Last Updated on October 18, 2024 by Rachel Granholm
Join me today for thrifted goodies volume 5, simple Christmas decor!
It’s time again for another thrifting adventure! I’ve been busy this month hunting for vintage Christmas pieces to use in my home this season but it’s actually not been as successful as I had hoped. However, the items I have found are amazing and are going to look so lovely all styled for the holidays. My hope is that these simple Christmas decor ideas will be an encouragement for you as you start to deck your halls!
Decorating for Christmas on a Dime
It’s the most wonderful time of the year …Christmas season is here! As we gather around the tree and cozy up by the fireplace, it’s the perfect opportunity to make our homes warm and festive with some simple Christmas decor.
But, with all the different styles and trends out there, it can be overwhelming to find the right decorations that not only match our personal aesthetics but also fit within our budget. I’ve got you! in this article, I’ll show you how to transform your space into a holiday wonderland with a few easy, thrifty, and budget-friendly ideas. Get ready to deck the halls with our guide to creating simple yet stunning Christmas decor!
Shop Thrifty Christmas Decorations
Thrifted Decor for Christmas
My friend MaryJo from the blog Master”PIECES” Of My Life will be joining me every month for this series going forward! She enjoys thrifting just as much as I do, so together we will be combining our love of the hunt and sharing our finds with you all. I’m thrilled to have her here and I hope you will enjoy seeing her treasures too!
MaryJo’s post this week is about a collection that makes me weak in the knees, which is vintage transferware! She is sharing her thrifted green transferware and I’m just obsessed! Head on over to her blog to find out her tips for thrifting these beloved pieces and see how she is decorating with them for Christmas.
Thrifted Goodies Volume 5- Simple Christmas Decor
Thrifted Christmas Decor #1: Milk Glass Candle Bowl
The first piece I’m sharing today came from one of my favorite antique malls. Whenever hubby and I go fishing down in Southern Minnesota, we always stop at it. I was very happy to see all the vintage Christmas in many of the booths!
Anyways, you all know by now that I have been collecting vintage milk glass for a few years. I only pick up milk glass that either has the hobnail pattern on it, has a wavy or curvy edge and that is marked on the bottom OR has the ‘ring of fire’ present within the glass.
This bowl caught my eye right away in a booth just packed with milk glass! I thought it was just a normal bowl but when I picked it up, I noticed all of the little holes made for candles to sit. How cool is that?!
It is extremely heavy and marked ‘Fenton’ on the bottom.
I’m SO excited because this is my very first piece of Fenton glass in my collection…I usually only find Anchor Hocking!
I paid $10 for it which is a very fair price for what it is.
This piece isn’t ‘Christmas’ per se but I adore using my milk glass for holiday decorating.
My friend Lora just wrote a whole blog post about using collections for Christmas decorating and I couldn’t agree with her more.
By simply adding berries, pinecones, ribbon, or greenery to any type of vintage collection, especially milk glass, you have instant Christmas decor!
Shop Vintage Milk Glass
Thrifted Christmas Decor #2: Amber Glass Fairy Light
This magical piece came from the antique mall as well. I’ve seen fairy lights before and have always thought they were super cool.
If you are not familiar with vintage fairy lights, it’s basically a glass vessel where the top portion comes off so you can put a candle or a small string of lights.
This one spoke to me as soon as I saw it. The amber glass is etched in such a beautiful way and knew instantly how pretty it would look sitting on the mantel for the upcoming holidays.
It does have a small chip on the inside but you can’t even see it so I don’t mind. For only $5.00, you bet this came home with us!
You guys, it gives off the most incredible glow at night and is so cozy! I need to get a tea light for it but for now battery powered string lights will do. This is the perfect piece of decor to use now all the way through winter and am so grateful that we get to enjoy it.
Thrifted Christmas Decor #3: Green and White Vintage Plates
These pretty vintage plates were found at my favorite thrift store for $1.00 each! They were stacked on top of each other, like they were just waiting for me.
When I saw them on the shelf, I immediately thought of styling them into Christmas vignettes.
This one with the green stripes is ‘Buffalo’ china. I’ve been starting to see more of this specific pattern come up for sale, especially online.
I just think the green paired with the cream is perfect for Christmas.
The next plate is a little more ‘Christmas-y’ and is simple decor for Christmas at it’s finest.
Look at the pretty little wreaths around the sides! I just think this one is so stinkin’ cute and the most excellent size for using in holiday displays. I’ve never come across anything quite like it before.
There was an older lady looking at the dishes too and we got talking about what we were seeing. She asked me what I was going to do with my plates to which I replied “I’m going to decorate with them for Christmas!” She acted like that was the best idea that she’s ever heard!
Thrifted Christmas Decor #4: Brass Bell
This beautiful brass bell came from the antique mall, as well. I really did well there that day! I’ve been looking for vintage bells to use for Christmas decor this season but haven’t found anything within my price range.
This single bell, which was $7.00, is a super unique shape and has the prettiest patina to it.
