Mariska Hargitay's Heartwarming Christmas Tree Sets The Standard for Nostalgic Decor – Every Branch is a Family Portrait

The best Christmas decor is not just beautiful: it's meaningful. This year, homeowners are rebelling against fads and decorating their trees with timeless reflections of their personalities. Though it may sound chaotic, done right, this kitschy, haphazard approach can be incredibly chic.

Take Mariska Hargitay's Christmas tree as an example. Rather than a curated, single color display, she opted to decorate with a range of ornaments emblematic of her family members' personalities. Visible ornaments include an umbrella, a bottle of wine, French fries, and a tennis racket (this glass one from Amazon is a fun lookalike). Though this combination of novelty decorations may sound disparate, the overall effect is cozily striking. Mariska ties the whole look together with candle-style lights.

This holiday season, Mariska's deeply personalized take on Christmas decor is only growing increasingly popular.

For Christmas 2026, the maximalist Christmas decor idea is taking over. 'Trees that are all perfectly matched are being replaced by people who want to collect their own style of Christmas,' explains Kanika Bakshi Khurana, Principal Interior Designer and Founder of San Francisco-based Kanika Design. 'Collecting vintage inspired glass ornaments and other family items or making your own ornaments creates a unique tree that has its own story.'

Recreate Mariska's Look at Home

All you need to emulate Mariska's design is candlelight and a collection of ornaments that reflect you. Here are a few of our favorites.

This shift towards nostalgic decorating stems from a deeper desire for characterful homes that reflect their owners over the past few years. Neha Gupta, principal designer at Seattle-based firm NU Curations, explains, 'I think there will be lots of decorations this year that tell stories. Whether it be mementos from trips, treasured family heirlooms or ornaments collected over the years, people love decorating their tree with things that have special meaning to them. It adds character to the tree.'

So, what's the best way to capture the nostalgic Christmas look? It's all about the balance between play and curation. Neha advises: 'I try to mix sentimental ornaments with some simple, solid colored ornaments to add some consistency to the tree. Trends change, and we see new color schemes and materials with Christmas ornaments each year. Rather than stressing to be on trend with your ornaments, use a system that works, and others may find it pleasing as well.'

Incorporating a unifying element throughout the tree helps to ground a nostalgic design like Mariska's. Kanika advises: 'I suggest using one ribbon on the majority of the ornaments so they all have a similar look but aren't too perfectly decorated.'

Decor is an avenue to express ourselves. Rather than getting caught up in trends, Mariska Hargitay's Christmas tree is a reminder to lean in to what you truly love about the season.

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