I have a theory that December awakens a very specific part of our personalities—the part that loves sequins at brunch, peppermint-flavored everything, and the magical belief that more really can be more. It’s the season where even the minimalists quietly slide a garland onto a bookshelf and pretend it “just happened.” But for those of us who love color, pattern, and playful interiors all year long… well, the holidays are our Olympics.
Still, there’s a fine line between “festive maximalism” and “your living room just ate Christmas.” I wanted my space to feel full and joyful, not chaotic—so this year I challenged myself to create a maximalist holiday living room that still felt elevated, intentional, and inviting. And the secret ingredient to pulling off that balance was the MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Collection.
As soon as the pieces arrived, I knew exactly where this look was headed: bold, whimsical, layered, and somehow still calm. It’s a tricky balance, but one that made the whole space feel deliciously alive. Plus, it all fit so beautifully in my new dining room that’s drenched in the loveliest blue and accented with floral roman shades. I can’t believe how well it all works together!
My new dining room
Before this year, the dining room was a white box with nothing notable about it. This year, I found some dollhouse cabinets on Facebook Marketplace, which Pat transformed into built-in cabinets, added in some details onto the glass doors, added on trim, painted the room blue, with a coordinating rug, and some gorgeous floral shades. I love how it turned out! But I’ll be talking more about that soon. Just happy to give you a sneak peek now!
Start With One Bold Anchor
Maximalism isn’t about throwing everything into the room; it’s about choosing a star player and letting the rest of the cast support it. The Emerald Check pattern became my anchor for the entire space—its deep, jewel-toned green is both vibrant and grounding. It’s the grown-up cousin of holiday green, the one who traveled abroad and came back with stories.
I placed a few key pieces in highly visible spots—on the piano with this new table lamp, on the side table with this spacious rattan tray, and decked out on the table. Just enough presence to create rhythm, not so much that the room felt like a catalog spread. When you choose one pattern to lead, the rest of the room follows effortlessly.
Layer With Intention (A.K.A. Don’t Fear Pattern-on-Pattern)
When you’re styling with a bold check, the trick is to mix patterns that vary in scale and texture. Small florals? Yes. Oversized stripes? Absolutely. A sprinkle of plaid? Always. Christmas is the one time of year when all the patterns finally agree to get along.
On the table I used the dinner plates as the grounding place setting and used additional patterns to highlight it. The checks provide structure and crispness, while everything else feels like a soft exhale around it. Pattern-on-pattern works best when one pattern leads and the others follow. Emerald Check took on the role of confident, well-dressed captain.
And if it ever starts to feel overwhelming, remind yourself that maximalism is about joy, not perfection. If the room makes you smile, you’re doing it right.
Jubilee garland | Emerald Check Dinner plate
Think in Color Stories, Not Individual Pieces
Maximalist Christmas is infinitely easier when you commit to a palette. This year I let the Emerald Check determine mine: emerald (of course), warm brass, creamy whites, and little hits of deep red and cranberry. It’s equal parts jewel box and winter forest—classic, but punchy.
Something magical happens when you give yourself a color story: suddenly the room doesn’t feel busy; it feels collected. Even if you’ve layered a dozen different textures and shapes, the palette ties everything together like a pretty bow on a present.
I love their whimsical, ornament garlands, which I used on each window and as a table runner. They are the garlands of my dreams–fun and bright and playful. It immediately sets a lovely tone upon entering.
Emerald check enamel tray | Cherry check tree dish | Courtly check ornaments
Use Repetition to Create Calm
This is my number-one decorating trick for busy rooms: repeat shapes or colors throughout the space to create visual breath. A few Emerald Check accents appearing again and again bring the eye on a little pattern scavenger hunt. Miraculously, that repetition makes the space feel calmer—not louder.
It’s the same principle as music: repetition creates rhythm, and rhythm lets the melody shine. In this case, the melody is your living room’s festive joy.
Emerald check candlestick lamp
Balance Boldness With Cozy Corners
Maximalism still needs rest. I created a few quieter corners—a reading chair draped in a chunky knit blanket, a side table with a petite evergreen, and some simple taper candles in brass holders. Soft lighting, fewer layers, and a little intentional negative space make the rest of the room’s color and patterns feel designed, not accidental.
These are the spots where you breathe in… and then look up to appreciate all the merry things happening around the room.
Let Your Personality Do the Decorating
If maximalism teaches anything, it’s that homes should feel like you. I love color, I love pattern, and I love a little holiday drama. The Emerald Check Collection let me bring in that boldness while still feeling refined and cozy—like the fun aunt of holiday decorating.
And honestly, that’s the best part of the holidays: not following rules, but following joy. Building a room that invites delight, celebrates detail, and makes everyone who walks in feel wrapped in festivity.
Because at the end of the day, creating a maximalist space isn’t about whether you use 10 ornaments or 100. It’s about crafting a space that radiates warmth, wonder, and just the right amount of whimsy. And that, to me, is the best kind of holiday magic.
Get the look
MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Collection
This post is sponsored by MacKenzie-Childs
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