These fun, colorful, kitschy Christmas ideas will add a playful charm to your home. From quirky ornaments to retro decor, this guide will help you create a cheerful holiday look that is both warm and nostalgic.
Kitschy Christmas Ideas You Will Love This Year
Kitschy Christmas decorating is the holiday equivalent of overindulging in whipped cream on hot chocolate.
It is cheerful in a loud and FUN way.
And it’s funny in the best possible way.
It is the opposite of trying too hard or trying to appear flawless.
You enter a room with kitschy decor and instantly feel lighter. Your shoulders drop, and you are instantly in a nostalgic feeling of awesomeness.
A home filled with kitschy items is friendly and spirited in the best and most welcoming way!
It brings back memories of being a child, when you loved Christmas regardless of what matched or didn’t.
The truth is that we all grew up surrounded by kitsch.
Photo by @vintagesoulthrifter on Instagram. This is classic Kitschy at its finest!
The old ceramic Santa that appeared puzzled…
The plastic reindeer that had the cutest face… Your grandmother kept the sparkly garland every year…
And when you bring these pieces back into your own home, you reignite that warm, goofy holiday spirit that we had forgotten.
Here are some amazing tips for bringing that playful magic back into your home in the most natural, fun way possible!
kitschy christmas pin
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What Kitschy Christmas Really Means
Kitschy Christmas is the playful side of holiday decorating.
It’s a happy combination of retro things, bright colors, and playful decor that makes you think back to childhood holidays.
Nothing has to be coordinated, which is the BEST thing about this Christmas trend, that nothing needs to be perfect.
It’s about creating a home that feels cheerful the moment you walk through the door. That’s it!
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The Heart of Kitsch
Pure joy is at the heart of kitschy Christmas.
Think about the ornaments you grew up admiring, ceramic pieces your grandparents set out, or capricious décor you always noticed in old holiday movies.
Kitsch is supposed to be cute, silly, nostalgic, and a little loud in the best way.
It invoked a warm sentiment of times gone by, when we had simpler holidays.
Kitschy Christmas is the playful side of holiday decorating.
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Why People Love It
People enjoy kitschy Christmas because it allows them to relax and enjoy the joy of the season.
It’s a reminder that the holidays should be light and fun.
The fact is, you don’t need to worry about what’s trending or even have to perfect your Christmas styling.
You just decorate with whatever makes you happy.
A kitschy Christmas relieves the pressure of decorating and restores the magic.
The Mood It Creates
A home filled with kitschy items is friendly and spirited in the best and most welcoming way.
The lights are colorful. The ornaments are quirky.
There are little marvels wherever you turn.
It’s the type of decorating style that elicits chuckles from guests and makes children stare wide-eyed.
It unleashes holiday energy in a way that’s warm and real.
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How It Fits Into Any Home
Photo by @mitchfreydesign on Instagram
The great thing about kitschy Christmas is how adaptable it can be.
You can opt to go full bright and bold with older Christmas decor, OR just sprinkle some playful pieces here and there.
It goes with modern spaces and vintage ones, small apartments and big homes.
The idea is only to bring happiness. That is it.
Pure joy is at the heart of kitschy Christmas.
Before You Begin, Make Sure to Lean Into The Nostalgia
Put out the old ornaments from your childhood.
Display the handmade clay pieces.
Use the tiny wreaths and plastic figures that feel familiar.
Kitschy Christmas is all about that comforting feeling of things that come from memories, not perfection.
Kitsch is supposed to be cute, silly, nostalgic, and a little loud in the best way.
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The BEST Kitschy Christmas Ideas You Will Love This Year
Take a look at these awesome Kitschey-inspired Christmas ideas you will absolutely LOVE this holiday season!!
Bring Out the Retro Figurines
Photo by @magpieethel on Instagram.
Kitschy Christmas is in the little details.
So unpack the ceramic Santas, mini old school reindeer, and old snowmen with rosy cheeks, not to mention those stylized figurines every grandmother seemed to own.
Nestle them on a shelf, cram them all onto a console table, or create an entire miniature holiday village strung with twinkling lights.
The stronger the personality, the better.
Use Fun Mismatched Ornaments
Photo by @vintageholiday on Instagram. This is the perfect example that you can’t have too much on the tree for the Kitschy aesthetic!
You know those unusual ornaments you bought because they made you laugh.
The donut, the flamingo, the Santa-themed sunglasses, and the glittery retro television?
These are the ornaments that bring a kitsch tree to life!
Instead of attempting to stick to a theme, just go wild.
Make your tree look like a fun mix of memories and bright colors. The moment you walk in, the entire room feels happier.
Photo by @vintageholiday on Instagram. Mix and match your ornaments, the more the merrier as seen in this example!
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Add Tinsel Like It Is 1972
Tinsel is essentially the heart of kitschy Christmas.
It’s sparkly, messy, and cheerful, instantly giving your tree a retro look.
Drape it lightly or apply it in large amounts. It captures every ray of light, illuminating your entire tree.
And, yes, it sticks to everything, but that’s part of the appeal.
You just decorate with whatever makes you happy!
SEE ALSO: 14 Gifts For the Cook Who Seems to Have Everything
Rainbow Lights Only
Photo by @samanthaefaella on Instagram
Warm white lighting is beautiful. They’re also not kitschy.
If you want the look, get out the rainbow lights.
The chunky, old-style bulbs are even better.
When your tree glows in pink, blue, green, and red, it just feels more festive.
Rainbow lights can even be placed across windows or around doorways to provide an instant playful glow.
Vintage Tablecloths and Cookie Tins
Photo by @colorfulvintageheart on Instagram
Check thrift shops and your parents’ holiday bins.
