Happy Holidays, I am Keki from Home with Keki, and I am excited to be back here with you all during the most festive time of year.
Today, I thought I share a little about myself and my own holiday style. If you know me, you know that this past year has been a year of self-discovery and appreciation.
I know, crazy that in my late 30’s I realized how I needed to love it, own it, and live it. Well, in the past I would decorate my home along the holiday trends.
One year it was all white with burlap, another year it was bright neon green and chevron, yup, I pulled that off too. But, during this year of self-discovery, my home was included in the mix. So, what is my style, I call it transitional natural vintage.
I love vintage pieces. The majority of my home decor comes from estate sales or auctions. For that reason, I styled my home this year in vintage-inspired holiday decor and wanted to share it with you all.
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Quick Glance
- You do not need to match metals. Brass and silver look beautiful together, and mixing them adds depth and authenticity to a vintage styled space.
- Estate sales and auctions are some of the best (and most affordable) sources for candlesticks, vases, frames, and ornaments.
- Building a collection takes time. Give yourself a couple of years to gather pieces organically rather than buying everything at once.
- Natural elements like garland, pinecones, and fresh stems are the connective tissue that ties a vintage tablescape or mantel together.
- The only things I bought new this year were candles. Every other piece came from my existing collection of estate sale finds.
- Vintage frames often hide beautiful finishes beneath layers of paint. Do not judge a piece by its surface before you strip it back.
Vintage Inspired Holiday Decor – Christmas Tablescape and Mantel ideas:
This year, I took out all my vintage pieces for our tablescape and mantel. Then I filled in the design with natural elements, from garlands to stems, and pinecones. Truly, the only items I had to buy new were the actual candles.
When starting out a collection of vintage pieces there are a couple of tips to get you started.
1. Brass Candlesticks (and crystal)
It took me a good two years visiting estate sales to finally get a large collection of brass candlesticks.
I did not care about matching styles or shades of brass. If I saw one for a couple of bucks I grabbed it. Now I have over 25 candlesticks. I use them throughout the year, but I love how it looks spread out on the dining table all together.
Finding good quality crystal candlesticks is my next collection, I have three so far, who knows, maybe next year you will see them all on the table too.
2. Vases
Silver is becoming a lost appreciation. In other words, remember grandma’s house had silver and it had to be polished. I think because it takes work to maintain them, people don’t want them anymore. But, there is nothing like a large silver vase.
When it comes to vases, I stay away from crystal, because I drop everything and, I know I will be heartbroken when I drop a beautiful large crystal piece.
So, I go for real silver. They last lifetimes and I even like how the look a little unpolished. Oh, and don’t worry, MIX YOUR METALS, I put silver with brass all the time.
3. Ornaments
I have NEVER bought ornaments in bulk at a store. Every year, my kids pick out an ornament for them that goes on the tree, but all the other ornaments have been collected over time from estate sales.
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I have even gotten large garbage bags full of gorgeous silver ornaments for a few dollars and I used those this year on the tree.
4. Frames
See that gold-ish, black mirror on the mantel. Well, at an estate sale it was actually white. But, I could tell it was layers and layers of white paint. I brought it home and started stripping off the white.
After taking off the white paint this gold frame with hints of black was discovered. I thought of going down to the wood and then repainting it but I loved how it looked as is.
And I love knowing that someone decades ago also enjoyed it in the gold glory.
In my dining room, the table centerpiece is always very important to me. I always begin by placing down all candlesticks.
Then I weave the garland in and around the sticks and layer in pinecones, ornaments and touches of fresh berries and floral.
Things to Know
- Vintage-inspired holiday decor often draws from Christmas styles of past decades, using nostalgic colors, patterns, ornaments, and decorative details.
- Traditional colors such as red, green, gold, silver, and cream can create an aged or nostalgic Christmas look when used in softer or muted tones.
- Classic decorations such as glass ornaments, ceramic trees, bells, nutcrackers, bottle brush trees, and vintage-style figurines can establish the overall theme.
- Materials such as mercury glass, brass, wood, velvet, and aged metal can add texture and help newer decorations feel more authentically vintage-inspired.
- Vintage-inspired pieces do not need to be genuine antiques, as reproductions can create a similar look while often being easier to find and maintain.
- Family ornaments, inherited decorations, and older Christmas collectibles can add personal history alongside newly purchased vintage-style pieces.
- Mixing decorations from different eras can work when they share similar colors, materials, or design details that visually connect them.
- Vintage holiday decor can be incorporated throughout Christmas trees, mantels, tables, shelves, entryways, and other areas without completely changing existing home decor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to find vintage holiday decor pieces in the United States?
Estate sales are consistently the best starting point for finding quality vintage holiday decor at affordable prices. Antique malls, local auctions, and thrift stores can also be useful places to find unique seasonal pieces.
How do I mix metals like brass and silver without it looking mismatched?
The key to mixing metals successfully is varying the scale and shape of your pieces so the eye reads the combination as intentional and layered rather than inconsistent. Using different heights and shapes can help brass, silver, and other finishes feel naturally collected.
How do I start a vintage candlestick collection if I am on a tight budget?
Set a personal price ceiling of just a few dollars per piece and commit to picking up one or two candlesticks every time you visit an estate sale or thrift store. Building the collection gradually allows you to find varied pieces without spending too much at once.
How do I know if a vintage piece is worth buying even when it looks worn or painted over?
Look past the surface condition and focus instead on the weight, construction, and proportions of the piece, because those are the qualities that cannot be faked or replaced. Patina, worn finishes, and old paint can often be cleaned or restored while preserving the character of the piece.
Can I use vintage holiday decor in a modern or contemporary home, or does it only work in traditional spaces?
Vintage pieces actually integrate beautifully into modern and contemporary interiors because their organic textures and warm metal tones provide contrast against clean lines and neutral palettes. Pairing them with simple greenery and modern furnishings can keep the overall look balanced and current.
Well, I truly wish you all an amazing holiday with your friends and family and very happy New Year. I also hope that I have and can continue to inspire you to appreciate the vintage pieces of our ancestors (or complete strangers *estate sales*) but that they know their investment is living strong in new homes and have more stories to tell if only they could talk.
