There’s just something about vintage Christmas decorations that brings a feeling of warmth, love, and joy. Especially this year, I think we are all craving the feeling of times gone by – a simpler, and less stressful season. That’s exactly the reason I went all out colorful and vintage with my christmas decor this year. The whole vibe our home is just more playful and fun!
**This post may contain affiliate links – please read my Privacy Disclosure for more information, and as always, THANK YOU for shopping through my links!**
I’ll have a full home tour up next week that will showcase my vintage Christmas decorations in all their glory, but for now, I wanted to do a roundup of my favorite vintage inspired Christmas decorations for you. We all know that sometimes finding true vintage can be difficult, or EXPENSIVE. But just because we can’t find the real deal doesn’t mean we can’t find new items that are just as beautiful and also harken to years past!
The big box stores have really brought back so many vintage look items in the past couple of years, so it’s easier than ever to get a vintage inspired Christmas look these days. And for your convenience, I have rounded up all my favorite vintage inspired Christmas decorations, and will be linking some throughout this post as well!
So without further ado, my top 5 items to make any home a vintage wonderland for Christmas include…
1. Bottle Brush Trees
Bottle brush trees have been around since the 1930s when Addis Brush Company began dying their toilet bowl brushes green in the post WWII era. They have become immensely popular in recent years, with nearly every retailer having some version available in their slate of Christmas decor items.
My favorite bottle brush trees come with glass baubles on them – they are just extra special!
2. Santa Mugs
Vintage Santa Mugs are in high demand as of late, and can sell for up to $40 a pop over on eBay or Etsy (tip: NEVER pay this amount, it’s NOT worth it!). If you want to collect real vintage Sant mugs, I suggest scouring eBay or Etsy in the early months of the year, when retailers who have not sold their stock drastically reduce prices.
The downside to real vintage when it comes to these mugs is that they are really for display only. Vintage Santa mugs were most often cold painted, meaning their paint comes off incredibly easily if exposed to water. Luckily, retailers have adopted the vintage Santa mug look on new mugs that you can actually use, and that are usually microwave and dishwasher safe to boot!
3. Ceramic Light Up Tree
These little ceramic light up trees rose to fame in the 1970s, but went out of style for decades after. They have recently come back in style and are oh so cute! They come in any color you could imagine, from classic green, to white to pink and beyond!
I am lucky to have my grandmother’s vintage version, and you can often find beautiful and old ones on places like eBay or Ruby Lane. But if you’d rather have new, there are SO many option and sizes available. Nearly every major store has cashed in on these little cuties, and they are incredibly easy to find!
4. Vintage Ornaments
My FAVORITE vintage Christmas decorations hands down are my gorgeous collection of vintage ornaments. My mom has been collecting them for years and so generously gifted me her collection! Many of my ornaments originate from West Germany and Poland, where they were first manufactured. In the post-war era, Shiny Brites became popular in the U.S., and they are still being manufactured and sold today.
The revival of the classic Shiny Brite ornament, with an indentation in the center of the bauble, means it’s incredibly easy to collect a vintage inspired collection of ornaments for yourself! Places like Amazon, Walmart, and even HomeGoods/TJMaxx have brought back Shiny Brites! Their color and whimsy is sure to make any Christmas tree a happy Christmas tree!
5. Dried Orange Garland
Lastly, dried orange garland has that perfect and classic vintage feel to it, and it’s the absolute least expensive way to decorate a tree. Add some dried popcorn and cranberry garland and you have the vintage christmas trifecta!
You can find my foolproof method for drying oranges (and grapefruit) here! It’s so easy and super fun! And when the lights from your tree shine through the orange slices, the beauty is unmatched!
And that’s it friend! I hope you enjoyed my roundup of my favorite vintage Christmas decorations! Whether you go tried and true with the real vintage stuff, or you choose vintage inspired replicas, your Christmas decor is sure to bring feelings of nostalgia and joy!
Happy hunting and even happier decorating!
Vintage Christmas is my favorite. I have collected several vintage Santa mugs lately and some old Santa stuff from my grandma when she passed away. Wonderful memories of Christmases when I was little and decorating with her.
Thats so wonderful Marissa! The nostalgia and wonderful memories are the best!
I love all things vintage!!
You and me both!!