Cozy nostalgia is becoming a bit of a buzzword this season. When winter comes around, many of us crave cocooning, comforting spaces, and we turn to interior updates to dial up the coziness, such as layers of pillows, throws, glowing ambient lighting, and warming winter scents. The cozy, nostalgic look takes this a step further, combining modern comforts with vintage decor and sentimental pieces to create meaningful interiors that conjure cherished memories of winters gone by.
Rather than stark, minimalist spaces, this look draws inspiration from the past to create rooms with warmth, personality, and soul. Think layers of pattern, antique furniture, vintage collectibles, and plenty of vintage textiles paired with warm, earthy tones and lots of tactile textures. The best thing about this style is that there are no design rules – the key is decorating with pieces you love.
‘For me, it’s most important that your home feels like you and tells your story,’ says influencer and creative Landon Troy McAfee. ‘Fill your home with your favorite pictures, pillows, and dishes, and don’t worry about following a trend or making sure it’s perfect. This is the key to creating a retreat that we look forward to coming home to.'
Christmas time is a perfect opportunity to embrace cozy nostalgia-core. Festive nostalgia is already proving a huge Christmas decor idea for 2025, with the Little Women Christmas trend and Ralph Lauren aesthetic both proving particularly popular. Below, we’ve gathered an array of cozy, nostalgic looks to get you inspired this winter, along with tips from the designers and a little bit of festive magic sprinkled in.
1. Layer Vintage-Inspired Textiles
When it comes to cozy nostalgia, few places capture the look better than The Six Bells. Inspired by American and English country interiors, entering the historic Hudson Valley inn is like stepping back in time, with rooms that blend historic character with modern home comforts. One of the ways they achieve this cozy nostalgic look is by layering vintage-inspired patterns; it’s safe to say they don't hold back, with guest bedrooms bursting with prints from floor to ceiling – not to mention plenty of frills.
Ditsy floral wallpapers and hand-painted murals cover the walls, while antique-style beds are topped with vintage-style coronets and layered with patchwork quilts, such as this Chocolate Scalloped quilt, along with plenty of patterned cushions like their beautiful vintage-style quilted pillows. Ruffles elevate the look, and there’s no shortage of skirted furniture and trimmed full-length drapes.
2. Embrace an Earthy Palette
For interiors that feel timeless and comforting, decorate with muted, earthy colors that complement natural materials and the aged surfaces of the past. In this cozy dining nook by Plaster & Patina, founder Alexandra Azat paired rich wood millwork with the soft, heritage colors of Farrow & Ball.
‘We always strive to create color stories that are grounded in nature for an ultra-cozy feel. These are colors you'd find outside and naturally make you feel at ease and comforted. Here we used Farrow & Ball's Mouse's Back on the woodwork and paired it with Slipper Satin on the walls and ceiling, which beautifully complements the original wood-stained windows and floors of this early 20th century home.’
3. Decorate With Vintage Collectibles
For many, decorating with vintage pieces and displaying collectibles throughout is what really makes a house a home. A key part of the cozy, nostalgic look, these items help homes tell stories and make them personal to us. Landon Troy McAfee is an avid collector and seasoned vintage-hunter who loves to fill his home with unique pieces.
‘My home has been slowly collected. Estate sales, garage sales, vintage shops, and online have all been utilized to fill my home,’ he explains. ‘The important thing for me is that I don't rush the process. I make sure that I enjoy every part. It's the memories made while collecting that have made it so much fun for me.’
As an avid vintage shopper, Landon is always on the lookout for fun and unique items to add to his collection. ‘I especially adore vintage Christmas ornaments, baskets, dishes, and vintage fabrics,’ he says. ‘I love vintage thermoses – I have dozens of them! They were some of the first things I started collecting because they were bright, colorful, and affordable.’
4. Introduce Wood Paneling
If you’re embarking on a renovation or a full room redesign, installing wood paneling and bespoke joinery is a brilliant way to create a cozy backdrop for a living or dining space, while also giving a nod to historic design schemes. The brown tones and varied textures of the wood instantly wrap the space in warmth, while ambient wall lights add a soft glow. Interior designer Katie Davis integrated bookshelf space into the millwork, which conjures the feeling of a cozy home library.
‘Cozy, to me, is about atmosphere. The millwork, the grasscloth ceiling, the fireplace – all of it works together to make this study feel like a place you can exhale,’ says Katie Davis of this elegant, timeless living room. ‘The armchairs create a natural circle, which instantly makes the room feel more personal and inviting.’
5. Incorporate Antique Furniture
Decorating with antique furniture instantly brings unique charm and character to interiors. Not only are antiques often superior in quality to many mass-produced items, displaying traditional craftsmanship, but they are often great value for money, too. Here, Javier Burkle, founder and principal designer at Burkle Creative, paired a custom banquette with antique pieces to create a cozy and functional dining space.
