Practical Maximalism Is the Holiday Decor Trend Everyone's Talking About

Thumbtack has just released a brand new report on holiday decorating, taking a deeper dive into what homeowners want their homes to look like this season. The platform, which connects users with service professionals in their area, conducted an online poll of homeowners to gather more information about their holiday decorating priorities. 

According to Thumbtack, practical maximalism is the way to go in 2025, which is all about finding balance between sustainable holiday shopping and filling your home with seasonal touches. If you want to learn how to make your home look cozy for the winter season without breaking your budget, Thumbtack has some practical maximalism decorating ideas that will help.

Holiday Decor Budgets (and What They're Spent On)

Thumbtack found that most homeowners keep their annual holiday decor budgets under $200. The brand also says that decorators everywhere are looking to tighten their budgets compared to last year and are finding new ways to decrease holiday spending. 

There is one thing that 1/3 of homeowners are willing to spend their budget on, according to Thumbtack: professional lighting. Exterior string lights or even home smart lighting are decor to-dos that homeowners don’t always feel comfortable DIYing. 

In an effort to save money, however, Thumbtack has also seen a rise in simple battery-powered or plug-in lighting, along with LED strips. These are items that homeowners can generally DIY without any safety concerns, so they’re a fun, inexpensive way to upgrade your holiday setup. 

Nostalgia Is in for 2025

While you’re probably adding new holiday decor items to your collection year after year, tradition is also the name of the game when it comes to practical maximalism. Amassing lots of different holiday decor pieces comes with time. Since a big part of the holiday season is built around tradition and nostalgia, it’s important to let those older items shine. 

Thumbtack found that 43% of homeowners prefer to reuse decorations they already have rather than buy new and that sustainability is becoming an important trend in holiday home decor. Not only can this help you save both money and storage space during the holidays, but it also helps you create a meaningful collection of holiday items over time.

When to Buy New Items

Since homeowners are keen on reusing festive decor items, what new additions are still popular in 2025? Thumbtack says that holiday decorators are honing in on budget-friendly items like seasonal candles, patterned fabrics, and holiday tablescapes. Many items in these categories can still be reused year after year, but you might need to replace used candles or add extra holiday cookware this season, too.

Choosing a few staple items to purchase each year is a great way to expand your collection without breaking your budget. Consider what decor items you wished you had on hand last year (more appetizer plates for extra guests or better mood lighting) and if there’s anything that needs to be replaced. Then, make a list of must-have items you want to shop for this year.

Tradition Wins Out

The biggest holiday decor trend this year isn’t a trend at all. Thumbtack found that a majority of homeowners want to keep things traditional during the holidays, opting for the most classic holiday color palettes, ornaments, and decor. 

39% of homeowners hope to continue honoring their family traditions, bringing back childhood decorations and nostalgic holiday elements for the season. If there’s anything we’ve learned from Thumbtack this year, it’s to display those mismatched, passed-down holiday items with pride.