Paul Newman's Kitsch Christmas Tree is a Study in Whimsy

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward — (Image credit: Silver Screen Collection via Getty Images)

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Recreate Joanne and Paul's Look at Home

If you're sick of monochromatic Christmas decor, you're in luck. This year, kitsch decor is getting even kitschier, bringing fun, nostalgia, and glitter to the forefront of our seasonal displays. Though the look is trending this year, it's not completely new.

An archival photo of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman's Christmas tree from 2000 perfectly captures this maximalist aesthetic. Their tree was covered in red, white, and gold ornaments and accessorized with miniature race cars. A jaunty Santa hat topped it off (this plush cap from Walmart is an easy option for recreating the look). Their playful, over-the-top style was the forerunner to today's nostalgic displays.

As the Kitsch aesthetic returns, we look back on Joanne and Paul's playful Christmas decor for guidance.

Recreate Joanne and Paul's Look at Home

Decorating like Joanne and Paul requires a mix of tradition and playful touches. These are our editors' picks for recreating their 2000 Christmas tree with modern ornaments and garlands.

In 2026, Joanne and Paul's maximalist Christmas decor idea is getting an analogue makeover, with more people making their own kitschy decorations. Etsy’s UK Guest Trend Editor Francesca Perks explains: 'This year, we’re completely flipping the script on the sterile, formulaic Christmas tree, with restraint officially out, and trends like "Craftmas" and "Merrymaxxing" firmly in. Etsy’s Trend Edit found that we’re increasingly swapping festive nights ‘out-out’ for tactile nights ‘in-in’ around the dining table, as people ditch mass-produced baubles in favour of making their own.'

This shift makes replicating Joanne and Paul's look easier than ever. Francesca advises: 'When bringing these trends to life this Christmas, it’s all about celebrating the delightfully imperfect and bold: hand-strung beaded garlands, home-made pom-poms, bedazzled trinkets (with searches for bedazzled items up +95%) and that one utterly unhinged decoration that makes no sense next to the others but makes you beam every time you spot it. These two trends are really about embracing childhood wonder and pure whimsy - if your tree feels like a handmade, slightly glitter-strewn act of rebellion against adulthood, you’re doing it right!'

A few unexpected touches like the racecars on this tree also help to sell the look. Josh recommends: 'On the tree, layer novelty shapes, glitter and clashing patterns so there’s something to spot on every branch. Then carry the look through the rest of your home with colourful lights, bright throws and cushions, and a few playful decorations on shelves and mantelpieces. If you’d prefer a calmer scheme, go all out in one room and keep the rest simple.'

Just like Christmas 2000, Christmas 2026 isn't the time to be shy. Go bold, kitschy, and playful with your holiday decor. The feeling of pure joy that envelopes you when you look at the tree is worth its weight in gold.

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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.