Mood Board: A Kitschy Christmas Ornament Exchange

Let’s Plan a Gathering 

 

I’m planning a gathering just for the girls to have a casual, yet slightly over-the-top, vintage Christmas-inspired ornament exchange party, something I’ve never done before. Kitschy is “connected with art, decorative objects, or design considered by many people to be ugly, without style, or false, but enjoyed by other people, often because they are funny.” According to Merriam-Webster, “Kitsch is an early 20th-century borrowing from German, and it refers to things in the realm of popular culture that are tacky. My ornament exchange took a festive spin on kitsch!  

I’m hatching a plan for a slightly over-the-top, vintage-inspired ornament exchange party—a first for me! The idea? A girls-only evening dripping in nostalgia, where the dress code is ‘glam’ and the vibes are unapologetically kitschy. Kitschy, by definition is design that’s often deemed tacky, but so charmingly fun it wins you over anyway. Merriam-Webster even calls kitsch “tacky in a way that’s appealing.” Sounds like a challenge I’m happy to accept. 

The result? An ornament exchange with a playful twist, leaning into the shiny, colorful, retro style of the ’60s. I figured, if the tree is getting all dressed up, why can’t we? With a little tinsel, a touch of drama, and a healthy dose of laughter, this gathering is shaping up to be my favorite way to kick off the holiday season. 

 

 

The Inspiration 

 

I started dreaming up the theme with a focus on 1960s Christmas kitsch—tinsel-draped trees, saturated jewel tones, and just the right amount of sparkle. The goal? An evening that feels nostalgic and fun, as if we’d stepped right into a retro holiday movie. 

 

 

The Mood 

 

In true “Sara Kate fashion,” I wanted the mood to feel festive, fun, and just a little bit dramatic. Think old-school holiday glamour with a goofy twist. A few words that inspired the mood for my Kitschy Christmas Ornament Exchange: 

 

Mood: 

• Festive 

• Goofy 

• Happy 

• Entertaining 

• Silly 

 

 

The Colors 

 

To tie the theme together, I leaned into the classic hues of the holiday season — but with a twist. Black-and-white Christmas movies played on the TV while dark fur coats, jewel-toned ornaments, and the warm glow of twinkling lights set the scene. Pops of hot pink and satin green added a fun, retro flair to the palette.  

 

A Kitschy Christmas Color Palette:  

 

• Navy Blue 

• Metallic Gold 

• Satin Green 

• Hot Pink 

 

Stay tuned as I share all the fabulous (and kitschy) details of the gathering—trust me, you won’t want to miss the grand reveal of this holiday shindig! 

 

Cheers! 

Sara Kate