How I Created a Classic Vintage Christmas Tablescape with Flea Market Finds

Hosting Christmas dinner this year? You don’t need a cabinet full of holiday China to set a beautiful table. One of my favorite Christmas tablescapes came together with a box of red-and-white transferware I found at the flea market for $45.

The Bremerton Flea Market is one of my favorite places to hunt for vintage pieces, and I rarely leave empty-handed. This time I came home with a set of Mason’s Vista transferware and a handful of pewter goblets, and the whole tablescape grew from there.

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The Short Version

To create a vintage Christmas tablescape, start with one secondhand dish collection (red-and-white transferware is a classic), then build around it with galvanized or metal chargers, vintage-style goblets, plaid napkins, a natural runner, and a simple centerpiece like a poinsettia in a copper pot. Finish with greenery, berries, and a few scattered ornaments. Flea markets, antique malls, estate sales, eBay, and Etsy are the best places to find transferware.

If you love decorating with antique or vintage pieces at Christmas, I’ve gathered all of my favorite ideas, from trees to tablescapes in cottage vignettes, in 22 charming Christmas vintage decorations for a classic holiday.

My Red and White Vintage Christmas Tablescape

I don’t usually decorate with red, even at Christmas. My holiday tables tend to lean soft and pastel. But the pink-red transferware changed my mind.

Paired with green garland and greenery napkin rings, every place setting looks like an old-fashioned Christmas card.

Mason’s Vista Red and White Transferware

Mason’s Vista is a red-and-white transferware pattern (sellers often list it as pink) from the English pottery Mason’s Ironstone. The design shows a pastoral scene framed by a floral border, the kind of look that feels right at home on a cottage table.

Transferware gets its name from the way it’s decorated. The pattern is engraved onto a copper plate, printed onto tissue paper, then transferred onto the dish before glazing. That’s why every piece in a set matches so closely.

I paid $45 for the whole collection, which included:

Vintage Christmas Place Setting Ideas

Not everything on this table is vintage. It just looks that way. Mixing a few true antiques with newer pieces is the easiest way to get the look without hunting down every item secondhand. Here’s how I mix vintage and modern Christmas decor all through the house.

Galvanized Chargers

Galvanized chargers give the table a rustic, farmhouse feel and look pretty next to the pewter goblets. They also protect the vintage plates from scratches.

Gold Flatware

Gold flatware makes any table feel more festive, so I use it often. For a more authentic vintage look, swap it for mismatched antique silverware.

Christmas Table Linens and Napkin Rings

The textured natural runner is an old favorite from Pier 1 years ago. It lets the dishes take center stage.

For color, I added plaid linen napkins and red, green, and white from HomeGoods. Each napkin is tied with a faux greenery napkin ring, a few red berries, and a small Christmas bell for a little something extra at every seat.

Pewter Goblets for a Vintage Christmas Table

The pewter goblets were another flea market find. Their true vintage status is questionable, but the soft gray finish looks great with the transferware and the galvanized chargers, and that’s what mattered to me.

Vintage Christmas Centerpiece Ideas

This table mixes pewter, gold, and copper, and I love how much the metals play off each other. The centerpiece is a red poinsettia set inside an old copper pot. I love using copper in vintage Christmas decor. It warms up everything around it.

If you want something a little different, a mini Christmas tree in the center of the table makes a cheerful focal point too.

Add Natural Elements

I used faux garland with berries down the center, but fresh greenery clipped from the yard works beautifully if you have it. Tuck in pinecones, holly, or cedar branches.

Seasonal fruit is easy to overlook. Pomegranates and dried oranges add color and fit right in with red transferware. More ideas are in my guide to using natural elements for cozy Christmas decor.

Use Christmas Ornaments

Vintage ornaments are an easy centerpiece on their own. Fill a dough bowl or ceramic bowl with glass ball ornaments, or scatter a few down the length of the table as I did here.

More Christmas Table Decorations to Try

Where to Find Vintage Transferware and Ironstone

I found most of my transferware at flea markets and antique malls around Puget Sound, and a few pieces from vintage shopping on our boat trips. Here’s where to look:

For more on decorating with old pieces year-round, see how to add timeless style with vintage and antique decor.

Vintage Christmas Tablescape FAQs

Final Thoughts on My Vintage Christmas Table

A $45 box of dishes turned into my favorite Christmas table. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more Mason’s Vista on my next trip to the flea market.

Do you decorate your holiday table with vintage finds? I’d love to hear what you collect in the comments. And if you know someone who loves a good flea market find, feel free to send this their way.

Until next time,

Merry Christmas!