‘When we talk about creating a cozy, nostalgic look, it really comes down to leaning on pieces that feel familiar in the best way,' explains Javier. 'In this space, the banquette is a fully custom piece we designed and covered in a bold Pindler stripe. It was built with comfort and usefulness in mind, and we even tiered the side arms in a step-down style so there’s always a spot to set a drink or whatever you have in hand. Little details like that make a room feel considered and lived in.'
‘We mixed in antique chairs sourced in Palm Beach and dressed them with custom Holland and Sherry cushions in a timeless plaid, which adds that classic, collected energy. The vintage leather-top side table brings great texture and depth, while the dining table from MadeGoods bridges the old and new. It is a modern piece, but there’s something nostalgic about how it anchors the seating area, which helps the whole space feel timeless.’
6. Decorate With Checks
From ginghams to multi-tone plaids, checkered fabrics are a staple of the classic country look. Whether you dream of a cozy cottage or a rural farmhouse, decorating with checks across upholstery, drapes, or soft furnishings is a fabulous way to introduce nostalgic country charm. For a real dose of nostalgia-core, why not take inspiration from Landon McAfee’s home and go for double checks with beautiful café curtains and a checkerboard floor?
‘I adore checks, and painting a checkered floor for my home – or taking a Pottery Barn green gingham tablecloth to cut and sew into curtains for my kitchen – has made my home a little more special to me,’ says Landon Troy McAfee. If you want the look of Landon's lovely drapes, but might not have the DIY skills and patience, Anthropologie's Cotton Woven Stripe Café Curtains will give that same cozy cottage appeal.
7. Choose Heritage Wallpapers
Decorating with ornate wallpapers – particularly authentic reproductions of historic designs – is an effective way to cocoon a room in cozy nostalgia. Dating to the late 19th century, the patterns by Morris & Co. were designed to celebrate nature and craftsmanship, and are sought after by homeowners looking to create a classic and cozy look. Lover of vintage style and founder of a vintage Christmas store, Leben Riebe loves to decorate with heritage wallpapers and chose Morris & Co.’s classic Willow Bough design to bring traditional charm to his bedroom.
‘The Morris Willow wallpaper was something that I had been wanting to use in my home for several years,' he explains. 'I love to garden and feel most at home out in nature, so using the Willow Bough paper was a great way to bring some of that love of the outdoors inside.’
To elevate the cozy, nostalgic look, Leben paired the paper with a wrought-iron dormitory-style bed. ‘I just happened upon the beautiful antique cast iron and brass bed at an auction for $100, so it was a no-brainer to add to the room,’ says Leben. ‘For Christmas, I brought in a full-size tree and decorated it with dried oranges, pinecones, and other dried botanicals, in keeping with the natural theme.’
8. Go for Vintage Christmas Decorations
Vintage Christmas decorations are a must for any fan of the cozy nostalgic look. Unique and handmade, they conjure happy memories of Christmases past. Vintage glass decorations will give your tree sparkle while also telling a story, and vintage Putz houses (find an affordable array at Etsy) and Santa ornaments look great styled along mantels. Decorations passed down through generations often spark the most joy, but many can be found at flea markets, yard sales, and online.
‘A Christmas tree full of vintage ornaments of all shapes and sizes checks all the right boxes for me,’ says Landon. ‘I have many passed-down ornaments that I enjoy unwrapping each year. I think Christmas for me is a time for creativity and nostalgia, and it’s important to me that I feel both in my home during the season.’
Landon’s creative home is proof that there’s no need to spend a fortune to tap into the nostalgic Christmas aesthetic. Paper chain garlands and streamers are a quick and easy way to capture the look – and they’re having a bit of a moment this year.
‘When I moved into my cottage back in June of 2021, I knew Christmas was fast approaching, and I didn’t have much money to spend on decorations. I have a great relationship with our local print shop, and they let me go through their color papers so I could create paper chains. I think I only spent $6 on paper and glue.’
Shop the Cozy Nostalgic Edit
Whether you're embarking on a room redesign or looking for a few winter updates, these handpicked pieces are perfect for those looking to introduce a little cozy nostalgia to interiors this season. Style them up alongside vintage finds for a delightful mix of old and new.
Blending cozy winter interiors with a dose of nostalgia-core is a wonderful way to create warm yet meaningful spaces. In our fast-paced digital world, it’s no wonder we’re looking to the past for decorating inspiration, craving the simple pleasures of log fires and surrounding ourselves with items that conjure comforting memories of winters gone by.
Cozy nostalgia doesn’t mean recreating interiors from the past – after all, nobody wants to live in a museum. It’s about creating spaces with modern home comforts, yet with a layered, lived-in feel. Sink-in armchairs, wooden furniture, ambient lighting, and plenty of vintage-style textiles such as patchwork quilts are hallmarks of the look. But ultimately, it’s the vintage pieces and cherished finds from the past that speak to you, which will bring it to life.
‘When we talk about creating a cozy, nostalgic look, it really comes down to leaning on pieces that feel familiar in the best way,’ explains Javier Burkle.
