry Village – classic is the key. “In general, we buy classic, we don’t buy real trendy,” co-owner Sarah Grover said.

“So people can build on a look from year-to-year,” added her sister and co-owner, Emma Grover.

Business owners agree that customers generally are not looking to go wholesale crazy on themes that can be short-term trendy. Instead, most buy to add a few items each year that carry on their own family traditions – be that nostalgic, natural, whimsical, vintage or other-themed.

Still, many customers’ personal traditions do change over the years, noted At Home’s O’Brien.

“When you have children, you fill your house with that,” she said, pointing to a display of playful elves, stuffed items and other Santa’s workshop-themed wares in her store. “Then later in life, you buy out the gilded balls.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Holiday decor for every tradition on display."