Nina Dobrev's Christmas Tree Is A Minimalist Spin On The 'Ralph Lauren' Aesthetic Dominating Our 2026 Decor – It's Traditional Yet Pared Back
'Ralph Lauren' interiors have been everywhere this season, and the actor tapped in before it was cool – here's how she harnesses the trend understatedly
There's one name on everyone's lips this season: Ralph Lauren. Across social media and editorial coverage, the designer's timeless aesthetic is bringing a traditional navy, red, and green palette back into our conceptions of Christmas. Though the name is new, those in the know have been tapping into the style for years. Nina Dobrev was one such early adopter.
The actor posted her Christmas tree idea back in 2023, and already it was a celebration of traditional style. On the third slide of her Instagram carousel, you can spot the red, blue, green, and gold tree with a gold star atop. It's the perfect complement to her English cottage-style home.
The Ralph Lauren Christmas trend has been impossible to ignore. Google data shows that searches for 'Ralph Lauren Christmas' have climbed by 831% over the past month, and searches for 'heritage interior design' have surged by 371% in the same period. However, Nina Dobrev's tree shows that there's more than one way to tap into the style. Rather than over the top plaids and classic garlands, she opts for a more minimalist take featuring traditional ornaments and a star.
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Fortunately, Nina's idea proves that all you need to embody the Ralph Lauren aesthetic is the right Christmas tree color scheme. Anyone can recreate this look in their home.
Jo Plant, Chief Creative Officer at Pooky, advises: 'One of the key characteristics of a Ralph Lauren Christmas is its heritage color scheme, so when decorating your space, use deep reds, rich greens, and warm browns to mimic the decor seen in a Ralph Lauren shop. As this color scheme is similar to that of a traditional Christmas, matching ornaments and decor can be found in many high-street shops.'
Recreate Nina's Christmas Tree Decor at Home
This pre-lit tree offers a timeless, effortlessly elegant look. With 2,000 branch tips of realistic green PVC and PE pine, it boasts a full, cashmere-soft feel that looks natural and provides the perfect backdrop for red ornaments.
Bring a festive pop of red to your tree with this set of eight classic ornaments. Their timeless hue captures the spirit of the season, ensuring a beautiful display year after year.
Like the details on Nina Dobrev’s tree, this piece features a bright gold finish with a timeless appeal. You can trust it will look just as stunning next Christmas and for many holidays to come.
Red, white, green, and gold have been holiday classics for centuries, making them the perfect starting point for your décor. Nina Dobrev proves there’s every reason to embrace these timeless colors.
A Ralph Lauren tree would be incomplete without a touch of personality, and this felted dog has the perfect elevated energy. This little guy would be so cute positioned among glass ornaments.
As Nina Dobrev's home shows, another hallmark of the trend is warm metallics. A glittering star, glass baubles, and shimmering nutcrackers can go a long way to evoke the beloved holiday decor theme.
Jo explains: 'When looking at the finer points of the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic, metallic accents bring a luxurious feel to the trend. Ralph Lauren will often use brass and gold accents throughout their designs, so make sure to add them to your decor. A great way to do this is by using gold or brass lamps throughout your space. As lamps often come in metal tones, these pieces can be used throughout the year, not just for your Ralph Lauren Christmas scape, making them a great addition to your home.'
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Adopting a trend doesn't mean you have to take on the entire look wholesale; instead, you can tap into the look slowly, incorporating your favorite elements first. Christmas is the perfect time to do so.

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.
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