Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
There are always some who can’t help but go a bit OTT at Christmas.
From tinsel and sequins to Santa-shaped everything, it’s the season to be festive AF.
But if you’re typically more of a Scrooge, you might want to brace yourself, as things are about to get even more merry.
Experts at Etsy have revealed their predictions for what’s going to be taking the autumn and winter season by storm, and cultural trend forecaster Mandy Lee named ‘merry-maxxing’ as the big thing for Christmas 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know…
What is merry-maxxing?
You might have noticed that people are loving a bit of whimsy lately.
The ‘whimsy-maxxing’ trend took over social media feeds in the summer, with girls wearing colourful outfits, experimenting with make-up looks, and adding rainbow sprinkles to their morning coffee.
And that sense of childhood wonder, creativity, and joy isn’t going anywhere any time soon; in fact, we’re going to be doubling down on it for the festive season.
Etsy has coined the term ‘merry-maxxing’, which they explain is intended as an ‘act of defiance’ against adulthood, and is ‘unapologetically maximalist’.
Francesca Perks, Etsy’s UK guest trend editor, tells Metro: ‘At this time of year, we’re often told many traditions have to look a certain way: sleek, formulaic, and traditional.
‘What’s great to see this autumn/winter is that Brits are flipping the script and instead bringing genuine joy, creativity, and a heavy dose of personality back into the colder months.
‘We’re craving connection over perfection, human craft over mass-manufactured items, and a bit of pure whimsy.’
What does merry-maxxing look like?
The possibilities are endless, but essentially it’s all about being creative, playful, and having fun.
It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else; it just has to make you happy, as joy is the whole point.
On social media, the whimsy trend thus far has largely focused on bedazzling anything and everything, and searches for bedazzled kits are up 218 per cent on Etsy in the UK.
They expect to see more of this as part of the merry-maxxing trend, and would put money on a bedazzled Yule log going viral before December.
Be whimsical, not wasteful...
While it’s certainly fun to give bedazzling a go, keep in mind the plastic waste involved. Most rhinestones, sequins, and stick-on gems are made of non-biodegradable plastics that will sit in landfill for years.
One way to circumvent this is to opt for alternative materials for your embellishments, such as glass beads, or metal studs.
It’s also worth thinking carefully about what you plan to bedazzle. Do you really need to stick gems on a single-use item like a paper hat or disposable cup?
Consider instead upcycling items that you plan to keep long-term, as well as thrifted items that might be in need of a new lease of life.
How to get started with merry-maxxing
It’s important to point out here that this trend isn’t about promoting over-consumerism. You don’t need to go out and buy a load of new decorations in order to merry-maxx your home.
The beauty of it is that you’re just ‘upgrading’ things you already own, says Francesca.
Crack out decorations from previous years and work out how to make them look a little more playful by arranging them in a bolder, more layered way.
‘Forget about coordinated colour schemes and instead let your décor be a little more unexpected and completely personal,’ Francesca says.
‘If an ornament doesn’t “match” the rest of the tree but brings you genuine happiness, it’s earned its spot.
‘Layer different ornaments, fabrics and styles that you’ve collected over the years – the more colour and texture, the better!’
Will you be giving the merry-maxxing trend a try?
-
YesCheck
-
NoCheck
Looking for some merry-maxxing inspiration?
If you do want to buy a few new decorations for Christmas, Francesca recommends ‘investing in meaningful and unique statement pieces’ and not things that will be used once and then chucked out.
Choose one or two ‘delightfully offbeat’ items from an independent maker that you will want to treasure for years to come.
If in doubt, simply think about what your younger self would have wanted Christmas to look like, so you can inject more magic and soul into the season.
And for those in need of a little inspiration, Etsy has shined a spotlight on Jess of FatPomPoms for those in need of inspiration, a seller whose journey started in 2014 as a creative release and has now turned into an online handmade haven for all things pompom – which are bound to put a smile on your face.
JuliaShopGifts is selling festive beaded embroidery kits for those looking to get creative this Christmas, and for the book lover in your life, JazzlesBedazzles has painstakingly bedazzled the covers of some of the hottest books right now, including Fourth Wing and the ACOTAR series.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk