Podcast Summary

Podcast: Clutterbug – Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean Your Home Fast

Episode: #296 – The Unexpected Christmas Trend Everyone’s Talking About (And How to Get It!)
Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Cas (Clutterbug)
Guest: Dana Isom Johnson (Etsy Trend Expert, Judge on NBC's "Making It")

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the biggest home and holiday trend for Christmas 2025: a return to cozy nostalgia and maximalist, personality-filled decorating. Cas is joined by Dana Isom Johnson, Etsy’s resident trend expert, to discuss why this shift is happening, how it's influencing what we buy and make, and – crucially for Clutterbug listeners – how to embrace the trend without falling back into clutter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Makes a Trend Real? Etsy’s Unique Take

• [03:13] Dana explains that Etsy’s trends emerge organically from millions of creative sellers, based on actual customer searches rather than top-down designer predictions.
• Quote (Dana, 03:13): “So many of the trends are emerging from [Etsy creators’] own imagination ... this is what people are searching for in real time.”
• Emphasis on conscious, feel-good purchases that support makers and have real personal meaning.

2. The Shift from Minimalism to Nostalgic Maximalism

• [05:41 - 08:49] Cas observes that after years of minimalist “all white everything” trends (which suited declutterers), there’s a clear yearning for “personality, but not clutter.”
• Dana confirms: maximalism is back, but with intention. It’s about bright colors, layered textures, and playful, dopamine-boosting touches. Two leading micro-trends:
  • “Playhouse”: Cartoonish ceramics, playful shapes that are still functional ([06:30])
  • “Nona Holiday”: Bringing back grandma’s kitchen coziness, vintage crafts, and deeply nostalgic items ([06:30]).
• Quote (Dana, 06:30): “This direct alignment is called Playhouse ... and then Nona Holiday, all about dialing back to Grandma.”

3. Why Nostalgia Now? The Bigger ‘Why’ Behind the Trend

• [10:03 - 11:36] Both Cas and Dana link this nostalgia surge to wanting comfort, warmth, and real memories in uncertain times.
• Cas shares: “The thing I remember most about Christmas is decorating the gingerbread cookies with my grandma ... just all cozy and lots of different color lights.” ([10:33])

4. How to Shop & Decorate Without Creating Clutter

• [12:20 - 13:27] Temptation is everywhere, especially with virality on social media. Dana warns against impulse buys and suggests a three-question filter:
  • Does it align with my style?
  • Is it really functional?
  • Will it genuinely improve my space, or is it just fleeting hype?
• Quote (Dana, 13:27): “Pause, take a step back, does this really align with my style?... Make it make sense for me.”

5. Crafting, DIY & The Clutter Dilemma

• [14:13 - 17:59] Cas and Dana admit even creative types can be overwhelmed by half-finished projects and supplies. Tips offered:
  • Be intentional with crafting—focus on projects you truly enjoy and give yourself deadlines to avoid pile-ups.
  • Quality over quantity: investing in handmade or heirloom-quality items (that can be passed down) reduces clutter long-term.
• Quote (Dana, 16:01): “Gotta go into it with intention.”

6. This Year’s Must-Try Trends: Cozy Nostalgia

• [18:52 - 22:33] Dana spotlights two trending ways to add warmth without adding clutter:
  • Decorative Lampshades: Searches are up 11,000% on Etsy. Swapping out a basic shade for one with pizzazz instantly adds personality and coziness. ([18:52])
  • Handwriting Transfers: Scanning loved ones’ recipes or signatures and turning them into functional, sentimental home items (tea towels, cutting boards, pillow covers). A beautiful, memory-hugging way to decorate with history instead of generic stuff ([18:52]).
• Quote (Dana, 18:52): “Decorative lampshades are making a huge comeback ... and handwriting transfers onto functional items, like tea towels and bread baskets, are so meaningful.”

