Fearne Cotton's under-the-sea Christmas tree is an unexpected breakout trend – experts are calling it 'brave' and 'creative'

It’s no secret that Fearne Cotton is an endless source of inspiration for us here at Ideal Home. In the midst of publicly talking and writing about the Christmas season-induced stress, the presenter has also put up and decorated her Christmas tree, championing a prevalent trend of this festive season that is both creative and somewhat surprising. But we’re so here for Fearne Cotton’s Christmas tree vibes.

The author has adorned the best artificial Christmas tree with ocean and underwater-themed baubles like an octopus and a whale. And it’s a trend we’ve seen repeatedly popping up in this year’s Christmas collections of the likes of John Lewis, M&S and Heal’s.

And just like when sharing her folksy throw which we fell in love with earlier this year, her mischievous cat Simon makes another star appearance while tackling the low-hanging ornaments. And while the flamingo sadly didn’t make it, the high-hanging whale and octopus baubles live to see another festive day.

Fearne Cotton’s Christmas tree

Mixing in some seasonal Christmas tree trends with your existing decorations is the way to avoid outdated Christmas decor this year. And if you’re one for unusual themes then blending in some ocean-native creatures and underwater motifs a la Fearne Cotton might be the way to spice things up this year. 

While Fearne opted for a whale (probably the most popular of the underwater mammals this year) and an octopus, there is a whole other sea world that you can decorate your tree with, from jellyfish to seashells and more.

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'Across the worlds of fashion and beauty, the emerging "mermaid-core" trend has been on the rise over the past 12 months, and is an influence that has slowly crept into the home,' says Sabina Miller, head buying director at Heal’s. 

'Offering a sense of ethereal escapism, the movement towards shimmering pearl textures, calming aqua shades and rippled glass finishes has been reflected in the accelerated demand for sea-themed decorations this Christmas. This demonstrates how customers have become much braver and more creative in their design choices, opting for pieces with personality in place of traditionally red, green and gold decor,' she explains.

So why not get a little brave and creative this year yourself?