Tacky Christmas Trees Are Trending This Holiday Season
Last Updated on December 13, 2024
Okay friend, grab your hot cocoa because we’re about to dive into something that’s bringing me so much joy this holiday season—the “Tacky Christmas tree” trend. As someone who’s always been a bit weary of showing off her Christmas tree in recent years, I mean, who would be interested in my chaos tree? I never thought I’d be writing this post, but thanks to a viral videos on TikTok and Gen Z, wacky tacky Christmas trees and ornaments are all the rage.
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Get Inspired With These Tacky Christmas Tree Ideas
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After spending approximately 47 hours falling down the tacky Christmas tree rabbit hole, Years ago, I fully embraced what some might call cringy holiday decor as a top-tier style. I’ll take it over a beige Christmas any day. This fun new/old trend will give you the most personality-filled tree by completely letting go of the rules. That’s what turns an ugly Christmas tree into something a little extra beautiful. And isn’t that what we’re all trying to achieve anyway? The HOH motto is to create spaces that feel uniquely, authentically you.
SIDE NOTE: Tacky, meaning nostalgic with a fuzzy, cozy, and warm, Clark Griswald feel — the kids are calling them Tacky Trees. The look is nothing new, but it gives me joy to see so many people showing off their mismatched holiday explosions. Ornaments are passed down from generation. Although the trending name makes me giggle, should we give it a new name? Maybe a homemade, hand-me-down tree? A nostalgic tree? A memory tree? Old school, traditional tree?
Shop similar Waterford Holiday Heirloom Christmas ornament
Shop similar Waterford “Lismore Ball” Holiday Heirlooms glass ornament
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Shop similar Waterford Holiday Heirloom Ruby Peacock Grande Ball glass ornament.
Let’s break down why this trend is working. First, it’s giving us permission to embrace those sentimental pieces you might be hiding in storage. The ornaments that have been living in a box because they didn’t fit your “aesthetic.” It’s time to give them center stage, people! Mine have been proudly displayed for years, but it wasn’t until the tacky Christmas trend that I decided I should really let my weirdo light shine bright. Case in point: the styrofoam tree I glued glitter to and the coffee can lid I glued my handprint to when I was attending Aunt Pat’s nursery school.
Here’s where it gets interesting from a styling perspective: The key to making a tacky Christmas tree feel intentional is to GO. ALL. IN. This isn’t about adding one kitschy element to your otherwise understated holiday decor. It’s about embracing the maximalist holiday spirit in all its glory. If you don’t have these old mementos ask your mom or hit the thrift store to find all the tacky Christmas decorations, including colorful lights, snowglobes, and Santa Claus mugs.
Some tree styling formulas you can try playing with:
- Layer different tinsel garlands and ribbon on your tree — the more textures, the better. It’s all about being sparkly and extra.
- Play with an explosion of color combinations. The traditional rules don’t apply here, friends.
- Take all those new ornaments and mix them with Christmas tree decorations from your childhood.
- All those ornaments your kids received as gifts or made in Kindergarten, pull ’em out! Hang Captain Underpants front and center!
- If your husband loves that Nicolas Cage ornament, proudly display that joy.
Shop my Tiger King Ornament
Shop Nicolas Cage St. Nicolas Ornament
Also hidden on my tree are a Picolas Cage ornament and a Rib Cage ornament. These just appear with no explanation.
I’m presently eyeing this taco glass ornament and this Bob Ross ornament for The Boy.
I’ve been slowly collecting meaningful ornaments for years, so I’m a self-proclaimed expert in tacky Christmas decorations. So much so that I might describe my perfect tree as a technicolor Christmas fever dream (I prefer that verbiage over ugly Christmas tree). And you know what? My kids are obsessed too. Year after year, Zozo loves digging out her favorite ornaments when decorating the tree. As she unwraps each one, she talks about the different memories each ornament unlocks.
These ornaments are hand-me-downs from my mom that she gave me when I was first living on my own. I vividly remember fighting with my sister over who got to hang what and my mother yelling at us to pick only one and take turns.
Shop these vintage jumbo mercury glass ornaments (RARE)
Shop vintage vintage Kurt Adler glass Christmas ornaments (RARE)
Shop vintage Shiny Brite USA Mercury Glass Ball Ornaments
Make Your Christmas Tree Look Like Tipsy Elves Decorated It
You might notice I have some high-end Christmas ornaments mixed in with baby’s first Christmas and homemade ornaments from my childhood, and I think that only adds to the eclectic mix. This crystal glass star is from Tiffany’s, and it’s hung next to a vintage felt ornament given to me as a toddler and a homemade ornament Zozo made with foam and her class photo.
