One of the best times to celebrate joy, happiness, and harmony is the time of holidays when nostalgia is relieved and you get to experience the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas.
We associate Christmas with our childhood, where there were twinkling lights on the tree, stockings hung by the fireplace, and the sound of sleigh bells in the distance. Modern holiday decor is fun and trending, but the nostalgia and uniqueness carried by vintage Christmas decor are unmatched. They remind us of simpler times and how the traditions have been passed down to the next generation.
Vintage decor is more than just collecting Christmas ornaments and antiques. It requires perfect collection and placement to make your place more familiar with the vintage vibe. Christmas ornaments include mercury glass ornaments, plaid ribbons, or handmade stockings that carry family history.
With the help of these and many more, you can make your Christmas more memorable. Below are 10 of the best vintage Christmas decor ideas that you can choose to make your place travel back in time.
1. Classic Mercury Glass Ornaments
These are one of the most iconic vintage decor items that can make your place feel whole and shimmer.
Mercury glass provides better sparkle and elegance to the Christmas Tree.
You can choose to hang them on your Christmas tree to make a traditional look or you can choose to put them in a bowl and make a centrepiece.
Consider having mercury glass ornaments at a flea market as it can be a lot more cheaper option.
2. Vintage-Inspired Christmas Tree Toppers
It is considered one of the most important accessories that should be added to the Christmas Tree as it can add more charm and make it more glittery.
Before glittery stars and contemporary angels, tree toppers were often made of blown glass, tin, or felt. A vintage topper instantly sets the tone for a nostalgic tree. Choose a fabric angel to give a proper 1940s vibe. You can also choose a handcrafted star topper as it will give a rigid look that is made from wood or tin.
You can shop these toppers from Antique shops or DIY yourself with simple materials like wool.
3. Plaid Ribbons and Bows
Plaid ribbons and bows are one of the most common yet popular styles to maintain a Christmas vibe. You can choose a tartan and buffalo check ribbons that can bring warmth and a conventional Christmas vibe.
Adjust these ribbons around your tree and prevent the garland. The big plaid bows should be placed on wreaths, stair railings, or even gift packages. You can also choose to mix red and green tartan with other natural accents including pinecones. To save money on plaid ribbon you can get it from craft or dollar stores at an affordable price.
4. Wooden Nutcrackers
The Nutcrackers are an important part of the Christmas decor as they have been contributing since the mid-20th century. If you choose a good collection of wooden nutcrackers you will instantly have that centuries-old Christmas vibe.
You can choose to display them on mantels, bookshelves or windowsills as these can hold the nutcrackers and fill up your space.
You can pair the nutcracker with candles, greens or even place a variety of sizes to display a vintage collection of the most famous antiques.
You can buy them at affordable prices through the productions or you can buy them at estate or thrift sales.
5. Vintage Christmas Cards as Décor
The Christmas cards are known as treasured keepsakes and can be used to decorate your place. Christmas cards with intricate artwork and hand-painted details can help with the repurposing of the unique decorations.
You can choose Vintage style cards collaborated with clothespins as a DIY garland or frame them to display a wall art. You can also choose to put them across a coffee table to create a more nostalgic charm.
The reproduction vintage card sets are listed as low as $15, you can also choose to print these free vintage card images available on the internet to save more.
6. Ceramic Christmas Villages
These are known for their unique and beautiful designs that can fill up the whole space with beautiful colours.
Miniature ceramic Christmas villages were used to be a popular choice of decoration from the 1950s onward. These add details to small rooms, shops, and churches to create a magical holiday display.
You can choose to place them on a mantel, shelves or even console tables to bring an experience. To enhance their presence you can choose a full winter wonderland by collaborating with modern village pieces and adding a twinkling fairy lights or faux snow to do that extra touch.
You can purchase these from thrift stores, yard Sales, or any resaler available on the internet and get the best price possible.
7. Vintage-Inspired Wreaths
The holiday decorations have evolved with time but one thing remains constant and in its natural element and that is the wreath. A vintage wreath holds lush, warmth, and provides a vibe to your place.
You can create a vintage wreath through DIY by choosing evergreen branches and mixing them with plaid ribbons, pinecones, and dried oranges.
To enhance the vibe of this decoration you can use sleigh bells or even old-fashioned bows to create more genuineness. You can choose to hang these wreaths on your door or put them as wall art above the fireplace. With DIY it won’t cost much and can be an affordable option to decorate your place.
8. Glass Candle Holders and Lanterns
Candlelight holds a warm and welcoming vibe in any venue or place. Thus candle lights can be a critical choice to make your Christmas decor more vintage and memorable.
You can choose to add vintage glass holders, brass candlesticks, and lanterns to set a cosy, glowing mood. The placement of candles is important as they will enhance the class holiday setting. Place them on the dining table and choose different types of candles of various sizes and shapes to provide more vintage vibes.
You can also choose to add candles if safety is your concern and maintain a vintage look.
You can get these affordable candlesticks made from brass and glass for as low as $5 each.
9. Old-Fashioned Stockings
Families used to hang hand-knit or felt stockings by the fireplace to maintain the Christmas vibes. Nowadays they are replaced by modern themed stockings. Thus, the vintage hand-knit holds nostalgia and provides warmth to the place.
You can choose knit patterns in colours like classic red, green, or even cream. You can also perform DIY to bring a more personal touch to the stockings. Place these on the stair railings or near the fireplace.
You can find these perfectly handmade stockings on websites like Etsy or at craft fairs, else you can always DIY this as per your choice and what kind of vintage touch you want.
10. Antique Sleigh Bells and Wooden Sledges
The most well-known vintage decor of Christmas is the sleigh bells and wooden sledges. These decorations display the holiday postcard and give a sense of familiarity. You can choose a vintage wooden sledge on the porch and decorate it with your choice of ribbon and greenery. You can also hang antique sleigh bells on the doors so that every time the door opens it jingles.
You can get these sleighs from flea markets or antique stores at a reasonable price. You can also buy replicas available at modern retailers.
Final Thoughts
It is important to consider the vintage Christmas decor to connect the new youth with the old traditions and maintain the original Christmas style.
These vintage collections can add warmth and bring familiarity that can enhance the spirit of Christmas. You can get these from thrift stores or local stores. You can also DIY them to create more nostalgia and a personal touch to your holiday decor.
You can choose these 10 decorative items to bring the vintage Christmas vibe that can be memorable and Christmas lights make it more festive and magical.
