Tidying expert and author Marie Kondo believes that books carry energy. She told a New York Times interviewer that when she signs one of her own books for a reader, she thinks a positive thought as she signs it and places her hand on the book afterward to transmit some of her own energy into it.
Do home furnishings hold the same type of power? Or is it the inhabitants of a home who infuse their belongings with energy that can surge across generations? Either way, it explains part of the emotional attachment we feel about the things we surround ourselves with at home, particularly the items that have been passed down through families.
Nostalgia has been one of the biggest trends of 2025, seen across fashion, beauty and design. It is driven by the emotional comfort and sense of stability that items from the past offer when everything else seems to be unraveling, and right now it is particularly strong among Millennials and Gen Z, many of whom are longing for things they never experienced first-hand.
At High Point Market in October, I moderated a panel discussion about nostalgia and how memory, emotion and sensory experience shape the spaces we live in. Trend expert Jaye Anna Mize of Future Snoops said younger generations are not recreating the past but personalizing it by reinterpreting traditions in their own way.
Linda Kafka, an expert in neuroaesthetics, believes that nostalgia has a biological component because when we walk into a home that feels good and welcoming, our brains first reassure us that we are safe, and then start constructing a memory of that space — aided by color, texture, smell and other sensory details — that helps us to feel anchored and secure.
The storytelling aspect of vintage and treasured pieces is what helps us feel grounded, said The Lifestyle Historian, Julia Reinert. “Every object holds a story. When we bring those stories into our homes, we’re not just decorating. We’re grounding ourselves in meaning,” she said.
When I look around my own house, I see meaning everywhere — from the furniture that was passed down to us from family members to the new pieces my husband and I purchased together over the years. All have a story behind them.
Nostalgia is the heart of the holidays. One of the things that has the most meaning for me at Christmastime are our family’s Christmas tree ornaments. Each one represents a memory — the cross-stitched ‘12 Days of Christmas’ ornaments my mother made for my bridal shower, the blown glass ornaments my husband gave me because they reminded him of a vacation we took together, the handmade pieces gifted to us by family and friends. Each year as we decorate our tree, we reminisce about where each ornament came from and why we like it.
As you decorate your homes and open them to family, loved ones and friends this month, I hope you experience the same joy in appreciating the old and welcoming the new.
Happy holidays!
