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    Home » Holidays

    A Vintage, Farmhouse, Retro Kind Of Holiday Home Tour

    Published by Pam Kessler | 597 words. · About 3 minutes to read this article. - 48 Comments

    Using my vintage, farmhouse and retro Christmas decor to decorate my home this holiday season.

    It seems like in the world of blogs you need to constantly outdo yourself each year for Christmas decor. The wreaths get fancier, the trees get bigger, the packages under the tree get more elaborate (you know those are empty boxes that someone spent a ridiculous amount of time wrapping just for you, right?).

    The decor gets more and more "staged" looking. And less and less like a real person lives there.

    Believe me, no one is going to have a sip of that hot cocoa with a snowflake shaped marshmallow floating in it while sitting on that perfectly decorated bench with that "casually" thrown plaid comforter wrapped around their legs.

    Vintage Shiny Brite ornaments

    So this year, whenever I had the urge to add one more thing into my holiday decor routine, I would step back and ask myself "Am I doing this for me and my family to enjoy? Or am I doing this because it might make a nice photo opp for the blog".

    If it was the latter, then I just dropped the glue gun and stepped back into realityville.

    I prefer to know that if one of you knocked on my door tomorrow you would see the exact same scene I am showing you today, give or take a few dog toys on the carpet and Coke cans on the counter.

    I am what I am, as Popeye would say.

    So here's my . . .

    Vintage, Farmhouse, Retro Kind Of Holiday Home Tour:

    Retro Christmas decor

    I bought this snowman mug at a local vintage/craft/everything store and he's one of my favorite things. Sure, he's gotten a little discolored and worn over the ages, but haven't we all?

    Vintage snowman mug

    Pioneer Woman cupcake stand used at Christmastime

    Santa kicked the turkey out and has taken over the cupcake stand.

    Target Christmas camper decor

    Vintage thermos decor used at Christmas

    White wreath on a green chalkboard

    Here's a close up of the Gurley candle choir people I scored this year. Well, two out of three, the third guy was too shy for a close up.

    gurley-candle-choir-boys

    Vintage flocked Christmas deer

    Vintage NOEL candle holders

    These were my mom's NOEL candle holders. I think they're either Lefton or Napcoware??? But they're always the first thing I pull out of the Christmas bins each year.

    Retro holiday decor

    This is just a print I bought at a gift shop and it's hung from a pant hanger. Odd, since I'm pretty sure Santa isn't wearing pants here.

    German Christmas scene

    Santa's multiplying.

    I love that I have Santa mugs I can actually drink out of this year. I was always afraid of getting lead poisoning, diphtheria or something out of the vintage ones.

    Christmas Santa mugs and bottlebrush tree

    Christmas holly in a galvanized bucket

    I just love my white tree with my mom's vintage Shiny Brites on it! There's nothing like the whiteness to bring out the colors of the Shiny Brites.

    I was sort of mixing styles by throwing the tree in the bushel basket though, but I think it looks pretty good in there!

    A white Christmas tree with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments

    I repurposed the throw I had shown you on my front porch post into a table runner here in the dining room. (So I guess that's one thing that won't look quite the same if you come knocking on my door).

    Cheese Box Christmas Centerpiece

    Vintage Christmas ornaments

    Retro plastic Santa in sleigh

    And my plaid Nesco picnic basket from The Country Living Fair. You gotta love plaid!

    Vintage plaid Nesco picnic basket

    OK, go forth and decorate, eat cookies and be merry!

    Enjoy those holidays before they're gone and there's just the dead of winter to look forward to! I think it's 2 degrees out as I'm writing this, so it's coming quickly.

    Using my vintage, farmhouse and retro Christmas decor to decorate my home this holiday season for my family, not the internet.

    Some other holiday posts you may enjoy:

    Christmas Porch Decorations
    farmhouse-christmas-decorations-6096

     

    A Vintage Eclectic Holiday Home Tour (2015)
    A fun and sassy vintage eclectic holiday home complete with a few kitschy blow molds, a small herd of plastic deer and plaid thermoses galore.

     

    Buying Vintage Christmas Decor At The Stores
    Your guide to finding vintage Christmas decor reproductions at big chain stores. No need to spend all your time scouring estate sales anymore! Score!

     

    « DIY Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes For Christmas
    Wishing You A Merry Christmas »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jean

      December 06, 2018 at 9:53 pm

      Pam,
      I just love the vintage prints you found. I hope I can get them to print the right way. I love all your décor (Christmas and furniture) in your house. I love vintage. You do such a good job and have great talent. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas.
      jean

      Reply
    2. Bev Regoulinsky

      May 16, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      Back about 7/8 years ago, I finally broke down and bought a new pre lit Christmas tree I loved from Hobby lobby. I needed to get rid of the old one that I had to put together (!) And not thinking ahead I also got rid of the old ornaments I had from many years back (Shiny Brights !) ☹️ every time I see them now on your pages and pictures I mentally kick my self every time as I had such a collection of bright colorable ones. The only thing that makes me feel better is the fact that I hope someone is enjoying them and using them on their pretty tree every year!! 🎄

      Reply
      • Pam Kessler

        May 18, 2020 at 9:17 am

        Aw, I feel for you. I can just imagine how excited that someone else was when they found those ornaments at the thrift store though! You brought joy to someone's life!

        Reply
    3. Lola

      August 30, 2020 at 2:34 pm

      I just found your blog today and it has brought a huge smile to my face!! I love all your vintage and retro decorations! I'm a huge history lover and have always been drawn to anything old and nostalgic. And it's so refreshing to read that you are photographing for your enjoyment and not for achieving "the perfect" look which is so unrealistic. I have always lived by this as well. Decorate for your own enjoyment, not to keep up with everyone else and what is the latest trend. Thanks so much for the tour!

      Reply
    4. Tammy

      December 06, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      Hi Pam, I have been reading your blog for a while now and I still love it. I found a pleasure chest just like yours last week. I wanted to get it but it was to much for my budget. So I picked it up and admired it and left it for someone else. Hopefully I will find another one some day. I do have the plaid picnic basket like yours and I love it. I love everything plaid including thermos. Your home looks so cozy and ready for Christmas. I always enjoy seeing what inspiration you will have for us next.

      Reply
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