7 Christmas Maximalist decor must haves.
If you’re ready to deck your halls in full vintage maximalist style for Christmas 2025, now’s the time to sketch your plan. The maximalist Christmas look leans into a “more is more” philosophy, layering color, pattern, texture, and nostalgia — and pairing it with a vintage twist gives it heart and a sense of history. Below are seven decor ideas to lean into for a bold, nostalgic, richly layered holiday vibe.
1. Nostalgic Color Palettes with a Twist
One of the signature moves of vintage maximalism is embracing bold, saturated colors—but not just red and green. For 2025, designers are pairing deep rose, burgundy, dusty gold, emerald, and sapphire with metallics, brass accents, and occasional pops of soft sage or muted pastels. Goodhomes Magazine
How to use it:
Start with a base palette of rich holiday tones (deep reds, forest greens, navy) and layer in accent hues (rose gold, teal, plum).
Use saturated ribbon, velvet bows, or colored glass ornaments to echo the palette.
Let one accent color dominate in a room (say, rose or gold) and use other tones as supporting players.
This approach lets your vintage pieces — like old baubles or heirloom decorations — feel intentional in the scheme rather than random.
2. Oversized Ribbon & Bows as Statement Pieces
Big, dramatic bows are making a comeback—not just as ugly sweater décor but as genuine design elements for trees, mantels, windows, and more. In 2025, bows are being used as toppers, tree accents, garland ties, and architectural focal points. Gifts & Decorative Accessories+2Goodhomes Magazine+2
Pro tips:
Use wide velvet or satin ribbon in vintage or jewel tones (8 – 10 inches wide) so they stand out even amid heavy ornamentation.
Double-layer ribbons (a patterned one over a solid) for depth.
Place bows not just at the top, but interspersed within garlands, swagged along banisters, or even as backdrops behind wreaths.
3. Collectible & Sentimental Ornaments
Vintage-inspired or heirloom ornaments are central to maximalist holiday style. Think hand-painted glass, mercury glass, retro figurines, delicate blown glass, and ornaments that tell a story. Gifts & Decorative Accessories+2Goodhomes Magazine+2
Ideas to layer depth:
Mix in modern ornaments with vintage ones so your tree doesn’t feel stuck in the past.
Use mismatched sets purposely—let pattern, shape, and texture vary.
Group ornaments by theme (a cluster of candy, musical instruments, birds, etc.) so the eye finds “mini-stories” as you walk past.
4. Layered Greenery, Garlands & “Botanical Chaos”
To ground all that sparkle and color, layer in rich greenery with added texture. Use garlands, wreaths, pocketed greens, and floral stems. Incorporate pinecones, dried citrus slices, magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, and seeded branches. Goodhomes Magazine+2Pinterest+2
Techniques to try:
Weave in ornaments, ribbons, berries, and even small string lights into your garlands.
Use garlands not just on mantels or stair railings, but frame doorways, arch over windows, or drape across furniture.
Cluster multiple garlands and wreaths together to build “botanical layers” that feel lush and dimensional.
5. Bold Mantel & Display Vignettes
The mantel (or a console table, sideboard, or any flat surface) becomes gallery space for your vintage maximalism. Think tiered layers of candlesticks, Christmas figurines, small trees, framed vintage postcards, festive signage, and garlands.
Tips for compelling vignettes:
Use varied heights. Mix tall candelabras with low bowls of ornaments.
Reuse vintage finds — old music sheets, album covers, old holiday cards, doilies, picture frames.
Don’t be fussy about symmetry; asymmetry and clustering often read richer in maximalist displays.
6. Textiles & Pattern Mixing
Textures and layers of fabric bring warmth and softness to balance all the glitter. In a maximalist vintage holiday, it’s about rich velvets, brocades, tapestries, kilims, embroidered linens, and patterned throws or tablecloths.
How to apply it:
Layer a patterned tree skirt, then a velvet overlay, then more pieces (e.g. lace).
Use cushions or throws in holiday hues and vintage florals on seating to echo the tree’s vibrancy.
On dining surfaces, mix patterned tablecloths, runners, placemats, and vintage china to create a “full table tapestry.”
7. Glow & Sparkle — Lights, Candles, & Metallics
No maximalist Christmas is complete without glow. But vintage maximalism leans not just on twinkle lights, but on candles, mercury glass, antique brass, shimmering tinsel, and metallic finishes.
Ways to layer light and shine:
Group candles in varied holders (brass, cut glass, vintage silver) across surfaces.
Use mixed lighting: string lights, mini LED bulbs in garlands, and spotlight accents.
Include metallic accents: gold filigree, mercury glass balls, vintage Christmas tree tinsel, or mirrored trays to reflect light.
Consider colored bulbs (amber, ruby, green) sparingly to revive that mid-century glow.
