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The Ultimate Guide to Thrifted Holiday Decorating

By Rachel
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Last Updated on November 16, 2024 by Mitch

Using a bit of thrifty holiday magic, you can totally deck your halls for less!

Are you tired of overspending on holiday decorations year after year? Do you want to add a special touch to your home for the holidays without breaking the bank? Well, the answer to all of your Christmas decorating woes lies in the world of thrifting! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the art of thrifting for holiday decor and how it can transform your home into a festive wonderland.

Decorating Your Home For Christmas Using Thrifted Finds

From vintage finds to budget-friendly DIY projects, learn how to elevate your holiday decor without spending your whole paycheck. I’m offering advanced tips and tricks for scoring the best holiday finds at thrift stores and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned thrift store enthusiast or a first-timer, this Christmas thrifting guide has something for everyone.

Join me as we delve into the ultimate guide to thrifted holiday decorating: a one-stop-shop for all your thrifty and festive needs!

Rachel from The Antiqued Journey

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Budget-Friendly Holiday Decorating with Thrift Store Treasures

Hello, guys!

The holiday season is upon us once again. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for ways to spend less and save more, especially this time of the year.

My all-time favorite method for saving money on things that I need is by shopping at the thrift store. For the Christmas season especially, I always have a list of holiday-related items that I’m on the look out for while thrifting. This list helps me to stick to only what I need and curbs over-spending. Many of these things can be found thrifted for mere cents!

These thrifted items can include:

  • holiday gift bags and wrapping paper
  • ribbon
  • sets of holiday or Christmas cards
  • candles (real or faux)
  • holiday-themed napkins and paper plates
  • dish towels or other Christmas linens
  • holiday dishware, mugs, or drinking glasses

…the list goes on. You can find just about ANYTHING you are looking for to use for holiday baking, wrapping, tablescapes, etc…at the thrift store. It’s incredible the amount of money that can be saved by purchasing holiday items secondhand!

vintage Christmas ornaments bought secondhand used on a Christmas table setting

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The Ultimate Guide to Thrifted Holiday Decorating

Below, you will find six of my top tips for sourcing, and styling, Christmas decor for less. I’m here to tell you that you can totally have a magazine-worthy holiday home without spending thousands! Let’s get into it.

1. Best Places to Find Secondhand Christmas Decorations and Ornaments

First, let’s chat about where to find inexpensive Christmas and holiday decor.

My go-to spot, and the place I always check first, are my local thrift shops. This is your best bet for seeking out items such as:

  • Christmas village houses
  • ornaments
  • garland or wreaths
  • Christmas trees
  • berry picks or other greenery
  • bottle brush trees

Other secondhand options for sourcing Christmas decor include vintage or antique shops, Etsy, e-Bay, or Mercari.

Christmas ornaments and decor found inexpensive at thrift shops and antique stores

Shop Vintage Christmas Ornaments!

2. Tips for Scoring the Best Deals on Thrifted and Vintage Christmas Decorations

One of the best parts of thrifting is getting the most amazing deals! You can find the best, most unique Christmas decor for just a few dollars. But, from experience, there are a few key tips to keep in mind, especially when hunting for holiday items.

  1. Subscribe to thrift store e-mail lists if they have them. That way, you will be the first to be notified when the Christmas section is out and available to shop. Try and get there early to get the good stuff!
  2. At most stores, ornaments are priced around $1.00 per one. However, there are some thrift stores that price ornaments in bulk, meaning they have a whole bunch of ornaments together in bags for between $3-5.00. I’ve found some incredible ornaments in these bags…even if you don’t want all of the ornaments in the bag, it’s worth buying for the ones you do want because it’s still a way better deal. Then, you can either gift the other ornaments or donate them back.
  3. I know it’s super tempting to buy all the things. Trust me. But, to help curb over-spending and buying things you don’t need, take inventory of your Christmas decor before you leave the house. Make a list on your phone of the things you need or that you’re looking for. You can even write down gift ideas for others to keep an eye out for…you never know what you might find!

a vintage milk glass bowl found thrifted used to hold bells for Christmas decor

3. Favorite Thrifted Christmas Decorations

I think all of us have our favorite Christmas decor that we like to style year after year.

For me personally, my most special Christmas decorations are vintage and have been thrifted for just a few dollars each. Many of these items I use all year round and simply tweak them to feel more Christmas-y. This method gets you more bang for your buck and you get to enjoy them more than just once a year.

