Old Fashioned Christmas Tree and Holiday Home Tour
Tips to mix old and new for an old fashioned Christmas vibe that feels welcoming, cozy, and reminiscent of past holidays!
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One of my fondest childhood memories is celebrating Christmas together as a
family at my papa and nana's home in Canada. While the snow fell softly
outside, sweet and savory smells filled the upstairs, and the basement was
where the Christmas magic happened! Nana's tree was decorated with an
assortment of shiny glass ornaments, tinsel, and an
everything goes vibe. The presents were piled under the tree, and we
all gathered as an extended family to share the day.
I'm sharing some easy tips to help you recreate the feeling of an old fashioned Christmas in your home, far from what's trending and viral on social media. Rather, it's all about comfort and family.
I'm delighted to be joining some of my favorite bloggers for the
Bloggers Best Holiday Home Tours blog hop, hosted by
Kelly of The Tattered Pew. No matter your decorating tastes or style, I know several of these home
tours will resonate with you! Pick a few ideas to try out this year, and pin
the ones that speak your language! You'll find all the links at the bottom of
my post. If you hopped over here from
Tammy at White Lilac Farmhouse, welcome!
Tips to Recreate an Old Fashioned Christmas
I wasn't lucky enough to inherit my nana's glass ornaments, but that's the
look I wanted for my main Christmas tree this year.
Tip #1: Decorate an old fashioned Christmas tree
So how do you decorate an old fashioned Christmas tree with new ornaments?
Two words...shiny baubles! None of my tree ornaments are antiques (or
even vintage). I used a mix of dollar store ball ornaments, as well as mercury
glass ornaments that I've collected over the years. To really give my tree
that old fashioned vibe, I used
reproduction Shiny Brites
that I found at Marshalls.
My Christmas tree is the
7 foot King Noble Fir from King of Christmas. The branches are further apart, which gives some wonderful empty space for
ornaments to hang and really shine! I loaded my tree up with shiny ornaments
of all sizes and colors, which adds to that vintage vibe. My tree topper is a
simple velvet ribbon bow in the palest blue.
Tip #2: Unique vessels as tree stands
Get creative with the vessels you use to hold trees of all sizes! Try an
antique ice cream churn bucket, a tarnished urn, a rustic crate or even your
favorite antique dishes. Both teacups, bowls and even baking dishes can be
used to hold a tree.
Here's a peek at my red and white Christmas bedroom. I used a striped bowl
from my kitchen as a tree stand. I'll be sharing the full tour in a few days.
You could also use new items that look old. Go through your home with new eyes
and grab a few items that you never would have thought of using as a tree
stand. Things like galvanized buckets, baskets, small cabinet drawers, even a
box wrapped in giftwrap can all be used as decorative tree bases.
Bottle brush trees are the perfect size to pop into an old tea cup! I used a
little bit of excelsior to keep the tree in place.
A long, rustic wood crate is the perfect vessel for a forest of faux evergreen
trees!
Tip #3: Add quilts
Whether your quilts are true vintage ones, inherited from grandma, or newer,
give them a fresh wash and add them to your home. Pile quilts in a basket,
toss them over a sofa back, even stack them in front of the Christmas tree. A
soft quilt adds a cozy and homey vibe to your home. Wrap up in a quilt in
front of the fire and you immediately feel at home.
What if your quilts don't match?
Actually, it's even better if they don't match! An old fashioned Christmas
isn't about decorating a trendy home, it's about inviting others to get
cozy.
Tip #4: Bring out the childhood favorites
One of the best ways to evoke an old fashioned Christmas is to decorate with
older finds. If you're lucky enough to still have some of your childhood toys,
books or decor, find a way to use them in your holiday decor. Devote an entire
tree to favorite childhood ornaments, add that tattered teddy to a bed or
basket, stack the childhood books somewhere visible, and enjoy them all over
again! Use those Santa mugs you so enjoyed as a child!
Tip #5: Mix old and new
Maybe not a tip, so much as a theme. Mix true vintage and antique pieces with
new for a classic, old fashioned holiday feel in your home!
I've inherited and collected items like hob nail milk glass, tarnished urns,
vintage books and crates. Find a way to use similar items in your holiday
decor. Fill an old Coke crate with ornaments, add greenery to a tarnished urn,
use vintage books to elevate favorite items, coffee or tea stain white
thrifted doilies for a vintage look.
