Chennai | Looking for Christmas decor? Here’s what is new and where to find them

From baubles in the form of doughnuts and pop icons to pink trees and sleighs that zoom around, here’s a look at what’s trending in the world of Christmas decor this year

Shelves at Christmas stores are heaving with shiny metal cupcakes, doughnuts, aeroplanes, ice cream cones... This year there has been a departure from traditional to non conventional baubles.

“We, of course, have the traditional ones like angels and stars, which people always want, but they also always want something new to add to their trees. They portray their own personalities through the decor,” says Tinu Santiago, of Advent Christmas Store on RK Salai. “A lot of our clients are pet lovers so we have puppy baubles, and almost 25-30 of our clients are home bakers so we have a lot of doughnuts and ornaments in the form of baked goodies for them,” she says.

For a lot of people space is a constraint, so we also have pencil trees that are slimmer versions of the usual voluminous trees, says Tinu. Which is another reason why the store also has compact nativity sets replete with lights, music, and revolving layers, each depicting different scenes from the night Jesus was born.

This is Advent Christmas Store’s first year in Chennai. The store opened in Bengaluru in 2019, followed by Goa in 2021. “My market research showed that Chennai has last minute shoppers. A lot of them start buying ornaments and trees by December 10,” smiles Tinu as she makes her way through the store that is brimming with fun artefacts like a lighthouse with Santa’s sleigh going around it, LED Christmas lanterns and sleighs... Centrepieces such as these are popular this year, I am told.

Reindeer, gnomes, and figurines of Santa are the source of much excitement in Roy’s Wonderland on Valluvar Kottam High Road. The other popular entrants this year include a train track that has a train chugging around the Christmas tree, and a tree with Santa in his sleigh doing his rounds.

Roy’s Wonderland is also a pop up store like Advent and opened its doors last month. “We also have stores in Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru,” says Nivedha Roy, who joined the business that was started in 1996 by her husband’s family, and is the digital marketing head. The little store stocks 500-plus accessories, including 18 varieties of trees. “The biggest one is 12 feet and is priced at ₹55,000,” she says, adding that everything is imported from Germany, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia. “Our family is passionate about Christmas and we scour markets to bring unique pieces every year be it wreaths, toppers, or even stockings,” she smiles.

Come October and a tiny stretch on the busy Ethiraj Salai comes to life with the colours of Christmas, and every imaginable decoration. The Evergreen Christmas Decoration Centre has been setting up shop here since 2015. Muthu Meena took over the mantle from her father who started the business in 1990. Every year, she tries to get the latest from the world of decorations. “People always give us their wish list. For next year, they want me to get red trees,” smiles Meena. This year the pink Christmas tree is trending. “I had around 50 of them and almost all are sold,” she says. Advent calendars, miniature models of gingerbread house, and globes that emit light from within are in demand not just for decorations but also as stocking stuffers.