I’m not sure where this one will end up yet as far as Christmas decorating goes. I may put it in a basket display that I’m going to be making but it also may very well end up on my painted cabinet as part of a Christmas vignette.
Thrifted Christmas Decor #5: Red Vintage Book
The last find that I’m sharing today is a vintage home decor book that I paid $4.00 for. I look for larger books like these often because they are inexpensive and versatile decorating pieces.
My tip for finding these books is to look in the ‘home’ section of the books and pull the sleeve off to reveal the cover. Many times, you will find a really pretty linen book with a beautiful color hidden underneath the sleeve!
The red color on this book is so perfect for Christmas, enabling me to display and use it in a variety of ways! Books are helpful for adding height to displays, for added color, or for use as a background, like in the back of a basket for example.
Closing Tidbits on Simple Christmas Decor
May this simple Christmas decor be a starting point for your festive decorating. I will be sharing a full Christmas home tour in a few weeks so you can see each of these pieces in context as decor pieces.
Know that you do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on new holiday decor this season. By using thrifted decor mixed with Christmas decor that you already have, you can create a warm, cozy, and inviting home. Be encouraged to find peace in simplicity this season.
Again, we welcome MaryJo to this thrifting series! Don’t forget to check out her thrifting post as well…you might learn something brand new from her blog!
Let me know in the comments below if you have found anything special while out thrifting or if there is anything in particular that you are searching for. I would love to know what others are interested in!
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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.
Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!
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The Antiqued Journey Christmas Candle Collection
I want to remind you that The Antiqued Journey Christmas Candle collection is live in the shop! I only have four candles remaining and three scents left. The candles are made with organic soy wax and hand poured, by me, out of my kitchen.
These make amazing gifts for those on your list that have everything 🙂 Thanks so much for your support!
23 Comments. Leave new
[…] hop over and introduce yourself. Rachel has a ton of thrifty goodness, and today she is sharing her Thrifted Goodies Volume 5. You don’t want to miss her […]
These are great finds Rachel! Love the hobnail candle bowl! That is so unique and you can dress it up in so many fun ways. Love all the plates too and would play nice with mine!! 😉 Also bells are a weakness of mine. Lovely!! All of it. So fun to thrift together! XO- MaryJo
Thank you!!! That candle bowl was for sure SO neat to find!! I’m making myself slow down on the thrifting a tad now, for a little while at least 🙂 So much fun to virtually thrift with you!
Your scalloped milkglass dish is so pretty; perfect for Christmas decor. I’m drooling over your green and white china plates; they’re restaurant-ware, which I love collecting. If I come across some of those, I’m scooping them up! Fun post!
Thank you, Lora!! Finding these little treasures is so much fun… I do need to cool it a little though, at least for a few weeks 🙂 I just can’t seem to ever get enough thrifting! Thanks for reading today!
Hello Rachel, The Fenston glass bowl could easily be used as an Advent wreath. Just put in 4 candles and add some greenery and it would be beautiful!
Great idea!
How fun that you and MaryJo are teaming up. Green transferware is pretty hard to find around here. Your milk glass candle compote is so interesting, I’ve never seen a candle holder like it but love how easy it will be for you to create floral pieces. Can’t wait to see how you use it. Happy Thanksgiving, Rachel!!
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Hey Debra!! I know…It’s super hard for me to find green transferware as well…I don’t think I have ever seen it at a thrift store before! That milk glass bowl is probably one of my most unique finds…I’m so happy to have found it! Thanks for stopping by today, happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Oh my gosh Rachel! So many GREAT finds!! That green transferware is becoming more and more popular. You have a great eye for finding items! Happy Thanksgiving my friend.
Thanks, friend!!
I’m in awe of how many amazing thrift store treasures you have found! Great job styling them for Christmas! Love all the red and green, it’s so festive!
Hey Donna!
Thank you!!! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
DYING over all the goodies you found, Rachel! Especially, those green and white plates. I’m so excited for you – they’re an amazing find. I wish you lived closer – we could totally go shopping together and I can’t wait to see how you incorporate these pieces into your holiday home. No doubt. it’s going to be fabulous! Hugs, CoCo
Hello!!
Thank you!!!! I would LOVE to go shopping with you….wouldn’t that just be so fun?! Thanks so much for your lovely words today, CoCo, and for stopping by! Wishing you a great week!
[…] Amazon Holiday Gift Guide, Vintage Inspired Home Decor / How to Thrift Vintage Christmas Decor […]
The green dishes have my heart! I’m excited to tell you this post will be featured in this week’s Tuesday Turn About Link Party! Thanks for sharing your creativity and we hope to see you at the party this week! Pinned!
Hey Cindy!
Thanks so much!! I appreciate it! Happy New Year!
[…] classic red and green theme comes through in this display really well. On the left, my thrifted red book holds a vintage milk glass banana stand. I filled the stand with faux eucalyptus stems and red […]
[…] Thrifted Goodies Volume 5 […]
[…] The Antiqued Journey and my heart adores vintage decor in all forms, no matter the season. However, vintage Christmas decor in particular is, for me, something that can’t be put into words. The nostalgic and […]
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