The Merrymaxxing Guide to a Whimsical Holiday Home
I love to decorate for the holidays. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was notorious for throwing holiday parties where I managed to fit 30 people into a small living space. I pulled out all the stops and made sure that wreaths were hung, and the dinner table was dressed to impress. Why? Because it brought me joy.
Maybe your perfect holiday home includes a pink Christmas tree, a collection of slightly judgmental cats, and cocktail napkins that understand your personality. Maybe it’s vintage ornaments, colorful artwork, and a cozy corner where you can admire the lights while your cat admires the ornament you thought was out of reach.
Welcome to Merrymaxxing: a playful approach to holiday decorating that makes room for color, character, and the things that bring you joy. Etsy’s Fall/Winter 2026 trend report highlights Merrymaxxing as a holiday trend embracing sparkle, bold color, and decorations with personality. It’s a natural invitation to make your celebrations feel more personal. At Comfort Diva, we’re all for a home that makes you smile. Here’s how to bring that spirit into your holiday decorating.
What Is Merrymaxxing?
Think of Merrymaxxing as turning up the holiday joy through expressive, whimsical décor.
That might mean mixing unexpected colors, displaying your favorite collections, or adding a little humor to your holiday table. You can go gloriously over the top or create one cheerful corner that makes an ordinary Tuesday feel festive.
The starting point is simple: What would make the holidays feel like yours?
A beloved ornament from childhood?
A cat-themed Christmas card framed on a shelf?
A cocktail station ready for your favorite people?
Start there.
1. Choose a Holiday Palette You Actually Love
Red and green will always have their place. But your holiday home can also wear pink, turquoise, plum, gold, or whatever colors make you happy.
Look around your everyday space for inspiration. If you already love colorful artwork and playful patterns, carry those colors into your holiday accents.
A few combinations to try:
Blush, cranberry, and gold for a warm, glamorous feel.
Teal, pink, and silver for a cheerful, unexpected mix.
Forest green, cream, and brass for cozy cottage charm.
Jewel tones with black accents for a little holiday drama.
Choose two or three main colors to repeat throughout the room. That repetition helps different pieces feel connected, even when your ornaments have wonderfully different personalities.
2. Let Your Favorite Things Join the Celebration
The most memorable holiday homes often have details that tell you something about the person who lives there. If you love cats, make room for a few feline touches. If you enjoy travel, bring out ornaments or keepsakes from favorite destinations. If you’re happiest hosting friends, give your gathering spaces a little extra attention.
Try weaving your interests into small displays:
Place a favorite cat figurine beside a miniature tree.
Style a stack of beloved books with a festive accent.
Add a framed holiday card to a gallery wall or bookshelf.
Bring colorful everyday glassware into your holiday table setting.
You don’t have to pack away everything you love to make space for Christmas. Let the holidays move in alongside it. If you want a piece that's a purr-fect way to add a cat accent to a table, check out the Comfort Diva holiday cutting board.
3. Create One Whimsical Focal Point
Pick one spot where you’d like the holiday personality to shine. It could be your mantel, entryway, dining table, bar cart, or a small console. Giving yourself a defined space makes it easier to play with layers and rearrange things until they feel right. For a festive console, start with a piece of artwork or a mirror. Add a small tree or a group of decorations in different heights, then tuck in a few personal details.
For a cheerful entryway, try a colorful wreath, a favorite decorative object, and a tray for holiday cards.
Leave a little breathing room around your display so you can appreciate the pieces you’ve chosen. Even a maximalist moment benefits from somewhere for the eye to rest.
4. Give Your Holiday Table a Personality
A holiday table offers plenty of opportunities for whimsy, especially when the details help people relax and start talking. Mix your favorite dishes with colorful glassware. Add handwritten place cards. Put a small ornament at each setting or use a playful napkin as the finishing touch.
Comfort Diva’s Signature Cocktail Napkins make an easy conversation starter at a drinks station or holiday gathering. Let guests choose their cocktail personality—or see how quickly friends start choosing for each other. The Dirty Martini friend probably already has an opinion.
Our wine personality napkins bring that same playful spirit to wine night. Set them alongside the glasses and let the personality debate begin. Keep centerpieces low enough for conversation, and leave room for the food. A welcoming table is one people can comfortably gather around.