Shop similar Tiffany & Co Crystal star ornament.
Shop vintage Tiffany & Co. Crystal Snowflake ornament.
Shop vintage Tiffany & Co Crystal Tree ornament.
Sprinkled in are Waterford and Christopher Radko ornaments I purchased from my mom’s BFF’s Christmas store (every time I visited my parents, I’d stop in, and slowly, my collection grew). That contrast creates visual interest and tells a unique story that only you can tell.
Shop Waterford Holiday Heirlooms Renaissance Starburst Ball glass ornament.
Shop Waterford Holiday Heirlooms Poinsettia Santa blown glass ornament.
Shop Waterford Holiday Heirlooms Poinsettia mercury glass ball ornament
Shop Christopher Radko Sweet Tooth Station glass ornament.
Shop Christopher Radko Dancing Disco Claus glass ornament.
Embrace Handmade Christmas Stockings
Last year, I shared the Christmas stockings that my mother crocheted for us, and followers on social media went bananas! My inbox was flooded with questions like, “Where can I buy these?” and “How much does your mom charge?” Sorry to break it to you, but she immediately said, “Hard pass.” Back in the day, she made her first set for me, my sister, her, and my dad and cursed every second of making them. Apparently, they can be quite challenging to crochet.
Besides us, she has only made these for very special people in her life. I was shocked when she made one for Comet!
Shop vintage Christmas flocked wreath
Shop vintage MCM Santa Claus Face Mugs
Although I can’t source my stockings, I did find these vintage Crocheted 3D Santa Stockings
and this vintage Crocheted 3D Santa Claus Christmas Stocking
Tacky Christmas Decor Will Never Go Out of Style
The real magic of tacky Christmas decor is that it celebrates the joy and nostalgia of this festive season without taking itself too seriously. Like wearing your favorite comfy sweatpants with a blazer – there’s a freedom in letting go of perfection that ends up feeling pretty perfect. The tacky Christmas tree may stop trending, but the style will forever be embraced.
So here’s my totally unsolicited professional opinion: If this trend speaks to you, LEAN INTO IT. Channel Clark Griswald. Grab unique pieces and create vignettes that make you smile. Decorate your exterior with wacky tacky flashing lights or vintage blow molds of snowmen and Santa. Dig out your ugly sweaters. Mix all the colors with reckless abandon. Most importantly, have fun with it. And please, please send me photos of your most outrageous tacky Christmas styling moments (bonus if it’s your family wearing mismatched holiday pajamas) because I am HERE FOR IT.
Find More Home Decorating Inspiration
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Learn how to make a bow with ribbon the super easy way and elevate your wrapping skills.
The Christmas cookie that brings the nostalgia is a butter cookie. If you want the best spritz cookie recipe, try my Great Aunt Idella’s.
Rita
Hi Kyla,
As I was reading I thought this isn’t tacky, it’s how we decorated our tree. Yes they need to come up with a new name. When my parents migrated to Australia from Italy in the 60s they also brought the Christmas tree and beautiful glass ornaments. Of course over the years they broke. Last January I was in a Christmas shop and found very similar ornaments, quickly sent a text to my sister to confirm they were similar to what we had growling up and 3 boxes came home with me. Planning on purchasing more this January if they still have them. Your tree is beautiful and it’s the memories we hold when doing the tree that is so special. Merry Christmas.
Kyla Herbes
RitaHi Rita! Your ornaments sound gorgeous! Definitely grab an extra box in January. And yes, Gen Z needs to find us a better name for our tacky Christmas trees, LOL. I’m assuming so many families with tween-teen children have the Instagram perfect trees and that is what they are comparing ours to. However, they seem to be embracing the more traditional look, and I’m glad they find joy in our tacky tree decor.
Laura
I love this post. The picture of you with the cabbage patch doll is priceless
Kyla Herbes
LauraHa, same. I was on cloud 9 and apparently my father had to fight his way through the toy store to get two — one for my sister and one for me.
World On your wall
Love a good cluttered Christmas tree, Ours is filled with a collection of all sorts of Christmas decorations we bring from our travels! We try to bring back quirky Christmas decorations from anywhere!