The 1980s were the decade where maximalism reigned supreme – a celebration of bold, bright colors and exuberant ornamentation that was fiercely individual. That aesthetic, which is now 40 years old, championed breaking away from tradition to embrace color and creativity.
For me, ‘more is more’ sums up that joyous period perfectly. While Christmas tree trends have since become more grounded and coordinated, we went back through the Instagram archive and found exactly the inspiration we needed: actors Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern’s boldly decorated Christmas tree from last year. Minimalist Christmas decorating enthusiasts, look away now.
The intoxicating arrangement of colourful ornaments and twinkling lights immediately brought back cherished, vivid memories of my own childhood home circa 1993 (the spirit of the 80s truly never left our home). This look – a nostalgic throwback to full, overflowing trees – is perfectly positioned for 2025, as authentic, memory-filled decor is making a major return. After years of neutral uniformity, we’re all craving that personal, chaotic joy.
According to Martha Stewart, the popular Arts and Crafts movement helped pave the way for this eclectic style during the holidays. Family Christmas trees were traditionally decorated with mismatched designs and colors – tinsel, colored fairy lights, and glass baubles all combined to spectacular, heartfelt effect. Frankly, trees solely lit with warm-white lights can sometimes err on the side of the unimaginative.
This festive season, throw the decorating rule book out of the window and embrace a bold, brave, and slightly daring approach. If, similar to Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, you feel like taking a more irreverent stance, try padding out the tree with as many decorations as the branches will withstand, using a vibrant array of different colors and textures. It will bring an unmistakable air of warmth and cheeriness to your living room, proving that the most important thing is to make sure your tree is true to your individual style and suited to the happy, lived-in spirit of your home.
Shop the Maximalist Look
This year, I’ve fully embraced a playful, colorful, ‘anything goes’ look for my Christmas tree – and honestly, it’s about time we all had a little more fun with our decorating choices. Here are my favorite picks to help you do the same.
Bring a touch of nostalgia to your holiday decorating with this 20 ft set of 100 multicolor Christmas lights, perfect for creating a playful, joyful atmosphere. Embracing the 2025 trend of clashing, vibrant colors, these lights recall the exuberant, carefree spirit of childhood Christmases – when mismatched bulbs, flasher lights, and bold combinations made the season feel magical.
Embrace two of this season’s biggest Christmas trends – bows and maximalist color – with this set of six velvet bow clip-on ornaments. Luxurious in texture and rich in hue, they bring sophisticated charm and playful festivity to your holiday decor.
Bring a joyful burst of nostalgia to your holiday decor with these fun, colorful ornaments. Playful, eclectic, and full of festive charm, they tap into the season’s beloved trend for bold, mismatched decorations – perfect for creating a tree that feels spirited, expressive, and wonderfully reminiscent of Christmases past.
