Decorating for Christmas with vintage and antique finds can help create a timeless holiday look. Step inside our 2025 cozy vintage rustic Christmas home tour for inspiration and ideas to decorate your home. 

 

The holiday season is a perfect time to let your creativity shine and bring your unique style into your home. If you’re looking to create a warm, nostalgic, and timeless Christmas atmosphere, incorporating vintage and antique finds with accents of gold, red and black can make your decor truly special. This combination evokes classic holiday charm while adding sophistication and rustic elegance.

Here are some tips on how to focus on this beautiful look in your home.

1. Start with Your Vintage/Antique Foundation

The charm of vintage and antique pieces lies in their ability to tell a story. When decorating for Christmas, look for items that have a nostalgic, timeworn appeal. You can find many of these things at garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets.

 

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We added some bottlebrush trees to some old door knobs as well as some old wooden blocks for an antique look. Mixed with the warmth of the brown books and amber bottles, it creates a unique nostalgic Christmas feel. 

 

 

Some other ideas include:

• Antique Ornaments: Seek out glass baubles, mercury glass ornaments, and hand-painted pieces.
• Vintage Linens: Use embroidered table runners or a plaid wool blanket as a tree skirt or tablecloth.
• Thrifted Finds: Hunt for candlesticks, ceramic figurines, old-fashioned tins and vintage books that can double as decor.

 

 

My mother made this vintage ceramic tree when I was a kid. 🙂

 

 

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix and match! A curated collection of mismatched items adds to the charm and uniqueness of your display. Stick to a color scheme, though, or it can get jumbled and you’ll lose the collected feel. 

2. Layer Red and Green Accents

Dark red and green are quintessential Christmas colors, and they pair beautifully with vintage decor. The key is to use them in rich tones for a sophisticated feel. Here are some ways to incorporate these colors:

• Garlands and Wreaths: Choose lush, dark green garlands and wreaths made from faux or real pine. Add pops of red with berries, velvet bows, or poinsettias.

 

 

• Throws and Pillows: Drape deep green knit throws over chairs or sofas and add dark red velvet or plaid pillows for a cozy touch.

 

 

I love black accents and adding them throughout the spaces with touches of ribbon, in accent furniture like stools and in the background of some of the prints from Etsy tie everything together . 

 

 

 

3. Add Gold for Elegance

Gold accents bring warmth and a touch of glamour to your holiday decor. They work beautifully with the richness of red, green and black and elevate the vintage aesthetic. Some ideas include:

• Gold Candlesticks: Place brass or gold-tone candlesticks on your mantel, bookshelves or coffee table.

 

 

 

• Gilded Frames: Use antique gold frames to display vintage Christmas cards or festive artwork. You can find my favorite digital prints on Etsy here.

 

You can see some of my other Christmas Home tours here. 

 

 

• Shimmering Ornaments: Incorporate gold glass ornaments into your tree, or place them in a vintage bowl as a centerpiece.

 

 

 

4. Incorporate Antique Furniture and Decor

Furniture and decor pieces with a vintage flair create the perfect backdrop for your Christmas decorations. Consider the following:

• A Vintage Hutch: Use an antique buffet or hutch to display holiday treats or a collection of vintage Christmas decor.

 

 

 

 

• Vintage Winter Gear: Old sleds add even more of a nostalgia feel to your Christmas decor.

You can see the story about where this old box sled came from here. 

 

 

5. Focus on Your Christmas Tree

Your Christmas tree can be the star of your vintage holiday decor. We have always had a real tree but it was becoming too much for us to manage so this year we opted for a faux tree. We got this 14′ tree from Michaels and we love it!

 

 

• Personalized ornaments: Hang antique or vintage-inspired ornaments, like glass icicles, clip-on candle holders, and fabric-covered baubles.

 

 

So many of our ornaments were things made by our children, gifts given to us or souvenirs from trips we have taken. There is even an ornament my husband made when he was 5. Every time I walk by the tree, I see something that makes me smile. 

 

 

• Pretty Garland: Add a gold beaded garland or ribbon to create a luxurious look.

• Tree Topper: Opt for a classic star or angel with gold accents for a timeless finish. We got this pretty star on Amazon. 

6. Create Cozy Vignettes

To tie your theme together, create small vignettes around your home that incorporate vintage, red and green, and gold elements:

• Mantel Display: Arrange vintage candlesticks, gold-framed mirrors, and a garland with red berries on your mantel.

 

 

 

 

• Entryway Welcome: Place an antique sled or pair of ice skates near your front door, accented with greenery and a red bow.

 

 

For a personal touch, incorporate DIY projects that embrace your vintage style:

• Handmade Ornaments: Use old sheet music or book pages to create paper ornaments. I made these out of old cookie cutters and textured spray paint. You can see that and other DIY Christmas Decor projects here. 

 

 

I framed this gift back for some quick artwork. 

 

 

We also added this old saddle bag to a frame with some greens for a simple Christmas vignette.

 

 

• Vintage Jar Displays: Fill thrifted jars or cloches with miniature ornaments, faux snow, or tiny Christmas trees.

 

 

• Repurposed Finds: Turn old picture frames into wreaths or upcycle vintage fabrics into stockings. 

Picture frames are always on my list for thrift stores because you can use them in so many ways. This cute oval frame was a boring brown when I found it for $1. I gave it a coat of paint, added some new ribbon and a new print. So cute!

 

 

Decorating for Christmas with vintage and antique finds, accented with gold and warm tones of red and green, creates a festive and timeless feeling. These elements work together to evoke warmth, elegance, and nostalgia, making your home feel cozy. Whether you’re pulling cherished family heirlooms from storage or hunting for treasures at thrift stores, this style is all about celebrating the beauty of the past while embracing the joy of the holiday season.

 

 

 

 

How will you bring vintage charm to your holiday decor this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Decorating! 

Col

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