Discover 11 old-fashioned Christmas decorating ideas that will bring nostalgia to your home this holiday season.
When I imagine a nostalgic Christmas, it’s traditional and mismatched, filled with lovely handmade decorations kept from childhood or collected over time. It’s not too fussy and usually not minimal in any way!
A giant handmade wreath of pine, sticks, and holly hangs on the front door, and it smells glorious every time you walk by!
This post has been updated with fresh content and images on 9 October 2024.
Beautiful candles flicker, and vintage string lights hang in the windows or around the Christmas tree, creating a warm, cosy glow.
The house is filled with delicious scents, such as cinnamon, chocolate and peppermint, from simmer pots and all the old-fashioned Christmas candies being made!
You’re enjoying a warm, cosy space surrounded by your loved ones, sipping lots of yummy hot cocoa and eating all the sweet treats!
These moments capture the essence of an old-fashioned Christmas. In this blog post, I share 11 ways to bring old-fashioned Christmas nostalgia to your home!
The best part is that you don’t need to spend much money to create a cosy Christmas in your home. Learn how to have a Merry Christmas on a budget with my helpful tips!
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Shop my handpicked selection of beautiful, quality, traditional, old-fashioned Christmas decor for your home below!
11 Old-Fashioned Christmas Decorating Ideas
Play Christmas Tunes to Get into the Christmas Spirit
While this isn’t a decorating tip, it’s definitely a mood-setter! Before decorating, get everyone into the holiday spirit by playing Christmas music on Spotify or YouTube. It gets everyone (well, mostly everyone) in a great mood. Here is my favourite Christmas Hits playlist.
Get a Real Christmas Tree
Choosing the perfect Christmas tree is a fun activity for the whole family. Make a day of it and pick up hot chocolates on the way to enjoy while you walk around the farm and choose this year’s tree.
Remember to measure the size of your space and think about the ideal shape before you go so it’s easier to decide. Take your time and enjoy the experience together.
Use Warm Lights for Ambiance
Candlesticks that flickered around the home were very common in the past. They were a simple way to create a magical light source that casts a warm and inviting glow.
Nowadays, having open-flame candles lit everywhere is a fire hazard, so a great solution is battery-operated candles! You can place these candles on your window sills and mantels.
Other lights to consider are string lights, with their warm and soft glow, which are cosy and comforting. Add these lights to your house or Christmas tree. You can hang these outside, on the Christmas tree, or above your window frames.
Use a Traditional Christmas Colour Palette
Traditional Christmas decorations feature the classic colours of red, green, and gold. These hues are more than just colours—they are symbols of the season, representing warmth, joy, and nostalgia.
The deep red of holly berries and Santa’s coat, the vibrant green of evergreen trees and wreaths, and the shimmering gold of tinsel and ornaments combine to create a warm, festive atmosphere.
Hang Garlands
You can drape garlands over mantels, down banisters, wind them around the fireplace, or hang them across the tops of doors and windows.
You can purchase or make these from evergreens like pine, fir, and holly. It’s a lovely way to bring nature inside; if you use pine, your home will smell amazing!
Include some pinecones and holly berries throughout the garlands, which are traditional symbols of Christmas.
Hang Wreaths
Wreaths with a large ribbon are beautiful to hang on the outside of your doors or windows. You can purchase a wreath or make one from evergreens like pine, fir, and holly.
Use Antique & Handmade Ornaments
When it comes to ornaments for the Christmas tree or around your home, try being mindful of what you choose or use. Instead of buying a pack of 100 cheap plastic baubles that will only last this season, consider collecting well-made ones or making them yourself.
Start collecting ornaments each year that remind you of past Christmases, or keep the decorations you had as a child.
There are lots of different styles to choose from, but here are some ideas:
- Glass baubles
- Felt
- Tin
- Fabric
- Wooden
If you like to sew, here are some free sewing tutorials to try making yourself:
- Simple Christmas Stocking With Pattern & Tutorial
- Simple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern
- DIY Homemade Christmas Decorations
Other ideas for homemade decorations include paper snowflakes, orange garlands, pinecones, holly, and popcorn garlands!
Decorate the Dining Table
Arrange your table for a special meal or just to look beautiful during the holiday season. Add vintage linens, then centrepieces featuring candles, vintage ornaments, and natural elements like pine, pinecones, and holly.
If you enjoy thrift shopping, look for beautiful red or pink printed plates or lovely embossed white ones. I also suggest looking for vintage cutlery, beautiful hand-embroidered linens and serving platters that may be useful. This will add to the old-fashioned charm of a traditional Christmas!
Make a Simmer Pot
Fill your home with the lovely scent of cinnamon, cloves, cranberry, apple and oranges.
These scents have been cherished for generations and can be easily infused into your home by simmering them in a pot or incorporating them into decorations.
Fresh pine and peppermint also capture the essence of the holiday season, reminding us of the cherished memories we’ve created over the years, like putting up a real Christmas tree or sipping on a peppermint hot cocoa while enjoying candy canes.
Wrap Presents Uniquely
Wrap your gifts in beautiful vintage-style wrapping paper in the traditional colour palette, which includes white, red, green, silver, and gold. Tie with ribbons or add bows. Try making them all different for a special, unique touch!
If you need some thoughtful gift inspiration, check out these guides:
Hang Your Christmas Cards Up
Like many things, Christmas cards are a dying thing. But if you’re still lucky enough to receive them, why not hang them on a string across your living room wall? It’s a lovely way to display special memories in your home.
Don’t Forget About Snow Globes
Snow globes are magical. With just a slight shake, they can instantly transport you to a world of small things and falling snow. They are lovely decorations to have around your home, on shelves in the kitchen, or bookshelves.
Final Thoughts
As you now know, bringing the nostalgia of an old-fashioned Christmas into your home can be a beautiful way to celebrate the season and create long-lasting memories with your loved ones.
There are many ways to add warmth and charm to your holiday decor, from selecting a real Christmas tree to decorating with handmade ornaments, antique decor, and natural elements. By incorporating these ideas, you can capture the essence of Christmas and create a beautiful and inviting space for your family and friends to enjoy!
Merry Christmas to you and your family xx
Beautiful. Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.