Kitschy decor adores retro printed linens that resemble those from an old holiday diner.
The bright red and green patterns, the tiny cartoon elves, the old-school Santas—it all works.
Likewise, if you have cookie tins, stack them, fill them with treats, or leave them out for decoration. The more the merrier!
Photo by @vintage__charms on Instagram. The more decor, the better, as seen in this example!
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Set Up a Cute Hot Cocoa Station
This is the most straightforward way to achieve the vibe without overdoing it.
Opt for bright mugs, striped straws, candy cane spoons, sprinkles, and other fun toppings.
Place all the mixings into cute jars with tiny bows.
Add a couple of tiny vintage figurines and, lo and behold, the corner of your kitchen looks like a cafe in one of those fun Christmas movies.
Hang Garland Everywhere
Photo by @its.santas.clock on tiktok
Garland is central to the kitschy Christmas aesthetic.
Tinsel garland, pom-pom garland, felt garland, and the timeless retro green are all good options.
Drape them along the banister, over the mantel, over doors or windows, and more.
Photo by @blushingbungalow on Instagram. You can even hang garland on a chair, as seen in this example!
This is where you can get as colorful as you want. You can also combine mismatched garlands for extra sweetness.
A kitschy Christmas relieves the pressure of decorating and restores the magic.
Go Big With Retro Wrapping Paper
The wrapping paper alone can make your space look festive and totally Kitschy.
Think bold prints, cartoon Santas, vintage holly, bright polka dots, and old-style glitter bows.
Place the wrapped gifts early under the tree and let them double as Kitschy decor.
All the colors and patterns will add so much personality to the room.
SEE ALSO: 23 Best Christmas Gifts for Her She’ll Swoon Over
Add a Mini Tree in a Fun Color
Photo by @chelseazeferina on Instagram
Pink tree, blue tree, white tree, silver tree, whatever makes you smile is best!!
A little tabletop tree with mismatched ornaments instantly brings the energy up in any room.
It is especially cute in bedrooms or small corners that need a burst of holiday fun, too.
Don’t Forget to Follow Everything Abode on Pinterest!
Photo by @vintageheartandhome on Instagram. This is the perfect example of using old figurines in a fun, magical, decorative way!!
Playful Gift Tags and Stickers
Add stickers to your wrapped gifts. Use oversized tags, glitter markers, or those retro stickers that look like they came from a school craft book.
It adds such a fun and warm Kitschy holiday touch.
Create a Holiday Clashing Corner
Photo by @vintagesoulthrifter on Instagram
Choose one corner of your living room and give it the most intentionally mismatched look.
Consider stripes and polka dots, a haphazard collection of ornaments casually tacked to the wall, old wrapping paper taped up as art, and possibly even a tree so small that it can wear just multiple bows.
Its appeal stems from the fact that none of these should go together, but it is warm, even if silly, in the most profound sense.
SEE ALSO: 22 Trending Holiday Decorations You Have To See
Turn Your Houseplants Into Little Christmas Characters
Instead of using lights on plants, consider this alternative.
Instead, give your plants individual personalities.
Wrap a cactus pot in a small sweater sleeve.
Attach googly eyes to a pothos.
Give your fiddle leaf a miniature scarf.
It sounds goofy, but it is also very simple, and it instantly gives your plants the goofy, cheerful energy that brings kitschy decor to life.
Photo by @brunkjunk on Instagram. This is a great example of how using different props can make it unique, like a Christmas scene!
Make a Kitsch Candy Display Using Childhood Candy
Revive those nostalgic candies everyone forgot about.
Think candy necklaces, marshmallow snowmen, giant lollipops of the kind displayed in windows on Washington Street, and old school gumdrops.
Place them in cute old clear jars or bowls and add a sprinkle of colorful ornaments.
It turns into a playful, eye-popping center of the room that reads like an old movie scene from a candy shop.
SEE ALSO: 23 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas The Whole Family Will Love
Photo by @malthousecottage on Instagram. That garland is what Kitschy is all about!
Build a Little Christmas Diorama Inside a Jar
Instead of the traditional snow globe look, fill a large jar or vase with small, unexpected items.
A tiny flamingo with a Santa hat. A miniature old school camper covered in glittery snow.
A toy car with a small tree attached to the top.
Add some fake snow, and it transforms into a tiny world that makes everyone smile when they notice it.
Photo by @pattifromnyc on Instagram. This wreath is SO Kitschy!!
Hang Ornaments From Places You Normally Ignore
Rather than leave ornaments on the tree, carry them to unexpected areas in the home.
String them on kitchen cabinet knobs. Clip them to lamp shades.
Wrap them around chair backs or stair spindles.
It makes this treasure hunt kind of feeling around the house where every nook and cranny has some pop of color or shine.
SEE ALSO: 20 Creative Gingerbread House Ideas That’ll Blow Your Mind
Bonus Idea
Put a Santa hat on something that wouldn’t normally wear one. Lamp, statue, and stuffed animal.
You’ll laugh every time you walk past it.
That’s what kitschy Christmas is for!
Photo by @vintage__charms on Instagram. See? You can cram as much as you want as that is what Kitschy decorating is all about!
There you have it!
You are now well equipped to create your very own Kitschy Christmas in the BEST way possible!
Do share more ideas in the comments section to help your fellow decorators 🙂
Don’t Forget to Follow Everything Abode on Pinterest!
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Author: Everything Abode
Welcome to Everything Abode, your daily inspiration for every activity at home!
Our goal is to inspire you to live an elegant and chic lifestyle from the comfort of your home.
We’ll help you express yourself through authentic style, aesthetic beauty, and stylish home decor.
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