7. The Power of Pretty – Staying Motivated to Care for Your Home

• [22:55 - 28:31] Cas explains her “power of pretty” theory: adding a bit of beauty makes mundane chores and spaces more inviting—and yourself more likely to maintain them.
• Dana’s simple suggestions:
  • Use beautiful boxes or containers for mundane items like pens or kitchen sponges.
  • Upgrade “everyday ugly objects” to something handmade and visually pleasing.
  • Even inside the fridge (ceramic berry colanders, herbs in vases) can add a spark.
• Quote (Cas, 22:55): “When I took time to make a space pretty, even something small, I fell in love with my home a little bit.”

8. Personalizing Organization: Know Your Style

• [28:45 - 32:06] Cas diagnoses Dana as a “Butterfly” organizer—creative, visual, prefers things out in the open (which can lead to beautiful displays, but also clutter risk).
• Open shelving, displaying beautiful, useful items, and giving items “visual homes” work best for this style.
• Quote (Cas, 31:00): “It’s making things feel visual and beautiful and inspiring and giving an actual home for things that’s out ... that feels really visual.”

9. A Call to Return to “Nona Holiday” and Embrace the ‘Hug’ Home

• [32:39 - 34:13] Cas and Dana reminisce about retro holiday décor (the ceramic tree, tinsel), with Dana clarifying “Nona Holiday” is about bringing warmth, memories, and joy back—perhaps minus the fire hazards!

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:43] Dana: “In all fairness, Cass, I did make my job up ... They believed in me, and I’m forever grateful for that and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
• [06:30] Dana: “Today you see multiple decades having moments at the same time ... and then that trend we’re titling Nona Holiday, all about dialing back to Grandma.”
• [13:27] Dana: “Pause, take a step back, does this really align with my style?... Make it make sense for me.”
• [18:52] Dana: “Decorative lampshades ... such an easy way to add a level of coziness ... and handwriting transfers onto functional items, like tea towels ... memories that live on.”
• [22:55] Cas: “When I took time to make a space pretty ... I fell in love with my home a little bit.”
• [31:00] Cas: “It’s making things feel visual and beautiful and inspiring and giving an actual home for things that’s out ... that feels really visual.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:13] – How Etsy trends are made, rooted in real customer and maker behavior
• [06:30] – Maximalism, Playhouse, and Nona Holiday explained
• [10:33] – The longing for nostalgic, handmade comforts and memories
• [13:27] – How to avoid clutter and truly intentional purchases
• [18:52] – Trending: decorative lampshades and meaningful handwriting transfers
• [22:55] – “The Power of Pretty” and making chores joyful
• [28:45] – Organizer personality types – Cas diagnoses Dana as a “Butterfly”
• [32:39] – Embracing the return of cozy, sentimental holiday decor

Actionable Takeaways

• Embrace Nostalgic Decor with Intention: Prioritize handmade, heirloom, or memory-laden items—skip the cheap fads.
• Shop (and Craft!) Mindfully: Only buy or make what truly fits your style and serves your home’s function.
• Prioritize “The Power of Pretty”: Small swaps (a unique sponge holder, decorative box, or lampshade) can make daily routines happier.
• Understand Your Organizer Personality: Visual types (Butterflies) should lean into open storage and beautiful displays that keep things visible yet tidy.
• Bring Back Old-School Cheer: Don’t be afraid to use Grandma’s tree, quirky homemade ornaments, and family recipes as décor.

Further Connection

• Dana Isom Johnson: On Instagram and TikTok: [@DaynaIsomJohnson]
• Learn about Clutterbug Organizing Styles: clutterbug.com

Summary in a Nutshell

This holiday season, the real trend isn’t just a look—it’s a feeling: warmth, personality, and memory-laden coziness (a "home that feels like a hug"). Maximalism is back, but not with blind excess: it’s about filling your space with intentionally chosen, handmade, or sentimental items that tell your family story. Don’t be afraid to swap out the all-white minimalist décor for playful, nostalgic touches—just do it purposefully, and let both your purchases and your organization spark joy, not clutter.