Skip to main content

How to get a maximalist vibe with your Christmas decor (while avoiding kitsch)

Maximalism is all about being bold with color, pattern, and design. As a maximalist, your Christmas decor is no exception! This year, maximalism has taken the interior design community by storm, emerging with its playful color palettes, unique textures and fabrics, and an optimistic approach to clutter and authentic decor.

However, as Christmas approaches, the risk of your design becoming too kitsch is ever-present. So, we’ve gathered some essential tips to avoid excess clutter or mismatched styles when decorating for the holidays.

pink christmas tree with gold ornaments
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Go glam with glitter and gold

One of the key features of maximalism is using glamorous materials and decor pieces in your design without becoming too gaudy. As you decorate for Christmas, it’s encouraged to go all-in with glitter and gold to attain the glamorous look you want to achieve. Gold candelabras on the dining table or mantel, gold dishware, small statues, and a Christmas-themed ensemble will look stunning in a carefully curated maximalist space. You can also use golden tinsel or ornaments to adorn your room for Christmas.

Additionally, glitter plays a unique role in maximalist design. Use glittery ornaments, table draperies, frames, and vases to decorate the room and add a hint of glam to your design. Glitter adds more visual excitement and texture to the existing space. In Christmas decor, it can make the ornaments and decorations feel more expensive and curated. While glitter and gold can be excessive and over-powering in some design styles, these pieces can accentuate a maximalist home and draw attention to the small details in Christmas decor.

Change up the curtains and tablecloths

A simple change for many maximalists this season is to change up the curtains and tablecloths. Avoid kitschy Christmas-themed fabrics and instead opt for vibrant colors and funky patterns. Gold drapes, pink or blue tablecloths, and patterned materials like plaid, animal print, and geometric shapes can transform your Christmas decor.

While you don’t necessarily need to stick with one cohesive color palette to achieve the perfect maximalist design, it’s better to use shades that are complimentary with the overall palette of your room. For example, if you have yellow, peach, or pink walls, avoid warm colors like red and orange and focus on using more blues and greens in your decor items and fabrics. Pink-colored walls, in particular, look stunning with zebra print rugs, green floral curtains, and plenty of evergreen garland!

Breakaway from traditional color palettes

If you want to make an impact on your maximalist design this Christmas, break away from the traditional color palette. Classic reds, whites, and greens can look mismatched and amateur in your design. Instead, keep your color palette light and playful. For example, many maximalists have opted for white, pink, or blue trees to diverge from the typical evergreen. Additionally, many maximalist enthusiasts adore the use of pink, orange, magenta, and gold in their ornaments and Christmas decorations.

If you want to maintain a more classic Christmas feel, use evergreen as a base in your decor and blend it with your existing color palette. Dark green is a great color that can complement almost any design. While it can be moody in some darker-colored rooms, evergreens are a great way to honor the holiday season with a natural and authentic touch. Or, if you prefer bright and light spaces, you can choose to experiment with blue, white, and silver to achieve a winter-wonderland look.

dark blue room and christmas decor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Get dark and moody with decor this year

Bold maximalists might find a moodier and darker aesthetic more appealing this year. A trend that is turning many heads is using black, dark green, and rich blue as the color palette for Christmas decor. Use black dishware and tablecloths for a deeply moving look. Additionally, adorning your mantel, table, and hallways with deep evergreens and navy blue accents can create a luxurious and moody environment.

Don’t forget to use plenty of gold details, candles, and fairy lighting to help illuminate the dark space. However, you don’t need the space to feel gothic or imposing. Instead, the goal is to find a balance between the dark and light-colored decor to create a seductive and cozy Christmas landscape.

If you’re a maximalist interested in adorning your home with a fresh take on Christmas decor this holiday season, ideas like the ones mentioned above can be revolutionary. Don’t shy away from breaking the status quo and changing up the existing Christmas color palette. Use plenty of rich shades and intriguing patterns in your design, or experiment with how glitter and gold can impact the look of your space. Maximalism is all about experimenting with color and pattern to achieve a curated and unique design.

Editors' Recommendations

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
This is the best home design advice we’ve seen on TikTok
What if your personal style affects your resale value? Check out this TikToker's home decor advice
Orange and wood kitchen cabinets in brightly colored kitchen

Chances are you’ve seen those Instagram-worthy maximalist home decor designs or the retro-revival aesthetics on Tiktok, but you may have asked yourself whether or not it’s a good idea to personalize your space to that extent. What if your personal style affects your resale value? After all, you might adore the hot pink accent wall, the purple and yellow painted kitchen tiles, and the disco ball chandelier, but it’s unlikely a future homeowner will feel the same.

Recently, we came across a motivating piece of advice from one TikToker who argues that it’s okay to personalize your home. Here’s what we learned.

Read more
French country decor that will wow any room
French country is making a comeback. Here's how to make it work for you
Interior country-style kitchen

French country design is one of those classic styles that never goes out of trend. It has so much history and stories behind it, and it stays in favor because it's stylish, comfortable, and also uber luxurious. There's a reason we see French country design in so many high-end hotels and restaurants all over the world! There are so many ways to bring French country decor into 2023 without it feeling too "shabby chic," which has fallen out of favor in recent years. Here's how you can make this style work for you.
Muted tones
French country uses gorgeous fabrics with provincial designs, and those can be achieved in furniture fabrics, curtains, and even on the walls. Muted tones like beige, gray, blue, and sage green can be added to wallpaper, pillows, and when selecting chair fabric. When thinking about the walls, choose softer tones in ivory, beige, or pale yellow to complement the muted tones in the rest of the space. Another option for wallpaper or pillows is toile — a staple in French country design.

Distressed, painted furnishings
Another trademark of the French country style comes with distressing. You can accomplish this with a large distressed couch bought at a vintage store or one made to look vintage (which is a more cost-effective option). Larger pieces of furniture offer a dramatic effect in a living room or kitchen. We love this ivory nailhead chesterfield design from Overstock. If you're not entirely sold on a large piece to invest in, consider decor like lamps, trays, or a small table. Then, once you commit, you can add larger pieces to the room.
Wrought iron
Wrought iron is another trademark of French decor, and there are plenty of options to introduce them into a room. You can find kitchen chairs, bar stools, cabinets, coffee tables, and headboards. You can keep the color in its natural state or paint it with gold or darker colors. In traditional French country, the wrought iron would be curved or designed in an interesting way rather than straight lines more common in industrial design. An ideal use of wrought iron would be with kitchen chairs, where a layer of muted, soft fabric can be added for dramatic effect. You can complement this with soft wood cabinets, wood beams, and muted granite countertops in light ivory.

Read more
Decorating on a budget: 6 inexpensive upgrades designers swear by
Here's how to save money when decorating your home
Bedroom with a black accent wall

Home decor plays a huge role in keeping your house looking fresh and organized, but what if you’re decorating on a budget?

Costs for home decor can get pretty pricey depending on what you’re looking for. Whether we want more wall art, throw pillows, a new throw rug, or to switch up the furniture, the price tag is often a big factor in what we decide to purchase. Lots of contemplation goes on in the home section of any local department store, to say the least.

Read more