Embracing the Playful Side of Holiday Decor
When it comes to holiday decorations, there's a certain charm in the unexpected. While many might assume that professional designers steer clear of anything too kitschy or over-the-top, the truth is quite the opposite. From plastic reindeer to feather boas on the tree, top designers are embracing playful and nostalgic elements with open arms. This trend shows that style doesn't have to be serious all the time—sometimes, it's the whimsical touches that make a space feel truly alive.
Vintage Plastic Reindeer Collections
Vintage plastic reindeer collections are not just for yard sales, and Kelly Wearstler is proof. In an interview, she revealed that she keeps a stash of vintage plastic reindeer in her Los Angeles home during the holidays, letting them parade across consoles and side tables. For someone known for bold, sculptural interiors, choosing molded plastic deer is a deliberate move, a reminder that holiday decorating can be cheeky instead of precious.
If you follow her lead, you treat those reindeer like mini sculptures, clustering them by color or finish so they feel intentional rather than random. The bigger takeaway is that a "designer" holiday home is not about expensive ornaments, it is about personality. When someone at Kelly Wearstler's level embraces dime-store reindeer, it gives you permission to lean into the nostalgic pieces you already own.
Mismatched Thrift-Store Christmas Villages
Mismatched thrift-store Christmas villages might sound chaotic, but Nate Berkus uses them as a focal point. A profile on his Chicago home notes that he lines his mantel with thrifted village pieces, mixing scales, eras, and conditions. Instead of hunting for a perfect boxed set, he lets chips, odd colors, and quirky details tell a story, turning the display into a tiny, imperfect town that feels lived in.
For your own mantel, that approach means you can grab whatever village house you find at a flea market and still end up with something elevated. The key is how you arrange it, maybe grouping by height or tucking in bottlebrush trees and simple white lights. Berkus's setup shows a broader shift in design, where patina and memory matter more than matching, and where "kitschy" collections become curated when you edit and style them with intention.
Retro Aluminum Christmas Trees
Retro aluminum Christmas trees are peak kitsch, and Emily Henderson fully leans in. She has talked about displaying 1960s aluminum trees in her Portland home, the kind that shimmer under colored spotlights and look nothing like a real fir. Instead of hiding them in a basement, she treats them as sculptural centerpieces, sometimes clustering smaller versions in corners that need a little sparkle.
When you borrow that move, you are basically admitting that authenticity is overrated in favor of mood. An aluminum tree instantly shifts a room into party mode, and it also taps into a wave of midcentury nostalgia that is everywhere in design. Henderson's choice signals that even a very styled home can handle a little Vegas-level shine, and that your grandparents' "tacky" tree might actually be the coolest thing you own.
Blow-Mold Lawn Santa Figures
Blow-mold lawn Santa figures are usually spotted on suburban lawns, yet Jonathan Adler brings them inside. He has described incorporating blow-mold Santas into his New York City apartment holiday setup, treating them almost like oversized pop art. Instead of subtle, he goes for bright red suits, glowing plastic, and that unmistakable retro grin, letting Santa stand guard in a corner or by a bar cart.
For you, that is a cue to stop worrying if something is "too big" or "too loud" for an apartment. A single blow-mold piece can anchor a whole room, especially if you keep the rest of the decor relatively simple. Adler's use of these figures lines up with his long-standing love of playful, graphic objects, and it shows how kitsch can become a design statement when you scale it up and own the joke.
Retro Foil Garlands from the 1970s
Retro foil garlands from the 1970s are the opposite of understated, which is exactly why India Mahdavi hangs them. She has shared that she strings 1970s foil garlands across her Paris studio home, letting them catch the light and throw color around the room. These are the crinkly, metallic strands you might remember from school parties, unapologetically shiny and a little bit flimsy.
Using them at home, you tap into Mahdavi's love of saturated color and playful forms, but at a price point that is basically pocket change. The garlands soften serious architecture and make even a small studio feel like a celebration. In a design world that often leans beige and careful, her choice signals a broader push toward maximalism, where shimmer and humor are not just allowed, they are the whole point.
Novelty Elf-Shaped Cookie Jars
Novelty elf-shaped cookie jars sound like something your aunt collects, yet Alexa Hampton gives them pride of place. In an interview, she described lining her Manhattan shelves with elf cookie jars, using them as both storage and decor. These are not sleek canisters, they are wide-eyed elves with pointy hats, the kind of thing that makes kids instantly gravitate toward the kitchen.
For your own space, that move shows how functional objects can carry the holiday vibe without adding more clutter. Fill them with cookies, tea bags, or even dog treats, and they still read as festive sculpture. Hampton's choice hints at a larger trend where traditional, tailored interiors loosen up for the holidays, letting one or two intentionally silly pieces break the formality and make guests feel more relaxed.
Oversized Plastic Ornaments from Discount Stores
Oversized plastic ornaments from discount stores might be the most relatable item on this list, and Peter Marino uses them without irony. A report on his Southampton beach house notes that he decorates with colorful plastic ornaments sourced from budget shops, scattering them in bowls and hanging them in clusters. Instead of hiding the fact that they are plastic, he leans into the glossy finish and exaggerated scale.
That approach is a gift if you are decorating on a budget or in a home that sees a lot of wear and tear. Big plastic ornaments are light, nearly indestructible, and kid friendly, yet when you group them by color they look surprisingly intentional. Marino's use of discount pieces underscores a bigger point in design, that impact comes from scale, repetition, and color, not necessarily from price tags or fragile materials.
Vintage 1950s Light-Up Holiday Houses
Vintage 1950s light-up holiday houses are pure nostalgia, and Bobby Berk builds them into his living room story. A profile on his Los Angeles home notes that he incorporates 1950s light-up houses into his holiday display, tucking them among greenery and books. These are the cardboard or plastic cottages with tiny windows that glow from within, instantly evoking old department store windows.
For you, they offer a way to add warmth without relying solely on string lights. A cluster of glowing houses on a console or windowsill feels like a miniature neighborhood, and it softens even the most modern space. Berk's choice fits with his reputation for mixing clean lines with sentimental touches, and it reflects a broader appetite for midcentury holiday pieces that feel comforting in a very contemporary way.
Roadside-Stand Snow Globes
Roadside-stand snow globes are about as kitschy as it gets, which is exactly why Martyn Lawrence Bullard displays them. He has revealed that he collects snow globes from roadside stands and lines them up in his Hollywood Hills home during the holidays. These are not rare antiques, they are the plastic domes you pick up at gas stations, each one capturing a tiny, slightly offbeat scene.
When you follow that lead, you turn impulse buys into a personal archive of trips and memories. A shelf of mismatched globes becomes a conversation starter, and when you shake them all, the room instantly feels more playful. Bullard's embrace of such humble objects shows how luxury interiors are evolving, making room for souvenirs and sentiment instead of only museum-grade pieces.
Feather Boas as Tree Garlands
Feather boas as tree garlands sound like a costume-party accident, but Kelly Hoppen uses them on purpose. She has talked about wrapping feather boas around her Christmas tree in her London residence, letting the soft plumes replace traditional tinsel. On a tree, the boas create a dense, glamorous texture that feels more fashion runway than craft store.
Trying this at home, you instantly shift your tree from classic to editorial, especially if you stick to one color like white, black, or blush. The look plays into Hoppen's love of tonal palettes while still feeling a bit rebellious. More broadly, it reflects how holiday decor is borrowing from wardrobe styling, encouraging you to treat your tree like an outfit you accessorize with unexpected materials instead of only standard ornaments.
Additional Tips for a Festive Space
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