'Festive Nostalgia' is Christmas 2025's Biggest Decor Trend – We're Taking Notes From Elizabeth Taylor's '50s Tree

Experts are forecasting a return to tradition in our Christmas decor this year, and archival images of the actress provide the perfect inspiration

elizabeth taylor '50s christmas set
(Image credit: Hulton Archive Getty Images)

This Christmas, we're turning the clock back to the decor of holidays past, opting for pieces that evoke bygone years rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. Forecasters have dubbed 'festive nostalgia' one of the biggest Christmas trends this year, and we’re taking inspiration from images of the past.

Elizabeth Taylor on set in the 1950s is the perfect place to start. In 1950, the beloved actress posed in front of a white, shimmery Christmas tree adorned with silver ornaments. Behind her, a retro television set and piles of unwrapped red presents complete the nostalgic scene.

While the image is still appealing to the modern eye, Liz’s look is unmistakably from another era. So, how can you balance the past and present in your own Christmas decor? We spoke with experts to explore how to draw on styles like Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic holiday setup, and why these vintage-inspired looks are resonating today.

elizabeth taylor and a christmas tree on set

(Image credit: Hulton Archive via Getty Images)

Rather than following outdated Christmas decor trends, embracing nostalgia in your design is about tapping into happy memories. Elizabeth Taylor’s timeless tree perfectly captures this feeling.

Josh Branigan, interior design expert at furniture brand Cuckoo, explains: 'A key reason why Christmas is loved so much is the nostalgia it brings. A certain decor or color can take us back to our childhoods, when Christmas was truly magical. As 2025 sees trends lean towards meaningfulness and personalisation, festive decor will embrace nostalgia.'

Recreate Liz's Look at Home

This season, follow Elizabeth Taylor's example with a white Christmas tree (available at Wayfair) and silver ornaments. Here are our top picks to get it kicked off.

Tapping into this look is highly versatile, as vintage holiday decor can take many forms. From Elizabeth Taylor’s minimalist tree to the maximalist styles of the late 20th century, the possibilities are endless.

'This trend can be achieved through vintage-inspired decor, using colors and decorative pieces that recreate a classic Christmas, advises Josh. 'Alternatively, embrace the tackiness of the 80s, 90s, and noughties with over-the-top, colourful trimmings and multicoloured lights.'

elizabeth taylor and a christmas tree on set

(Image credit: Silver Screen Collection via Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor's white Christmas tree may have been designed over 75 years ago, but that doesn't make it dated; it makes the look even more desirable. Tapping into nostalgia with your Christmas decor is inviting and inspiring. Our curation of kitschy pieces from QVC is a great place to get your collection started.


Sophie Edwards
News Editor

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.

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