Tip #6: Display those old dishes
If you've followed me for any time, you've no doubt seen my vintage
ironstone collection. I also collect blue and white transferware, and red
transferware.
Pull out your grandma's dishes and display them in your hutch! If you don't
have Christmas dishes, add fairy lights or small bottle brush trees, or even
ornaments to add a little magic to the dishes in your cabinet.
Tip #7: Mismatch Christmas decor and colors
When all is said and done, decorate how you like; there are no rules
when you're creating an old fashioned Christmas vibe in your home! Don't be
moved by trends that will change from year to year! And don't worry about
matching everything. I've had this tree, decorated with
DIY paper ribbon, in my dining room since early November, and recently added the ornaments.
I love red too, especially for Christmas! So my black hutch, across the
room, is filled with my collection of red transferware.
I hope you can take some of my ideas for an old fashioned Christmas and make
them your own this year!
Pin to Save
Please visit my friend
Michelle of Thistle Key Lane next on the tour, she has a woodland Christmas theme. The rest of the
tours are linked below!
Bloggers' Best Holiday Home Tours
This week I am thirty talented and creative women who are opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each home tour by clicking the links below. Enjoy!
Monday's Tours
The Tattered Pew // StoneGable // Worthing Court Blog
Southern Home and Hospitality // Our Crafty Mom // My Thrift Store Addiction
Tuesday's Tours
A Life Unfolding // Living Large In a Small House // Cottage On Bunker Hill
Bricks 'n Blooms // Cottage In the Mitten
Wednesday's Tours
WM Design House // The Ponds Farmhouse // Shiplap and Shells
Simply 2 Moms // Robyn's French Nest // Amy Sadler Designs
Thursday's Tours
Midwest Life and Style // White Arrows Home // White Lilac Farmhouse
DIY Beautify // Thistle Key Lane
Friday's Tours
I think you have the right idea on how to decorate with an old fashioned theme Cindy! Your ornaments and decorations are so beautiful and I love the mix of colors! It's a wonderful Christmas tour that put a smile on my face! Happy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Michelle! And I forgot to add that I left lots of Christmas in bins this year!
DeleteCindy, you've captured wonderful nostalgic vibes with your old-fashioned Christmas tree and I really love the different vessels you used as stands. Wishing you a joyous holiday season!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much my friend! Enjoy this season xx
DeleteOh, Cindy! I love your tour. I have a soft spot for vintage decor, and reading about your holiday memories at your grandparents house made me think of my own Christmas memories with extended family. Thank you for sharing so many beautiful ideas and great tips. I'm stashing some of them away to borrow for next year!
ReplyDeleteHappy to be touring with you today! Pinned!
Thank you Jen, the older I get the more I long for those nostalgic feelings!! So happy to have inspired you today xx Enjoy the season my friend!
DeleteI adore your tree. You've done a perfect job decorating it to look like you've been dragging it out for years. Grandma would be proud! Your entire home looks magical and so festive. You always make things feel so inviting. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cindy, that is so sweet of you! Hope you're enjoying the season ♥️
DeleteCindy, your home is perfect! Your post spoke to my heart. I love an old fashioned Christmas and you captured it in your home. Love all of the vintage items and the container suggestions for trees. Love that Hobnail Milk Glass candle holder. I have never seen one like it before. Beautiful home for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks so much Tammy, that means so much! I'm old enough that I'm tired of chasing trends and just want to recapture the magic!
DeleteCindy your cozy holiday decor makes my heart smile. I love the red ticking paired with the green. So festive!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura! Hope you're enjoying this festive season ♥️
DeleteCindy, your home is so cozy decked out for Christmas! I especially love all the unique ways you used various vessels for your trees.
ReplyDeleteCindy your home looks wonderful! The old fashioned and vintage look really makes everything feel so warm and welcoming for christmas time. Happy Holidays!!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, my friend. So warm and cozy, perfect for the holiday season. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteYou had me at old fashioned. Love your vintage style. Great tour.
Love all the nostalgic touches! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCindy you are the vintage queen! I love how you incorporate it throughout your home and it’s even more magical at Christmas! Loved your tour and wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Kelly @thetatteredpew
ReplyDeleteI love the vintage-y look you created! Everything is so pretty Cindy.
ReplyDelete