Most people settle for one tree in the living room, adorned with lights and ornaments. But for some, one just isnāt enough. Enter the world of holiday maximalism – a joyful, no-holds-barred approach to Christmas dĆ©cor. I never thought I would be such an over-the-top Christmas person, but as I get older I care less about what anyone thinks and instead choose joy. This year in particular I decorated for two months straight. It’s a fact that I enjoy the time leading up to Christmas more than the holiday itself. But, this year it was over-the-top. At one point my family felt I needed an intervention. Haha. Call it distraction from the election, perhaps.
seven trees is just enough
Maximalism, in essence, is about abundance and exuberance. Itās a philosophy that says, “More is more!” And what better time of the year to lean into this joyful extravagance than Christmas? The holidays are a time for tradition, celebration, and creating an atmosphere that wraps you up in warmth and nostalgia. By embracing maximalism, Iām not just decking the halls – Iām creating an immersive experience where every inch of my home radiates the magic of Christmas. Is SEVEN full-size Christmas trees too many? After-all, we have a fairly large old house.
meet our trees
#1: The sentimental family tree. This hardworking tree, located in the family room, is a gorgeous artificial tree with thousands of warm white mircrolights from Home Decorators Collection by Home Depot. They don’t make this exact tree anymore, but today it is known as the Elegant Grand Fir and it twinkles in 2025, although people seem to prefer the Grand Duchess these days (overrated). This was our first fake tree and the one that set me off on the path of holiday maximalism. Its decorations are a collection of homemade ornaments made by the kids, those carefully selected on family vacations, thoughtful gifts from others, and other miscellany. Some of the lights are fading and this tree needs to be replaced this holiday season – happy/sad.
You can see tree #2 from this photo as well:
I love the microlights and the view of this tree from the dining room as well:
#2: The visible-from-street tree. This tree serves a purpose, and that is so that the passersby can see the warm glow of a Christmas tree inside. It’s simply decorated with red ornaments and white lights.
#3: The corner warm glow tree. This tree provides light for a dark corner in the family room. My mother-in-law kept saying, “You need a pencil tree behind the house.” Eventually, I sought one out, and it’s warm glow is calming and cozy. This is probably my least favorite tree, looks-wise, but I do love the light behind the couch. This is the Sonoma Slim from Balsam Hill and is the most expensive tree we own. If I knew now what I knew back then…
#4: The stairwell tree. This Fraser Fir pencil tree from Puleo International was a new addition last Christmas and I’m obsessed with it. Our house has many dark corners and our stairwell in particular has no lighting. We chose very cheap and cheerful red bows and berries for a classic and elegant look. Isn’t it gorgeous? It was pretty without any decorations and the best part is that it was very inexpensive and yet better looking than our Balsam Hill pencil tree. It is from Puleo International, purchased from Amazon and cost about $135. It looks so much better in person than on the website, but it does take a good 30 minutes of fluffing. BONUS: Puleo has the best warranty of any company I’ve found thus far, with a 5-year limited warranty.
Fraser Fir pencil tree 7.5 ft from Puleo International
#5: The primary bedroom tree. I love this tree so much. This was another new addition last year to replace one with failing lights. The flocked tree with both white and colored lights is mesmerizing. Many of the lights are inside large bulbs, so we opted not to decorate this tree at all. I had a very hard time taking this one down and ended up keeping it up until mid-February. Shhhh! This is a flocked GE tree from Lowes.
It really is hard to capture how pretty this tree it. Just gorgeous!
#6: The teenage girl tree. Another new addition last year, but how could we resist a pink flocked tree?! There’s nothing like a 60% off sale right before Christmas to tempt such decisions. We decorated with simple white and silver ornaments and placed stuffed animals under the tree. š
#7: The basement tree. With guests staying in our basement family room, I felt the need to bring some holiday magic. We went with a “Frozen” theme to please my young niece and everyone loved the way it turned out. This is an Aspen Fir from Puleo International tree from Amazon with a cute glittery tree skirt.
Aspen Fir 4.5 ft from Puleo International
more is actually more
At first glance, you might think, āSeven Christmas trees? That sounds excessive!ā And you know what? It is. But in the best way possible. The holiday season is a time when we are encouraged to go all out. Itās the one time of the year when it’s perfectly acceptable to be surrounded by twinkling lights, garlands, and ornaments galore. Having multiple trees allows me to embrace the true essence of holiday maximalism – celebrating every aspect of Christmas to the fullest.
The best part? Each tree has its own personality. When you walk from room to room, youāre greeted with a new experience, a new mood, and a fresh sense of wonder. Itās like every corner of my home tells a different Christmas story, making the entire holiday feel like one big, joyful celebration.
bringing joy through abundance
Holiday maximalism isnāt about clutter – itās about creativity and joy. Itās about saying āyesā to the things that make you smile, whether itās a tree full of vintage decorations or one that channels your inner child with whimsical touches. The seven trees are not just ornaments and lights; theyāre symbols of a season that encourages us to celebrate abundantly and without restraint.
In a world that sometimes feels minimalistic and restrained, embracing holiday maximalism is a refreshing reminder that thereās beauty in abundance. Each tree, each decoration, each light adds to the magic. And when you surround yourself with that kind of festive energy, itās impossible not to feel joy.
So, whether you go all out with seven trees or simply add a few extra decorations this year, remember this: Christmas is about creating memories, embracing the season, and filling your space with as much joy and cheer as possible. After all, in the world of holiday maximalism, more truly is more. And isnāt that exactly what the holidays are all about?
Next up, holiday organization…yikes.
Happy decorating! āØš