Some of my all-time favorite Christmas decor pieces to thrift for include:

vintage butter pats and creamers styled in a hutch for budget Christmas decor

4. Unique Ways to Decorate for Christmas with Thrifted Finds

Styling thrifted decor finds is, like, my favorite hobby…especially when it comes to thrifted Christmas!

There is truly no right or wrong way to decorate your home, Christmas or otherwise. However, over the years, I have experimented with decor pieces and found a few super cool decor ideas that I love to incorporate each Christmas season.
  • Stack vintage platters, plates, or butter pats.

    I love to stack ironstone or other vintage dishes, either in a hutch, on a shelf, or on a credenza. Top the stack with a creamer, pitcher, or other vintage Christmas accessory. Then, to add a Christmas feel to the vignette, place holiday greenery, berries, or a small tree next to the display.

vintage Christmas vignette with stacked platters, plates, and creamers.

  • Incorporate vintage Christmas postcards.

Another decor element that I recently started doing, and completely love, is styling antique Christmas postcards into vignettes. There’s just something so nostalgic and special about these old pieces of paper that brings a timeless feel into any holiday display.

Try a mix of both horizontal and vertical graphics. Postcards can be tucked into a garland or wreath, styled simply with ribbon, paired with milk glass or vintage brass, or hung on a tree!

an antique Christmas postcard tucked into a vignette with red velvet ribbon

  • Place light-up Christmas houses inside a hutch. 

A few years ago, I thrifted a light-up Christmas house for a few dollars. At the time, it was the only one that I had but just adored how it looked lit up at night. Well, fast forward to now and, to date, I’ve thrifted three beautiful, vintage light up Christmas buildings, complete with a Christmas barn!

Each year, it’s brings me such happiness to style a countryside scene with my houses, as if I’m out in the country near my favorite fly fishing river. My favorite way to style the thrifted Christmas village is on the bottom shelf of my hutch. After I have all my the houses placed, I add in trees in various heights and shades of green.

Tip: For power, I feed a cord down through the top of my hutch and run each of the house cords to the plug on the left side. To cover the cords, I use white vintage hankies. It looks like snow!

thrifted Christmas village houses in a hutch

  • Style vintage ornaments in bowls.

Another one of my all-time favorite Christmas decor ideas is to style vintage ornaments in bowls. I do this all over my house! You will find bowls of ornaments in my bathroom, on the bottom of my nightstand, in the kitchen, and on end tables, just to name a few.

Putting vintage ornaments in bowls is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to use thrifted ornaments! And, to take it one step further, try utilizing vintage, glass bowls like milk glass, green glass, or pressed glass.

vintage ornaments in a vintage milk glass bowl used for Christmas table decorations

  • Utilize thrifted linens for Christmas decor.

Finally, a super cool hack that I love to use for holiday decorating is to use thrifted linens such as plaid scarves or vintage lace tablecloths for Christmas decorating.

When styling Christmas decor, it’s helpful to have a fabric or textural base on the shelf or whatever surface you are decorating. This styling element helps all of your decor to feel grounded and stable.

Years ago, I found this red plaid scarf at the thrift store for a few dollars. It’s a super cozy and colorful accent that I add to my shelf each season!

a thrifted red plaid scarf used as a shelf accent for Christmas decor

Another way to use thrifted linens, that I just love, is to wrap a lace tablecloth around the base of Christmas tree as a tree skirt!

Tablecloths or other table linens can be found at thrift stores for a few dollars a piece and make the most lovely, neutral tree skirts. I simply wrap the table linen loosely around the tree base, making sure to leave enough play in the fabric so it flows nicely on the floor.

a vintage thrifted crate and table linen used as a tree skirt for a Christmas tree

5. How to Decorate a Christmas Tree with Thrifted Items

Another biggie when it comes to Christmas decor on a budget is the star of the show…the Christmas tree!

I know, from experience, that your Christmas tree can easily be the most expensive item to decorate over anything else. But, it doesn’t have to be! There are a plethora of things you can do to decorate your tree on a budget.

Budget Christmas tree decor ideas can include:

  • shop at thrift stores for ribbon, lights, ornaments, tree toppers, tree skirts or collars, etc…you’ll be so surprised at what you can find for cheap!
  • create or DIY your own ornaments
  • shop secondhand for a Christmas tree if you need a new one. FB Marketplace is a super good option as are thrift shops.
  • try a minimal aesthetic on your tree
  • ask your family members if they have any hand-me-down Christmas tree decor items that they aren’t using
  • a completely free option would be to forage the woods for pinecones, sticks, dried hydrangeas, or pine boughs to stick into your tree
My one piece of advice for this is to please don’t compare your tree to anyone else’s tree. If all you want are lights, do that. Maybe you just want to use a few ornaments. Totally okay. Don’t want use ribbon? Cool! You don’t have to give into the societal norm of packing your tree full of stuff. I’m all about using what you have!

a lit Christmas tree at night in front a fireplace with thrifted decor

6. Easy DIY Christmas Decor from Thrift Store Items

The last thrifty Christmas tip on the list is to make your own decor!

