Retro Christmas decorations make a comeback as maximalist trend takes hold in 2025
Shoppers chase nostalgia with bold tinsel, foil stars and 80s–90s-inspired decor as retailers report surging sales
Retro Christmas decorations are staging a comeback in 2025, marked by maximalist spreads of tinsel, foil garlands, oversized baubles and brightly coloured lights. The trend, which mixes retro motifs with a bold, carefree aesthetic, comes as households seek nostalgia and comfort after years of pared-back, neutral holiday schemes. Retailers and designers say the appetite for exuberant, memory-tinged decor is broadening beyond a niche to a mainstream mood, with shoppers prioritising visual impact and sentiment over minimalism.
“After a long run of pared-back, neutral or traditional Christmases, people seem much more willing to embrace fun, excess and nostalgia again,” said Harry Bradshaw, an events and interiors stylist with At Last Events. The buoyant mood is reflected in store shelves and social feeds, where retro-inspired items—tinsel rosettes, multi-coloured bows, and oversized ornaments—are moving quickly. The retro trend has shifted from a seasonal gimmick to a lifestyle approach, with people seeking to recreate the festive warmth of past decades in their homes.
Retailers have noted stronger demand for nostalgic decor this year. Primark said younger Gen X, millennials and older Gen Z shoppers were drawn to items that remind them of their childhood. Marks & Spencer reported robust sales of tinsel rosettes and tinsel tree skirts, while John Lewis said sales of retro-nostalgic decor had surged 180% in 2025. The numbers underscore a broader cultural pull toward vivid, memory-rich styling as a counterweight to contemporary uncertainty.
Among those embracing the resurgence is Felicity Hayward, who, in October, began scouring charity shops near her Margate home for retro pieces. She found a collection of colourful foil stars that reminded her of Christmases at her grandparents’ house, kicking off a two-month hunt for baubles, garlands and anything that could recreate those early-’90s celebrations. “Christmas always revolved around my grandparents,” says the 37-year-old, describing a ritual of cheese straws, Frank Sinatra and family board games. The find sparked a living-room transformation that now bursts with foil stars, tinsel and handmade paper chains. “For me, all of those colours bring me calm,” she says. Her grandmother and grandfather, who kept decorations for decades, became a touchstone for a season she says she plans to keep as a personal tradition.
Liza Prideaux, a 36-year-old from Devon, has leaned into “nostalgic, vintage” decor for the past two Christmases. She says there isn’t a strict thematic requirement in her setup; instead, colour and texture create a warm, lived-in vibe. “The colourful incandescent lights are my favourite,” she notes, describing how the glow helps create a cozy atmosphere even amid uncertain times. Experts say such personal, sensory-driven approaches reflect a broader trend of seeking emotional anchorage through familiar rituals.
Hannah Bartlett, who runs The Christmas Insider, notes that festive home styling often serves as a physical representation of emotional needs. In uncertain times, traditions can act as anchors, helping people feel grounded. “Decorations like tinsel and brightly coloured lights take us back,” Bartlett says, suggesting that the revival is as much about comfort as aesthetics. For many households, the trend is less about a theme and more about a mood—a sense of warmth, colour, and nostalgia that makes a home feel welcoming.
Pandora Maxton, a 52-year-old York-based influencer known for elaborate festive displays, agrees: “The colourful incandescent lights are my favourite. They make everything feel warm and cosy.” Her comments reflect a broader social pull toward bright, tactile decorations that celebrate memory and personality over uniformity.
Historically, the bold decor revival has roots in the 1970s, when brighter, more flamboyant styles offered a signal of hope amid economic strain and social upheaval. Vintage decor collector Lucy Scott explains that the era’s look was influenced by a mix of limited choices and a glam-rock sensibility. “There wasn’t necessarily a massive amount of choice, but the options were bright, space-age tinsel and bold colours, much of it sourced from Hong Kong,” she notes. The shift in the 1980s, when more households owned homes and retailers expanded offerings, widened the palette further. Scott, who collects vintage decorations, describes the 1980s as a turning point toward a broader range of styles and materials, cementing the era’s enduring appeal for retro enthusiasts.
Felicity Hayward emphasizes the personal journey behind the aesthetic, saying she bought many pieces second-hand and that some decorations—tinsels aged 20 to 30 years—remain surprisingly sturdy. “This won’t be a Christmas, this will be my Christmas now forever,” she adds, underscoring how the revival has become a lasting tradition rather than a temporary trend.
To recreate the look, Felicity, Holly and Lucy offer practical tips framed in a nostalgic lens. They suggest checking charity shops soon after Christmas for bargains, exploring resale apps, and reusing paper chains to minimize waste. They also advise asking relatives if they have any unused decorations stored away, and playing ’70s and ’80s music videos, films or adverts in the background to set the mood. When it comes to buying second-hand devices like lights, they caution consumers to be careful about safety and reliability, given the age of some items. The emphasis, they say, is on building a layered, joyful scene that evokes childhood memories rather than chasing a rigid look.
As retailers continue to report strong demand for retro, nostalgia-forward decor, the trend is likely to influence holiday displays for years to come. Experts stress that the appeal goes beyond aesthetics: the decorations serve as a conduit for personal memory, family rituals and a shared sense of comfort in an uncertain world. If early 2025 sales signals are any guide, stores will keep stocking bold colours, glittering tinsel and oversized ornaments, inviting households to max out on a style that feels both jubilant and comforting.
