The nostalgic appeal of vintage Christmas decorations

Evoke the childhood nostalgia of Christmas past, with glitzy baubles, tree candleholders and colourful paper chains

There’s nothing like the sense of anticipation in retrieving the decorations box (dusty, from the attic) and rediscovering all the treasures – and memories – inside it, unpacking each well-loved item with care and a hefty dose of nostalgia.

If you want a picture-perfect ‘new’ tree, you only have to trawl Instagram or glance at department-store windows to see the fashionable version of Christmas – sets of matching baubles, themed trends and the latest looks, which are all polished shimmer but lacking soul. Far better, surely, to accumulate vintage and second-hand decorations – inherited from family members, picked up in charity shops or bought from vintage dealers – for a warm, mindful look that exudes a truly festive vibe.

When American author and vintage lifestyle expert Bob Richter’s father presented him with a box of antique Christmas ornaments as a young boy, he said, ‘It’s time you started collecting something.’ From that moment on, his intrinsic love of vintage holiday decorations has developed into a lifelong passion which sees him joyfully sharing Christmas inspiration all year round. As author of A Very Vintage Christmas, Vintage Living and A Very Vintage Holiday, Bob’s dazzling passion for a vintage Christmas brings yesteryear firmly into the now.

Antiques collector Janet Osborne has amassed a huge selection of Christmas decorations over the years, mostly inherited or gifted. ‘I love old glass baubles,’ she says. ‘They’re fragile, but reflect light so beautifully and sparkle much more than newer plastic ones.’

Janet has a lovely selection of old metal clip-on candleholders which would add a gorgeous old-fashioned look – although it’s probably best to use battery candles (small ones are available at Lights4fun). Handcrafted and homemade decorations are important to Janet too. ‘I have lots of little bells which my husband made as a child from the tops of old Bell’s whisky bottles and glass beads,’ she says.

If you have the budget, there are some beautiful antique Christmas decorations available, but a vintage Christmas doesn’t need to cost much. Kitsch glass baubles from the 1950s and 60s (often manufactured in Eastern Europe or the former USSR) are readily available on sites such as Etsy and are an affordable way to bring colour and fun to your Christmas interior. Olena at OldBox, based in Ukraine, has a gorgeous selection and also supports local charities from her sales.

Embrace vintage gift wrapping too. Instead of splashing out on new rolls of paper, get creative – use sheets of old newspaper, magazines or sheet music (cheap to buy in charity shops), tied with ribbon for a quirky, eco-friendly approach.

WORDS: ELLIE TENNANT/ALICE ROBERTON