One of the most enjoyable aspects of Christmas decorating is planning with a theme. Whether you go with a white and red, “Peppermint” theme or make everything rustic like a cabin or a farmhouse, there’s a whole lot of fun and enjoyment involved in planning out the decorative pieces and watching the vision take form. One trend that’s growing in popularity is the use of vintage Xmas decor, or the kind of decor you can find in our Traditional Collection or Retro Brites Collection!
Let’s take a look at some ways you can use some vintage decor in your decorating this season.
Start with the Lights
Christmas lights are a great way to get started if you’re thinking about putting up some vintage Xmas decor this year.
One great technique is to use LED C9 Christmas lights. These LEDs, which mimic the appearance of incandescent C9 lights, are decidedly retro.
We love seeing a good old design of these larger Christmas bulbs along the ridgeline and eves of the home - a well done house will have all the main rooflines and any interesting features pulled out with these lights lining it! You can also add them along the shrub line and walkway to really bring the house a pop of color or light!
Check out our guide on how to decorate with C9 lights for some inspiration.
OurLED Kismet Light Strands, also throw a decidedly retro air. We offer them here in several colors (as well as a flame pattern) that are great for indoor decorating.
Another great option in Christmas lighting is an LED umbrella display. They can be used in lots of creative ways, but perhaps the best one is as a tree topper or light. Add Some Vintage Ribbon
After you’ve settled on a light display for your home’s outdoor and indoor spaces, as well as the tree, you can tie it all together with some vintage-inspired Christmas ribbon.
There are lots of different types of vintage-inspired ribbon we sell here, many of them wired so they’re easy to form and will hold their shape. Pretty much any velvet ribbon is a good match; plaid is good too, as is glitter ribbon that will reflect the light and color of the other accents from our Retro Brites collection.
And, there are so many ways you can utilize Christmas ribbon:
- Ribbon Can be woven through the body of a tree as well as through other Christmas greenery to add color and the illusion of movement.
- Ribbon can make a delightful larger bow for wreaths, swags, lanterns, and other decorative elements.
- You can find many of our tutorials on decorating with ribbon on our YouTube Channel.
Remember that when decorating with Christmas ribbon, you don’t need to use all one style; in fact, you should use two or three compatible colors or designs that will complement each other, especially if used in different areas of the same room.
Also, and though it’s not ribbon, bead garlands can be a great way to add some vintage flair, especially when you add them to the tree!
Vintage Xmas Ornaments
Now let’s talk about the Christmas ornaments that can help tie the whole theme together, especially if they’re wisely chosen to reflect the elements of your vintage-inspired theme.
There are all sorts of vintage ornaments in our collection but probably the best ones are those that sport bright, metallic colors and sharp facets. These faceted glass ball ornaments and reflector ornaments will make the setting brighter and add color.
Pick a variety of styles that work with the colors you’ve chosen, then add them to the tree and the other Christmas greenery in the room.
In addition to faceted glass ornaments and reflector balls and finials, other great vintage ornaments include bell ornaments, glass Santa ornaments, and glass crackle balls.
The Vintage Xmas Extras
After you’ve done the bulk of the decorating, you can tie the whole spirit of the place together with some wisely chosen decorative accents.
Shop our vintage collection for some inspiration; our LED Shimmer Water Candles, Water Globes, and Mr. Christmas series accents all make great options, and they’re exceptionally versatile.
Place them on desks, shelves, countertop spaces, and elsewhere that there’s a blank space for an instant retro upgrade.
Explore Our Vintage Retro Brites Collection
Want to see some more inspiration for ideas, and plenty of vintage Xmas decorations that can be used to tie your whole theme together? Shop our Retro Brites collection and then get to decorating - and when you’re done, share with us on your socials using @decoratorswarehouse for a chance to be featured!