There is something that repeats every time someone remembers their grandmother: the scent of a meal freshly cooked, a home that always had room for one more, plants that seemed to grow by themselves, and that ability to turn any afternoon into a special moment with little effort.
From that image emerges nonna maxxing, a trend that began gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram and that, far from remaining a mere aesthetic matter, proposes reclaiming a slower way of living. Less haste, fewer screens, and more time for the things that truly benefit you.
The name comes from nonna, meaning “grandmother” in Italian. And even though social media is filled with videos of pristine tables, homemade pasta, and florally patterned aprons, the true spirit of this trend isn’t about recreating a perfect postcard. The invitation is far simpler: to rediscover those everyday rituals that have often been sidelined by the speed of our lives.
A philosophy that aims to slow the pace
The success of nonna maxxing is no accident. It arrives at a moment when more and more people feel the fatigue of being constantly connected, of doing several things at once, and of measuring productivity even in leisure time.
In response to this scenario, this movement suggests something quite simple: cook at home, host friends without needing to throw a grand event, do something with your hands, tend to plants, go for a walk, or read a book without checking your phone every five minutes.
It isn’t about living as it was fifty years ago or giving up technology. Rather, it’s about consciously choosing a few habits that invite you to enjoy the present and to value the everyday again.
The habits of nonna maxxing you can weave into your routine
One reason this trend has attracted so many followers is that you don’t need to overhaul your life to practice it. Many of its ideas can be adopted gradually.
Return to cooking, even if only once a week. There’s no need to make fresh pasta every Sunday. The idea is to reclaim the pleasure of cooking for yourself or for those you live with, enjoying both the process and the result.
Turn the table into a place of gathering. Eating in front of the computer or with a phone in hand has become commonplace. The nonna maxxing invites you to sit down calmly, serve the meal, and, if possible, share that moment with someone.
Find time to do things with your hands. Knitting, embroidery, sewing, pottery, or even baking a pudding. These activities compel you to slow down and allow you to disconnect from the digital world for a while.
Walk without a specific workout aim. Not everything has to be turned into training. Strolling around your neighborhood, passing through a plaza, or running errands on foot is also part of that idea of living with less hurry.
Open the door to your home. Inviting friends for coffee, preparing a snack, or cooking for the family shifts the focus back to relationships, one of the pillars of this philosophy.
A lived-in home, not perfect
The influence of nonna maxxing extended to decoration as well. But again, it isn’t about copying an Italian grandmother’s house to the letter.
The idea is to create warm environments, where every object seems to have a story. Linen tablecloths, artisanal ceramics, fresh flowers, baskets of natural fibers, books on display, handwoven blankets, and heirloom dinnerware coexist without aiming for catalog perfection.
It’s a decoration that conveys the feeling of home. Of those places where you want to stay a little longer.
Fashion also recovers the charm of simplicity
This philosophy has also found a place in the wardrobe. Not because you must dress “like a grandma” now, but because garments that prioritize comfort, quality, and durability have regained prominence.
Knit cardigans, linen and cotton garments, loose dresses, loafers, ballet flats, crochet knits, scarves and raffia bags are part of a relaxed aesthetic that leans toward buying less, choosing better, and valuing pieces that can accompany us for many years.
More than following a fleeting trend, the proposal is to build a wardrobe with clothes that truly invite wear—pieces that endure and invite us to dress with intention.
Much more than a viral trend
Perhaps that is why nonna maxxing managed to connect with so many people. Because behind the inspirational videos and the beautifully set tables lies a fairly universal idea: to live a little more slowly.
Cooking a family recipe, placing flowers in a vase, sitting down to have a coffee without looking at your phone, or enjoying a late dessert may seem like small gestures. Yet these are precisely the small habits this trend seeks to revive.
And perhaps that is the key to its success: reminding us that, often, well-being doesn’t come from adding more things to the agenda, but from rediscovering pleasure in the simplest things.