I’ve DIY’ed endless holiday decor items over the years and, in the process, have saved myself so much money. And, the beauty about creating your own Christmas decor is that you can thrift for many of the needed materials, making it even cheaper than going to the craft store!

Some DIY Christmas decor materials from thrift stores can include:

  • ribbon
  • foam balls and cones
  • fabric scraps
  • stamps
  • sheet music
  • frames
  • thread and twine
  • beads

a DIY Christmas star garland using thrift store materials

For a comprehensive list of DIY Christmas decor on a budget, you can check out these posts:

DIY Christmas Gift Tags with Stamps

a wrapped present with a DIY Christmas gift tag using thrifted stamps

Homemade Clay Christmas Ornaments

a homemade clay ornament on a Christmas tree with stamps

Christmas Garland with Vintage Sheet Music

a DIY Christmas garland with vintage Christmas music on a flocked tree

How to Make a Wood Round and Bead Garland

a DIY wood round and beaded garland for Christmas using thrifted materials

Closing Tidbits on Decorating for Christmas with Thrifted Items

You guys…decorating for the holiday does not have to cost hundreds of dollars…I promise! You can completely turn this expensive holiday into one that is super fun, frugal, and budget-friendly.

Take a deep breath and know that, will a little help from a few thrifted finds, you can totally create a beautiful Christmas home for all to enjoy. And who knows? With all of the guests and hosting of gatherings this season, you might just nudge someone else into the world of thrifting!

Be encouraged to thrift this season, finding unexpected treasures and saving money along the way.

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Leave me a comment! How do you decorate for Christmas? I love hearing from you!

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vintage and thrifted Christmas decor for spending less this holiday season

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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Other Christmas Posts to Enjoy

a lantern tied with ribbon on a hearth
How to Decorate with Ribbon for Christmas

chandelier Christmas decor with a garland and red berries
Decorating a Chandelier for Christmas

a vintage milk glass bowl with brass bells
Simple Christmas Decor

11 Comments. Leave new

  • Great ideas, Rachel, I decorate most of my house with thrifted items from the trees to the kitchen towels. It’s. cost effective way to decorate and you get to have a little treasure hunt at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
    Lynne

    Reply
    • Rachel Granholm
      November 14, 2024 8:45 am

      Thanks so much, Lynne! Isn’t it amazing the amount of money you save when thrifting vs buying brand new?! SO good! Thanks for coming by today…I do appreciate it!

      Reply
  • MaryJo Materazo
    November 14, 2024 8:45 am

    Great tips Rachel! ‘Tis the season… XO- MaryJo

    Reply
  • Thanks for sharing so many great ideas on how to decorate for less! You are right, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your house look festive! I found several thrifted items I plan to upcycle for Christmas decor this year and I can’t wait to start decorating!

    Reply
  • You really don’t have to shop for ideas, when everyone is posting so many ideas online. I did go out to two of my favorite ‘inspiration’ stores, and only replaced some 30 year old garland and some lights, we will now be all LED this year for our exterior displays. I know I’m going to trim some bushes this year for greens…lol…can’t get thriftier than that, Sandi

    Reply
  • Thanks, I now have some great ideas for things I already have in my Thrifted stash. Love your decorating technique. I don’t decorate till after Thanksgiving but know you have too.

    Reply
    • Rachel Granholm
      November 14, 2024 3:16 pm

      Hi! You are welcome! I’m so glad! These photos are actually from last year…I am just starting to get Christmas decor going this week. Thanks so much, Marlene!

      Reply
  • […] past Thursday, I shared a brand new guide to thrifted holiday decorating. In it, you will find a plethora of tips on sourcing and styling thrifted decor as well as some of […]

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Rachel from The Antiqued Journey blog

Hey! I’m Rachel!

I’m so glad you are here! Old things are my jam. Antique malls and thrift stores are my happy places.

Here on the blog I love to share my excitement, knowledge, and ideas about all things antique, vintage, and thrifted. Let’s journey together!

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