Holiday 2025 Home Decor: Nostalgia, Tartan & Bows—Make It Work on Your Walls
Holiday style has split into joyful nostalgia and warm “quiet‑luxury” restraint. Below, we decode the micro‑trends—retro tinsel trees, the Ralph Lauren Christmas look, the bow boom, earthy neutrals and more—and pair each one with wall‑art ideas you can implement in a weekend.
 
          Trend Briefing
In late October, celebrity homes and editors converged on an upbeat theme: Christmas décor that looks collected, cozy and a bit retro. Think aluminum tinsel trees, moody tartans and oversized bows, balanced by subtle, nature‑toned “quiet luxury” palettes. Here’s how to pull the look together—and the wall art that makes it feel complete.
Holiday 2025’s Micro‑Trends (and the Wall Art Pairings)
1) Retro Tinsel Trees & “Festive Nostalgia”
Martha Stewart’s aluminum trees signal a cheerful return to mid‑century sparkle. Pair the shimmer with cool‑toned winter art—icy blues, silvery whites and reflective water—to echo the metallic branches without visual clutter.
- Try it with: Snowy lakes, alpine valleys, and twilight scenes in blue‑white palettes; thin black or burnished‑metal frames.
2) The “Ralph Lauren Christmas” Look
ELLE’s editors call 2025 “the year of Ralph Lauren décor”—moody tartans, burnished brass and heirloom details. Use art to ground the richness: a classical mountain or ski‑lodge print will harmonize with plaid textiles and antique brass.
- Palette: forest green, deep navy, oxblood, brass, leather.
3) Bows, Everywhere (But Better)
From trees to garlands, bows are bigger and more textural this year. Oversized velvet, gingham, faux‑fur and even pearl‑studded bows add whimsy. Counterbalance the playfulness with streamlined art—one bold focal canvas keeps the room from feeling fussy.
4) Quiet‑Luxury Neutrals
Warm neutrals—brown, bronze, gunmetal, gold—offer a softer alternative to classic red‑and‑green. Wall art in earthy palettes (fir forests in fog, candlelit village scenes) keeps things serene while still feeling seasonal.
5) Handmade & Heirloom Touches
Hand‑painted ornaments, ceramic trees and vintage finds keep cropping up. Echo that tactile charm on the wall with art that carries painterly texture or folk‑art motifs.
6) Nature‑Forward & Eco‑Minded
Recycled and natural materials—wood, paper, botanicals—continue to grow. Complement with landscapes, winter botanicals and minimal graphic prints in matte finishes.
7) After‑Dark Glow
From entry lanterns to backyard string lights, simple lighting upgrades extend the holiday mood outside. Inside, choose artwork with luminous highlights (snow glint, moon glow) to echo that gentle sparkle.
How to Pull It Together (Fast)
- Match scale: If your tree is tall and tinsel‑bright, go one large canvas nearby instead of a busy cluster.
- Repeat materials: Brass stocking holders? Choose frames with brass‑tone floating edges for a subtle thread.
- Limit the palette: Pick two holiday colors plus one neutral and keep art within that range for a designer finish.
Related on our blog: Building a seasonal picture wall? See “Gallery Walls, Reimagined: Why the ‘Outdated’ Feature Is Back for 2025” for layout tricks, frame mixing and scale rules tailored to holiday styling.
Shop the Look — Artoholica Picks
Five wall‑art pieces that harmonize with Holiday 2025’s biggest ideas.
 
        
        Winter Village Canvas Print
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        Winter Landscape Canvas Print
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        Winter Forest Canvas Print
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        Ski Resort Canvas Print
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        Retro Santa Hat Art Print
Shop NowFurther Reading (highly relevant)
- The 10 Biggest Christmas Decorating Trends for 2025 — Veranda
- The Christmas Bow Trend, Updated for 2025 — Ideal Home
- Homes & Gardens: Christmas Trends Hub — Homes & Gardens
References
• Homes & Gardens — Martha Stewart’s vintage tinsel tree story (Oct 27, 2025)
• ELLE — It’s Officially the Year of Ralph Lauren Decor (Oct 24, 2025)
• Ideal Home — The Christmas bow trend is bigger than ever—6 new ways (Oct 2025)
• Homes & Gardens — Gwyneth Paltrow’s quiet‑luxury Christmas palette (Oct 24, 2025)
• Martha Stewart — 4 Home Design Trends Taking Over This Holiday Season (Oct 23, 2025)
• Style by Emily Henderson — Our Fresh & Easy 2025 Holiday Decorating Ideas (Oct 15, 2025)
• Live Home 3D — Christmas Decor Trends 2025: Eco‑friendly décor (2025)
 
          