22 Charming Vintage Christmas Decorations for a Classic Holiday

I can’t resist vintage Christmas decorations. Give me a slightly chipped Santa mug or a Shiny-Brite ornament that’s faded a little, and I’m right back in Christmas past with Bing Crosby on the record player and sugar cookies in the oven.

Mixing those old-fashioned pieces with what we already have is what makes our 1920 cottage feel like Christmas. The hunt is half the fun, too. Antique stores and estate sales, I’m looking at you.

Here are my favorite vintage Christmas decorations and styling ideas.

Looking for tree, mantel, and living room ideas too? I’ve gathered my favorites in 32 Christmas Decor Ideas for Bringing Comfort and Joy Home.

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What are Vintage Christmas Decorations?

Vintage Christmas decorations are authentic pieces, usually from the 1940s through the 1970s, that carry the look of holidays gone by. Think glass Shiny Brite ornaments, mercury glass candleholders, plaid thermoses, and Santa mugs with a little age on them.

Can’t find (or afford) the real thing? Good reproductions look lovely mixed in with true vintage. Nobody is checking the bottom of your mugs.

Vintage vs. Reproduction Christmas Decor

Why Choose True Vintage

Why Reproductions Are Worth a Look

I use both.

My 22 Favorite Vintage Christmas Decorations

These are the pieces I pull out year after year.

1. Vintage Glass Christmas Ornaments

The tree is the obvious place to start. Delicate glass ornaments, mercury balls, and Shiny Brites bring back all that old sparkle.

When the tree is full, pile the extras into bowls or glass jars. They’re too pretty to stay in the box.

2. Vintage Plaid Blankets

Plaid blankets cozy up a room faster than almost anything.

I drape them over chairs, use one as a tree skirt, or fold one across a porch bench.

3. Vintage Santa Mugs

You can never have too many Santa mugs. They’re one of my favorite ways to decorate the kitchen for Christmas, and they’re perfect for hot cocoa nights.

I mix old ones with reproductions. It’s the quickest way to build a collection without paying antique-mall prices for every single mug.

4. Vintage Holiday Dinnerware

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I adore using my vintage red-and-white Mason’s Vista transferware for a Christmas tablescape.

It brings instant Christmas color to the table and doubles as decor the rest of the season.

Tuck a mini tree or bottlebrush tree into a cup or bowl for a little whimsy.

5. Vintage Nutcrackers

My daughter was obsessed with nutcrackers when she was little, so they’ve become one of the most sentimental parts of our collection. Line them up on the mantel or group them on a console table.

6. Vintage Stoneware Crocks

Crocks are the unsung heroes of holiday decorating. I fill mine with greenery, birch logs, or fairy lights. They’re perfect by the front door or next to the fireplace.

7. Galvanized Buckets and Tubs

Rustic galvanized containers are versatile and full of character. Fill them with small trees, pinecones, or poinsettias.

8. Vintage Cookie Cutters

Old cookie cutters bring an easy nostalgic touch. Hang them on the tree, tie them onto gifts, or fill a glass jar with a mix of shapes for the kitchen counter.

9. Vintage Sleds

The vintage sled says Christmas without any help. Prop one by the front door, dress it with greenery and a plaid scarf, or lay it flat as a tabletop display.

10. Vintage Ice Skates and Snowshoes

Hang a pair of skates or snowshoes by the door. I tuck in a few sprigs of greenery and some ribbon.

11. Vintage Brass Candle Holders

Brass gives off a warm glow that suits a December table. Mix different styles and heights, and pair them with greenery on the mantel or the dining table.

12. Vintage Bottle Brush Trees

Tiny bottle brush trees are pure nostalgia. Group them on a tray with a little faux snow, and you have a winter scene in about two minutes.  

13. Vintage Silver Accessories

Silver trays, bells, and candlesticks add just the right amount of sparkle.

I use silver in almost every Christmas vignette. It catches the candlelight and never looks too new.

14. Vintage Glass Cloches

Set a little holiday scene or a few ornaments under a cloche. They always remind me of old department store windows during the Christmas season.

15. Vintage Wooden Crates

Stack weathered crates to make rustic shelving, or add a strand of twinkle lights inside one.

If your ornaments don’t all fit on the tree, a crate full of them with a little greenery tucked in solves the problem nicely.

16. Vintage Dough Bowls

A dough bowl is one of my favorite shortcuts to a centerpiece. Fill it with pinecones, ornaments, or greenery, and you’re done.

17. Vintage Copper Accessories

Copper adds a rich, old-world warmth. I display vintage copper candleholders or fill copper bowls with ornaments.

18. Vintage Books

Stack brightly colored vintage books on a side table or shelf for a subtle hit of Christmas color. Tie the stack with velvet ribbon.

19. Vintage Scales and Kitchenware

Old kitchen and postal scales make a great base for a small arrangement: a bowl of ornaments, some greenery, or a candle.

The rest of the vintage kitchen drawer works too. Fill old mixing bowls with ornaments or greenery, or lean a rustic rolling pin against the backsplash.

20. Vintage Baskets

Wicker and wire baskets hold firewood, blankets, or wrapped gifts. My favorite is a basket of greenery or pinecones beside the fireplace.

21. Vintage Plaid Thermoses

Classic plaid thermoses give a display that cabin-at-Christmas feel. Group a few on a kitchen shelf or next to a small tree, and tuck in greenery or candy canes.

They look right at home next to a vintage sled or a pair of ice skates. And if yours has a little rust or wear, even better.

22. Vintage Bells

Bells are one of the vintage pieces you can hear. I hang brass or silver bells from a wreath, garland, or doorknob, so they jingle whenever someone walks by.

Cluster a few with ribbon or a simple ornament, or tie them onto gifts. Larger sleigh bells look beautiful on the mantel with greenery and twinkle lights.

How to Create a Vintage Christmas Vignette

Creating Christmas vignettes is where the fun starts. Mix textures like metal, wood, and glass, add greenery, and bring in light with candles or fairy lights.

A few combinations I come back to:

Don’t worry about perfect… there’s always a spot for a chipped mug.

Where to Buy Vintage Christmas Decorations

Vintage is also one of the most affordable ways to decorate for Christmas, especially if you shop early. My favorite places to look:

Shop in the off-season when you can. Christmas pieces often show up at estate sales and thrift stores year-round, and prices are better when nobody else is looking.

How to Tell If Christmas Decorations Are Vintage

Look closely at materials, craftsmanship, and condition.

Pieces in their original boxes are usually worth more.

Most collectors call something vintage if it’s at least 20 years old, and antique if it’s 100 years or older. For Christmas decor, the most sought-after vintage pieces date from the 1940s through the 1970s.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on Vintage Christmas Decorations

Whether it’s your grandmother’s ornaments or a two-dollar flea market find, every vintage piece comes with a little history. It’s worth giving each one the perfect spot to be seen.

So, pour a cup of cocoa, put on some Bing Crosby, and start digging through those bins.

Until next time,

Happy Holiday Decorating!

More Thrifting Tips and Flea Market Finds

Cottage on Bunker Hill – Create a Timeless Christmas With Vintage and Thrifted Finds

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