Top 5 Christmas Cards Trends for 2025

Look, I get it. The holidays are barely a blip on the radar, and you’re already feeling that familiar, creeping dread. It starts as a whisper in the back of your mind around late October and eventually turns into a full-blown scream by mid-December. I’m talking about the annual Christmas cards trend of sending out cards. You know, that ritual where we all pretend we have our lives together enough to lick fifty envelopes and mail them to people we mostly communicate with via Instagram likes.

But here’s the thing: if you’re going to drop cash on postage—which, let’s be honest, costs more than the card itself these days—you might as well do it right. Nobody wants to be the person sending out the frantic, leftover box of generic snowmen they found in the discount bin at the pharmacy on Christmas Eve.

We’ve scoured the depths of the internet, from Shutterfly to Etsy, to figure out exactly what the Christmas cards trend landscape looks like for 2025. And honestly? It’s kind of a vibe. We’re seeing a shift away from the “perfect family in matching pajamas” aesthetic (thank god) toward something a little more real, a little more artistic, and definitely shinier.

So, put down the glitter glue and step away from the Comic Sans. Here is your guide to the holiday Christmas cards trend that won’t end up in the recycling bin the second January 1st. comes in.

The “Art Over Ego” Movement: Watercolor Trees and Chill

Remember when holiday cards were just an excuse to show off how much better your family vacation was than everyone else’s? Yeah, we seem to be moving past that. One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing in the Christmas cards trend data for 2025 is a move toward straight-up art.

I’m talking about designs like the “Watercolor Tree” from Shutterfly. It’s elegant, it’s simple, and it doesn’t require you to bribe your toddler to smile for a camera. There is something incredibly relieving about sending a card that is just… pretty. It takes the pressure off. You don’t need a professional photographer; you just need good taste.

These designs—often featuring soft greens, muted reds, and plenty of negative space—scream “I’m sophisticated and calm,” even if your actual holiday season is being fueled by caffeine and panic. Plus, they look fantastic on a mantelpiece, which is really the only metric that matters. If your card isn’t mantel-worthy, what are we even doing here?

Foil Stamping: Because We Are Magpies at Heart

If the minimalist watercolor vibe is too quiet for you, the other end of the spectrum is also having a moment. Foil stamping is everywhere. Gold foil, silver foil, rose gold foil—if it catches the light and distracts your relatives from reading your messy handwriting, it’s in. And because Christmas card trends are getting bolder every year, you’ll also see things like bold typography cards, luxe textured paper, and even animated QR-code video greetings making their way into the mix.

Retailers like The Gallery Collection and Amazon’s Hallmark lines are pushing these “Classic Gold Foil” designs hard. And I admit, I’m a sucker for it. There is a tactile satisfaction to running your finger over a raised, gold-embossed “Merry Christmas.” It feels expensive. It feels like you put effort in, even if you just clicked “Add to Cart” while binge-watching “Netflix” in your sweatpants.

This trend fits perfectly into the 2025 ethos of “High Effort, Low Energy.” You want the card to do the heavy lifting for you. A card that shimmers basically says, “I value our relationship enough to pay extra for the shiny paper.” And in this economy? That’s a love language. And because the Christmas cards trend won’t stop evolving, the latest wave is all about “story cards”—mini year-in-review snapshots with bite-sized updates, aesthetic layouts, and just enough personal detail to look intentional without oversharing.

The “From the Pet” Revolution

Okay, let’s get real for a second. Most of your friends like your dog more than they like you. I don’t make the rules; I just report them. This is why one of my absolute favorite aspects of the 2025 Christmas cards trend is the dedicated “From the Pet” category.

Sites like Simply to Impress have entire sections dedicated to this. It’s genius. If you’re single, or if you just really hate taking photos of yourself, slap a Santa hat on your Golden Retriever and call it a day. It’s cute, it’s funny, and it guarantees a spot on the fridge.

There is a level of self-awareness in these cards that I appreciate. We all know the holidays can be stressful and overly sentimental. Sending a card “signed” by a cat named Mr. Whiskers cuts through the noise with a bit of necessary humor. It acknowledges that we’re all just doing our best to survive the season, and sometimes the only thing keeping us tethered to sanity is a furry creature who eats kibble.

Eco-Guilt and The Sustainable Flex

We can’t talk about paper goods in 2025 without addressing the elephant in the room: the trees. For the eco-conscious among us (or those of us who just feel guilty about everything), the rise of sustainable holiday cards is a game-changer.

Paper Culture is leading the charge here, planting a tree for every order. Artifact Uprising is doing the 100% recycled paper thing. This isn’t just about saving the planet—though that’s cool too—it’s about the flex. Sending a card that says “Printed on 100% Recycled Paper” is the ultimate 2025 humblebrag. It tells the recipient, “I care about you enough to send a card, but I care about the Earth enough to feel bad about it.”

It adds a layer of thoughtfulness that a generic box of glossy cards from the drugstore just can’t match. Plus, the matte texture of recycled paper often feels more premium and gritty in a cool, indie-artist kind of way.

Don’t Forget the Religious Roots (If That’s Your Thing)

While secular “Happy Holidays” cards are the safe bet for office colleagues, the data shows that religious themes are not going anywhere. Dayspring and The Gallery Collection are seeing a strong Christmas cards trend that actually mentions the reason for the season.

If you’re sending cards to Grandma, do not send the snarky dog card. I repeat, do not send the snarky dog card. Go for the “God’s Peace To You” option. Knowing your audience is the oldest Christmas cards trend in the book, and it’s the only one that will save you from a passive-aggressive lecture over Christmas dinner.

The Bottom Line

2025 is shaping up to be a year of extremes for holiday cards. You’ve got the hyper-minimalist art lovers on one side, and the gold-foil maximalists on the other, with the pet parents and eco-warriors filling in the gaps. And because Christmas cards trend keep leveling up, the newest contender is the “interactive card”—think pull tabs, pop-up trees, scratch-off messages, or QR codes that unlock a cute holiday playlist. It’s the kind of trend that lets you look creative without actually having to be creative.

My advice? Pick a lane that doesn’t make you want to pull your hair out. If organizing a photo shoot sounds like a nightmare, grab the watercolor trees. If you want to make people laugh, use the dog. The goal is to connect, not to have a nervous breakdown over font choices.

Get them ordered early, get them in the mail, and then pour yourself a drink. You’ve earned it. And with the Christmas cards trend leaning into AI-assisted designs this year, you can whip up something stylish in minutes—no guilt, just holiday magic.