Decks the halls with boughs of multicolour lights, red tinsel and musky animatronic Santas. That’s because the ‘tacky 90s’ Christmas is back with a vengeance.
Over the last decade, the festive season has become, well, more beige and devoid of colour. Aesthetic-driven influencers have rammed our feeds with cream décor and trees that look like they belong at a garden centre entrance.
And that means the social media trendsetters’ style has leaked onto our very own homes. But the eclectic style of a nostalgic pre-social media is shooting down our chimneys and promising to vomit all over our living rooms this Christmas.
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But, why are Brits reverting to the past of novelty table cloths, nail clipper stuffed budget crackers and musky baubles that have seen better days?
Well, we’ve had a chat with trend forecaster Disha Daswaney to get to the bottom of this tacky festive renaissance that is gaining traction on TikTok with millennial and Gen X parents vowing to bring back ‘proper’ Christmas for their kids.
(Image: Getty Images)
Disha explained: “This year, TikTok is buzzing with a nostalgic Christmas revival, as the #90sChristmas hashtag highlights a shift toward retro, colourful decorations reminiscent of pre-social media celebrations.
“Multi-coloured incandescent lights and ‘tacky’ maximalist aesthetics are reclaiming the spotlight, countering the muted, minimalist Instagram-driven styles of the last decade. This pivot isn’t just aesthetic – it’s emotional.
“Nostalgia can enhance mood and provide comfort during uncertain times, which aligns with the popularity of sentimental holiday décor.
“And while we are in a particularly challenging time this is definitely the way forward within this space.”
Christmas has increasingly become a time to not just overindulge but to overspend in recent years – which is thought to be influenced by trendsetting celebrities on social media.
Trendsetters like Kim Kardashian, Molly Mae, Mrs Hinch and Michelle Keagan are known for their meticulously placed colour-coded, often ‘beige’, decorations.
(Image: Getty Images)
Wanting to emulate their favourite celebrities’ Christmas styles, people often strive to transform their homes into what is known as a ‘beige wonderland’ to impress on social media.
But, there has been a cultural shift where people are exceedingly reverting back to pre-social media trends – and ironically showing off their tacky Christmasses on social media.
TikTok user Amanda Caroline is a self-proclaimed ‘sad beige mum’ and shared that she is transforming her home for ‘tacky Christmas. Fellow creator Jessica Da Silva declared: “Can we bring back tacky 90s Christmas please? I’m sick of f***ing seeing beige – especially on Christmas.”
And it looks like the rest of TikTok has followed suit with many commenting that they feel like they’re a ‘kid again’.
However, Disha notes that this isn’t just about the aesthetics, but sustainability too. As people are becoming more aware about the damages of overconsumption, it’s encouraged people to use what they already have than to follow trends.
Hence the re-birth of ‘tacky Christmas’.
The trend forecaster continued: “Creators like @christmasqueensparkle and brands such as MacKenzie-Childs are celebrating bold, vibrant looks, while platforms like Etsy have reported a 55% surge in searches for vintage Christmas decorations.
“This trend isn’t only about aesthetics but also sustainability, as people increasingly repurpose heirloom pieces or shop second-hand to reduce waste.”
(Image: gowkstorm)
But at the crux of the issue, is adults wanting to reconnect with the ‘magic’ of Christmas that has been purportedly stolen by our addiction to mobile phones.
It seems that people are fed up with losing the emotional connection that the festive period brings. So as the white LEDs are being packed away and the ‘tacky’ multicolour incandescent lights are brought down from the loft, people are hoping for a nostalgic Christmas in all its tacky glory.
Disha concluded: “Additionally, studies on sensory memory suggest that the warm glow of incandescent lights has a deeper emotional impact than LEDs, further fuelling the demand for retro lighting.
“The broader cultural rejection of sterile minimalism, as noted in Pinterest’s 2023 Holiday Trends Report, supports this shift, with a 36% increase in searches for ‘nostalgic Christmas’ themes.
“On TikTok, #90sChristmas has generated significant engagement, reflecting a collective yearning for warmth, joy, and authenticity during the holiday season.
“Ultimately, this trend taps into a deep desire to reconnect with the magic of Christmas past…”