5. Make Everyday Corners Feel Festive
Some of the loveliest holiday moments happen while you’re making coffee, cooking dinner, or settling into your favorite chair. Bring a little seasonal joy to those spaces, too.
In the kitchen: Hang a whimsical apron where you’ll see it, set out a favorite tea towel, and add a small festive accent away from food preparation areas.
At your coffee station: Gather your favorite mugs on a tray and make room for seasonal treats.
In your reading corner: Add a soft throw, a colorful pillow, and warm light.
On a bookshelf: Tuck a holiday card or a treasured ornament between the things you already enjoy displaying.
These small touches help the whole house feel festive without requiring a complete room makeover.
6. Mix Nostalgia With Something Unexpected
A handmade ornament from years ago can look lovely beside a bright new decoration. Your grandmother’s serving dish can share the table with funny cocktail napkins. Those combinations make a space feel collected and personal.
Try pairing one nostalgic element with something playful:
Vintage glassware with colorful napkins.
A traditional wreath with an unexpected ribbon.
Heirloom dishes with handwritten, humorous place cards.
Childhood ornaments displayed on a small tree of their own.
Tell the stories behind your favorites when people visit. Sometimes the best decoration is the one that starts with, “Oh, I’ve had that since…”
7. Add Something You Made Yourself
Handmade details bring a kind of charm you can’t order by the dozen. Paint a few ornaments in your chosen colors. Draw gift tags. Create a simple holiday illustration or frame a card you’ve made.
Better yet, invite a few friends over and make an evening of it. Set out supplies, pour something festive, and see what everyone creates.
You might discover that the slightly lopsided cat ornament becomes the one you look forward to unpacking every year. For easy project ideas and hosting tips, read our Holiday Craft Night guide.
8. Make Room for Real Life—and the Cat
Your holiday home still needs to work for the people and pets who live there. Keep your favorite chair usable, leave space for serving food, and make decorations easy to move when company arrives.
If your cat considers decorating a collaborative activity, choose sturdy pieces for lower shelves and keep fragile favorites in secure spots. Skip loose tinsel and keep ribbon, hooks, cords, and small embellishments out of reach.
A cozy cat bed near the festivities may also help your feline supervisor settle into a more advisory role.
No guarantees. The tree remains fascinating.
9. Start With What You Have
Before buying anything, unpack your decorations and take a fresh look. You might find a forgotten ornament, a ribbon that works beautifully with your everyday décor, or enough colorful glassware to create the table you had in mind.
Move things around. Group pieces by color. Display a collection together instead of spreading it throughout the house.
Then decide whether there’s one useful addition that would bring everything together—perhaps a playful accent, an apron you’ll use all season, or cocktail napkins for the gatherings on your calendar.
Merrymaxxing leaves plenty of room for creativity with what’s already yours.
Make It Merry. Make It Yours.
Your holiday home can be colorful, cozy, nostalgic, glamorous, funny—or a little of each. Give the treasured pieces a place. Add something that makes you laugh. Set a table where people want to linger.
The result is a home filled with details you enjoy and stories you’re happy to share.
And if there’s a judgmental cat overseeing the whole operation? Even better.
Bring a little extra personality to the season with Comfort Diva’s whimsical home accents, playful aprons, and Signature Cocktail Napkins. Find something that feels like you—or like the person you can’t wait to give it to.
Merrymaxxing FAQs
What does Merrymaxxing mean?
Merrymaxxing is a playful holiday decorating trend that embraces expressive details such as bold colors, sparkle, whimsical decorations, and personal collections. The idea is to create a festive space filled with things you enjoy.
How can I try Merrymaxxing without decorating my entire home?
Start with one small area, such as a bar cart, entryway table, bookshelf, or coffee station. Repeat a few favorite colors and add personal touches to give the display a cohesive feel.
Can Merrymaxxing work with traditional Christmas décor?
Yes. Traditional decorations make a lovely starting point. Try adding unexpected colors, playful napkins, handmade ornaments, or pieces that reflect your hobbies and interests.
How do I decorate for the holidays on a budget?
Begin with decorations and everyday pieces you already own. Rearrange collections, use favorite glassware, frame a holiday card, or make your own ornaments and gift tags. Add new pieces selectively where they’ll have the most impact.
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