Vintage Christmas Decor Favorites That Never Go Out of Style
The most realistic Christmas garland, trees, wreaths, and stems and vintage Christmas decor favorites for a timeless, old fashioned holiday home.
This week, Robert and I have been pulling ALL of our vintage Christmas decor down from the attic, cranking up the Bing Crosby, and getting to work!
Bloggers are weirdly earlier than normal for holiday decorating, so if you’re still firmly in the Team Fall club, don’t be alarmed. (Although, early Christmas decorating seems to become more popular with everyone lately.)
With early decorating becoming more “acceptable” lately, Christmas items start selling out early, and restocks likely won’t happen until well into December. I’ve had messages from some of you asking for resources, so I’m putting them all in one place to help you find them easily.
Plus, it is kind of nice to have all of the planning and preparations out of the way by December 1st so that you can simply enjoy the season with those you love.
Before diving in though, I have to say… Christmas has started to feel extra commercialized in recent years, but I’m here to remind you that all of the “stuff” doesn’t deserve the spotlight. Quality time with loved ones, moments of peace, and time for reflection are all we really need.
Take heart knowing whatever you do, however you decorate, whoever you shop for if anyone at all, it is enough and you are enough. No amount of material possessions could ever replace what Christmas really means.
This old fashioned Christmas decor can help us feel that warmth and light, but it is just one small part of the greater whole.
Why Vintage Christmas Decor Pays Off
I say “vintage” but really I just mean vintage inspired home decor.
It’s easy to get caught up in the trendy stuff, but I like sticking to mostly the same “capsule” of Christmas decor every year and just swapping out gift wrap and ribbon to make it look like a new color scheme without reinventing the wheel.
Best Vintage Style Christmas Decor
I pulled together a bunch of the best realistic looking Christmas garland, Christmas trees, wreaths, stems, and all of the best vintage style Christmas decor staples to simplify the “holiday decor capsule”.
All of these pieces are my favorites for making home feel nostalgic and timeless this time of year. I hope it helps!
Just click the images in the galleries below to shop them online.
(Affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure.)
Realistic Christmas Garland
TIP: One of my favorite tricks for making cheaper, fake looking Christmas garland look more realistic is by cutting and preserving leaves from the yard and drying fruit to mix in with the fake stuff.
It ends up having the sweetest, colonial Williamsburg-esque sort of charm.
The Best Realistic Artificial Christmas Trees
You can get a more detailed look at our favorite realistic Christmas trees here with advice on how to make cheaper trees look more upscale.
I love the look of a scruffy rustic tree in our living room where the space is more casual, but I prefer a more traditional, full tree in our formal dining room.
TIP: If you prefer real Christmas trees, you can see all of the tips to care for and decorate a real tree here.
Classic Christmas Door Wreaths
TIP: If you want to hang wreaths on your windows too, you can see this method for extra help. I love adding a different color ribbon each Christmas to give my wreaths a whole new look without having to spend much.
Just be aware that dried/preserved wreaths will last longer indoors.
It’s usually best to wait to order a fresh wreath for your front door until December 1st. Spray fresh greenery with Wilt Stop to make it last a week or two longer.
These are some of my favorite vintage style artificial, dried, and fresh Christmas wreaths.
Christmas Tree Skirts & Collars
TIP: If you already have a large basket or big planter hanging around, you can make a DIY tree collar instead.
Realistic Christmas Stems
TIP: I love incorporating stems that can stretch on into other seasons such as magnolia branches and eucalyptus.
Vintage Style Christmas Stockings
TIP: If you want to personalize your stockings, you can snag these free printable Christmas stocking name labels here.
Classic Christmas Tree Decorations
TIP: You can see how to put ribbon on a Christmas tree here.
You can never go wrong with neutral vintage ornaments and a pop of colored ribbon. I like using mercury glass ornaments because they add so much sparkle when reflecting the Christmas tree lights and they work with any color palette. We go colorful with homemade crafts and bright retro Christmas balls on our playroom tree for the kids.
Nativity Sets
TIP: One of my favorite places for finding unique, interesting nativity sets is at antique stores. But in case you don’t have any luck there, I really love these…
Vintage Style Gift Wrap and Ribbon
TIP: If you need gift ideas to put inside the pretty gift wrap, you can see all of my gift guides here.
Are you already starting to decorate for Christmas around your house for some early holiday cheer? Have you started your gift shopping?
I need to get on the ball with the present thing, I guess. But all in all, no matter what the decor looks like or what gifts end up under the tree, I’m just looking forward to time cozied up with family. That’s what counts most of all.
What great inspiration, Lauren! You give such beautiful examples and I have always loved your style!
awe! I am so happy you enjoy them.
Thanks for sharing so many amazing finds for Christmas decorating! Pinning to save for later. Also would love to share in our weekly roundup.
Hi! I am so happy you enjoy it. And absolutely you can share. Thank you.
Hello! The links to the garland are removed. Last year I purchased the garland you had but they had a limited supply and now I want to purchase more but I don’t remember where I purchased them.
Hi! Yes it goes quickly. Let me know if these do not work for you.
https://liketk.it/4jmuW
Thank you so much for reinforcing the idea that it is your family that is important and not all the “presents”. This time of year, it always seems to be about running around , spending money we could use in better ways. You are a lovely family and your blog has a lot of great ideas.
I am happy to have you here following along, Suzanne.
Lauren,
Thanks for all your hard work on this post. Wow! So many beautiful things!!
Side note: I have the exact same brass door chimes, circa 1970, ?. I have noticed it on your blog. I took the finial off mine though.