Vintage Christmas ornaments are as popular as ever, aren’t they? Antique store vendors can’t keep enough of them in their booths and modern makers are recreating their designs. We just can’t get enough of those vintage glass ornaments with their mercury glass patina in a rainbow of colors. Thankfully, there are tons of ways to display vintage ornaments that go way beyond your Christmas tree.
Vintage Christmas Ornaments on Bottles
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Pretty bottles- old or new- aren’t normally considered something to use as Christmas decor. But they’re the perfect base to display a few of your favorite (or perhaps most delicate) ornaments. Imagine a Christmas mantel filled with these ornament-topped bottles…wouldn’t that be absolutely stunning?
Vintage Soda Crate Display
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A vintage soda crate with large enough openings is the perfect thing for displaying some of your most prized ornaments. And here’s a bonus- you can use the crate to store the ornaments throughout the rest of the year, too!
Festive Wall Decor
Image credit: Inspired by Charm.
If you’re worried about your vintage Christmas ornaments getting damaged on the tree, this is a gorgeous alternative. How fabulous is this tree-shaped wall decor using only the prettiest, most perfect ornaments from your stash?
Vintage Flocked Wreath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This vintage flocked wreath was adorable plain, but had gotten slightly damaged over the years. Gaps had formed in the bristles and other areas had flattened out. But with the addition of a few vintage ornaments, it looks full and festive once again!
This is a particularly good idea for your less perfect vintage ornaments that don’t make the cut for the official tree…
Vintage Christmas Ornaments in a Jar
Image credit: Petticoat Junktion.
At first, this may not seem like a unique or showstopper of an idea. But an old wide-mouth jar like this is the perfect thing for a 360° view of some gorgeous vintage ornaments. And all you need to do is layer them in ever so carefully…
Color-Coordinated Vintage Charm
Image credit: Atta Girl Says.
It’s easy to end up with more vintage Christmas ornaments than you could possibly use on your standard tree. But that just means you need more than one tree, right? AND it gives you the opportunity to color coordinate your ornaments to the tree, such as the case with this festive pink and blue confection.
Mini Ornament Hooks
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Who else can’t resist the tiniest vintage Christmas ornaments? If so, then you definitely need this easy Christmas craft project: Mini ornament hooks! They are super easy to make and they start from cheap, basic ornament hooks. And they make a HUGE difference when it comes how your tiny ornaments look on their tabletop trees.
Ornament Box Crafts
Image credit: Little Vintage Cottage.
Not only are vintage Christmas ornaments adorable, but sometimes their boxes are, too. Unfortunately, though, time and storage can take a toll on box integrity. But before you toss those boxes, consider making a vintage Christmas diorama inside one instead.
Storage for Vintage Ornaments
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
Speaking of vintage ornament boxes, your precious ornaments are incredibly fragile. So, if you need some fresh new ideas for storing them safely throughout the year, then this post is just what you need.
Crafting with Non-Glass Ornaments
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
While vintage glass ornaments are always the crowd favorite, there are other retro ornaments to collect and craft with, too. Namely, those ornaments made with plastic, wood, and felt. If they don’t really fit in with the vibe of your tree, they’re perfect for adding to a quirky upcycled wreath like this.
Brass Candlestick Ornament Display
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
The best part about collecting brass candlesticks is that they all coordinate perfectly together without needing a matching pair. And look how FABULOUS they are as a unique way to display your favorite vintage Christmas ornaments?
Tree Baskets
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
If you happen to find some tree-shaped baskets on your thrifting adventures, then set this idea aside. Because they’re perfect for displaying your mini ornaments like this. And don’t forget to create those mini ornament hooks I mentioned earlier!
Decorating with Vintage Ornament Boxes
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Once your vintage ornaments are hung on the tree, the empty boxes might be festive enough to use as Christmas decor, as well. Stacked like a Christmas tree so you can appreciate the graphics printed on the sides, it’s a fun and unexpected way to decorate for the holidays.
And yes, that’s a vintage cookie cutter on top, too.
Vintage Ornament Wreath
Image credit: Inspired by Charm.
Now THIS is what you call an ornament wreath that is truly showstopping. It’s full, it’s vibrant, and it’s filled with vintage charm- down to the tinsel wreath underneath! This tutorial shows you how to make your own and how to make one that looks this amazing.
Wine Rack Christmas Tree
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Not all wine racks are triangle-shaped. But if you thrift one that is, well…it’s bound to become a funky little Christmas tree, right? Not only is it an easy makeover, but it’s also a great way to display some of your favorite or most unique vintage Christmas ornaments, too.
Reusing Vintage Ornament Caps
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
If you craft with some vintage Christmas ornaments and don’t need their caps, set them aside for this brilliant idea. Save them in case you make any holiday crafts with those clear glass ornaments from the craft store. Trust me, vintage ornament caps look SO much better than the flimsy caps that the craft ornaments come with.
This is also a great idea for any unfortunate accidents when a vintage ornament breaks. Speaking of which, save the broken glass shards if you can. You can break them down into glass glitter for other Christmas crafts, as well. Just take extra care when doing so!
Bird Cage Tree
Image credit: Atta Girl Says.
Ok, now that I’ve seen this old bird cage as a makeshift Christmas tree, I definitely need one myself! Isn’t this a fabulous and unique way to display some of your vintage ornaments?
Crafting and Decorating with Vintage Christmas Ornaments
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Once you scroll through these ideas, it’s easy to understand the vintage ornament obsession, isn’t it? These ideas and photos even make me want to go out and source some more for my collection. And trust me when I tell you I do NOT need any more vintage Christmas ornaments! But, I hope these have given you a few new ideas for your own collection this holiday season. Merry (Vintage) Christmas!
Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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