Nutcrackercore Is the Next Big Nostalgic Holiday Decor Trend 

Everyone’s been on the hunt for cozy, classic Christmas decor ever since the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend went viral earlier this fall. The core concepts of the trend aren’t going anywhere, but there did come a point when we all collectively snapped out of our hasty holiday haze and realized, “Isn’t this kind of just… traditional Christmas?” 

It’s true — a lot of the elements of the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend are classic, iconic and incredibly nostalgic: 

• Deep, jewel-toned color palette full of ruby red and emerald green
• Natural, rustic elements of lush pine garland and warm-toned wood
• Cozy touches of velvet in bows, stockings and baubles

So it makes sense that its virality has us embracing nostalgic decor that fully romanticizes the Christmas season. But now, there’s yet another new-but-old trend that takes these classic Christmas elements to the next level — and of course it has its own TikTok-worthy name: Nutcrackercore.

What is the Nutcrackercore Holiday Trend?

First spotted among Etsy’s Fall/Winter 2025 seller trends, Nutcrackercore is inspired by the classic Christmas ballet. It’s a little whimsical and a little theatrical, but fully vintage-inspired. The Nutcrackercore Christmas decor trend blends the classic elements we listed above with small touches of both luxury and whimsy, including:

• Soft, candy-coated pastels reminiscent of “The Land of Sweets”
• Luxe-looking gilded details
• Jewel-toned and iridescent glassware

Pretty dreamy, right?

Plus, the blend of themes makes Nutcrackercore an especially harmonious compromise for anyone who’s looking to get back to a classic Christmas look after getting swirled up in the all-pastel-everything trend of years past.

Nutcrackercore also incorporates classic Christmas motifs, like Santa Claus, toy soldiers, poinsettia, holly berries and, of course, the Nutcracker. These motifs often take the form of intricate glass ornaments, à la designer Christopher Radko. While $100 for a single ornament — as gorgeous as they are! — may be well out of our price range, there are plenty of beautiful alternatives out there to adorn your tree with that same vintage charm. (Plus, Christopher Radko is hosting a Black Friday sale up to 50% off, bringing at least some of these collectible, handcrafted European glass ornaments within budget!)

8 Vintage-Inspired Details for a Nutcrackercore Christmas

Though the look of Nutcrackercore has an air of “more is more,” you don’t necessarily have to spend more to embrace the look. If you don’t have a stockpile of holiday hand-me-downs, or your local thrift stores are already picked clean of classic holiday decor, we’ve got you covered with this selection of stylish little touches for every kind of budget.

Holiday Lane Heritage Set of 4 Glass Ornaments

This set of four glass ornaments offers a flawless combination of nostalgic Christmas elements with a touch of the Nutcrackercore theme we’re loving so much. It includes a Christopher Radko-style Santa riding on a gilded sleigh, plus three round baubles dotted with gems that bring an opulent touch to classic holiday motifs like snowflakes and sprigs of holly.

Price: $25.99 (orig. $66) at Macy’s

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New York City Ballet Nutcracker Napkins

Anthropologie’s entire New York City Ballet collection is incredibly Nutcrackercore-coded, but we’re particularly loving this set of four napkins that would add a perfectly whimsical touch to your holiday tablescape. Festive vignettes of ballerinas, the Rat King and the Nutcracker himself dance around the napkins with a hand-painted look, with colored borders that are right on trend.

Price: $33.60 (orig. $48) (30% off in cart for Perks members) at Anthropologie

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John Derian for Target Glass Cookie Ornament

Wouldn’t this candy cane-striped cookie look adorable on a Nutcracker-themed tree inspired by the Land of the Sweets? Artist and antiques dealer John Derian has created a whole collection of vintage-inspired glass ornaments for Target this season, and they’re like the quirky little cousins of Christopher Radko ornaments at a fraction of the price! A lot of the collection sold out online in a flash, but most styles can still be found in stores — so we recommend locking in that BOPIS order ASAP! You can also browse Target’s own Wondershop brand for hundreds of cute and quirky glass ornaments for just $5 each.

Price: $8 at Target

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Threshold Large Gold Metal Nutcracker

A bit of nostalgia with a gilded touch, this metal Nutcracker figurine is practically a must. Standing nearly 10 inches tall, it’s the perfect addition to a bookshelf or table.

Price: $22 at Target

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New York City Ballet Wine Glasses

Part opulence, part whimsy, this set of four ethereally iridescent wine glasses are directly inspired by “The Nutcracker.” The candy-inspired colors are a play on the traditional red and green, and they flow so dreamily from jewel tone to pastel.

Price: $50.40 (orig. $72) (30% off in cart for Perks Members) at Anthropologie

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Holiday Lane Ballet Nutcracker Ballerina

How cute would this ballerina look as she pirouettes beneath a branch of your tree? She’s even holding a tiny Nutcracker as an ode to the ballet.

Price: $5.99 (orig. $16) at Macy’s

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Christmas Velvet Bow Garland Green

This luxe-look garland is strung with soft velvet bows in an opulent shade of emerald green. They look expensive at a budget-friendly price — so get a few to drape around doorways, across shelves and mantles, and along the edge of your table runner to add a little whimsy to your holiday dinner.

Price: $10 at Target

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LoveShackFancy Nutcracker Needlepoint Stocking

The Nutcracker, pretty pink accents and a charming needlepoint style, all wrapped up with a big, velvet bow — what more could you ask for in a Nutcrackercore holiday staple? You can even have it personalized with a name!

Price: $39.50 at Pottery Barn Teen

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Be sure to activate our cash back offers on your holiday shopping! They can be stacked on top of Black Friday sales!

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