David Beckham's nostalgic Christmas tradition infuses memory and fun into every holiday – it's an instant update you can do right up to the last minute
The soccer player's easy-to-update festive decor demonstrates the importance of traditions in holiday decorating – it's simple and affordable


This year's Christmas decorating trends all tap into one theme: nostalgia. From using vintage ornaments to colorful lights and tinsel, current decor ideas encourage homemakers to tap into motifs from yore to inspire a memory-filled holiday. David Beckham introduced a new twist on the trend by filling his office with a group of partying Elves on the Shelf, spotted in a recent Instagram video.
Nothing is more reminiscent of childhood than an Elf on the Shelf. If you grew up in the early 2000s (I did), you will remember the inescapable presence of these festive dolls as Christmas decor. Traditionally, families will have one elf that acts as a 'spy' for Santa. Overnight, parents can move the elves into different positions around the home to surprise the children. It's a decoration and a holiday tradition all in one.
In his iteration of the Elf on the Shelf trend, David Beckham multiplies the toys. Beckham's office boasts five elves arranged around a large speaker. It's an inspiration for how to play with elves on the shelf in a home in a different way. The more the merrier vibe of Beckham's take on Elf on the Shelf makes Christmas all the more fun. Children will love the fun, over-the-top energy of the decoration.
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Bring the Christmas energy with this classic Elf on the shelf design. It includes the Elf on the Shelf book, so you can easily explain the tradition to young children.
Team H&G is in agreement: This is the must-have Christmas accessory of the year. Featuring Martha Stewart in her classic, refined look, this playful elf doll is essential for anyone who loves the iconic lifestyle guru. Ideal for mantels, shelves, or consoles, this doll brings Martha’s iconic home decor inspiration to your seasonal settings. It's an instant crowd-winner (trust us, we've experienced this).
Imagine Snoop Dogg himself gracing your holiday setup – now it's a reality (almost). Complete with the most stylish festive gear we could imagine, and with his laid-back attitude intact, this Snoop doll is the another iconic twist on the classic elf. The only way to improve is to pair him with Martha.
The fun festivity of Beckham's Christmas trend demonstrates that memory is more important than beauty when it comes to holiday decorating. Rather than focusing exclusively on aesthetics, this type of decor prioritizes making family memories and building nostalgia for holidays spend together.
To emulate his idea, choose a variety of Elves on the Shelf to create a fun and enticing spread. We absolutely love Martha on the Mantle and Snoop on the Stoop as fun ways to mix it up.
Nostalgia is always in style, and according to Beckham, so is Elf on the Shelf.
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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.
In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.
Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.