Vintage Christmas Decor I Thrifted This Season

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. Come see the vintage Christmas decor I thrifted for my home this season!

Christmas is my very favorite holiday. Christmas lights, Christmas music, presents, the festive atmosphere…all of it brings me such glee. But, you wanna know what’s even better?! Thrifting for Christmas decor! Thrifting in and of itself is wonderfully thrilling, but thrifting for vintage Christmas?! That’s on a whole other level. Sharing my thrifted finds with you all is something I truly enjoy but when it’s a Christmas haul, it’s even more exciting! So, join me below for the vintage Christmas decor I thrifted this season. You can totally spend less on beautiful things for holiday decorating…I’ll show you how!

All Thrifted Vintage Christmas Decor on a Budget

I cannot believe it’s already the most wonderful time of the year again!

This Christmas thrifting haul is small but mighty. I saved all of the holiday decor that I’ve found this whole year, and kept it in a pile in my closet, because I wanted to share it all at once with you! It’s a mixed bag of items from thrift stores and antique malls but all amazing.

There’s nothing that compares to finding vintage Christmas out in the wild…it just has this aura to it that you have to experience to be able to feel.

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So, grab something nice to drink for yourself and let’s go holiday thrift shopping!

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Thrifted Goodies Vol. 54

Hello, guys! 

Welcome, or welcome back, to the blog and to the next installment in the ‘Thrifted Goodies’ series! If you are new around here, welcome!

This is a monthly series where my friend MaryJo from the blog Master’pieces’ of my Life and I share thrift hauls, thrifting tips, and general thrift shopping advice.

MasterPieces of My Life

My partner in this series, MaryJo, is sharing her tips on how to thrift fabulous Christmas decor! She always has really amazing ideas.

After you are done here, head over to her post, say hello, and learn a thing or two!

MasterPieces of My Life Social Channels:

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Shop Vintage Christmas Decor for Your Home

Vintage Christmas Decor I Thrifted This Season

I know I know…it may be a tad early for some but I really wanted to get this out ahead of Thanksgiving so that when you are out thrifting in the coming weeks, you can have the best luck! 

First, let’s chat briefly about a few key tips that I have learned over the years, and return to again and again while thrift shopping for Christmas decor.

How to Spot Vintage Christmas Decor While Thrifting

Here is a checklist of important reminders:

• Check the bottom for stamps, labels, or “Made in (country)” markings.
• Look for quality signs like hand-painted details, heavy ceramic, and real mercury glass. Note: Authentic hollow pieces of mercury glass were hand-blown. Look at the bottom for a pontil scar, which is the rough mark left where the blowpipe was detached.
• Inspect for chips, cracks, and missing parts. Small chips or cracks aren’t necessarily a dealbreaker for me…most times, they add to the overall character of the piece. I just turn those imperfections towards the wall and no one ever knows! 
• Test lights or electrical items before buying. Most thrift stores have a ‘charging station’ where you can plug in things to make sure they work.
• Shop earlier in the season since selection and prices change daily!
• Don’t buy just to buy! Before you leave, know roughly what you are looking for so that you aren’t randomly purchasing things without a clear purpose.
• Have a set budget in mind. Give yourself an amount to not go over and really stick to it! This helps to alleviate overspending, especially around the holidays when everything can get so expensive really quickly!

Where to Find Vintage Christmas Decor Secondhand

Here’s a short list of the best places!

• Thrift stores– My all-time favorite and go-to for vintage decor and sourcing pieces for my collections. Thrifts yield the best prices!
• Antique malls– More curated selection but at higher price points. I love to look in antique malls for vintage Christmas decor because I can find exactly what I’m looking for in one trip, such as Shiny Brite ornaments.
• Estate sales– The best places to find mass collections of things, such as vintage Christmas decor, dishes, or linens. Here, you can always ask for a better price!
• Church or charity sales– I’ve never actually been to one of these sales but I know people in the vintage industry who swear by these…you can find genuine antique and vintage pieces for .25-.50 cents! 

My Thrifted Vintage Christmas Decor Finds for Under $45

Okay! With that, let’s get into my holiday thrift haul. Many of these things I found months ago and saved them for such a time as this! 

For each thing, I’ll share what it is, why I brought it home, and how I’m going to be using it for Christmas decorating. I can’t wait…some of them have been on my thrifting bucket list for so long! 

Let’s get into it.

Pack of Shiny Brite Ornaments WITH The Box

OMG. I cannot believe it. You guys…I’ve been hunting for a vintage Shiny Brite ornament box for literal YEARS! I can usually spot them in antique stores but are always way over my budget.

So, as the story goes, back in July, I was on my way home from doing some errands when I saw a sign on the corner that read ‘vintage sale’ with an arrow. My turn signal went on and there I went…just following the arrows!

I arrived at the sale and walked up the driveway.

There was a good amount of Christmas decor at the sale but when my eyes landed on boxes of vintage ornaments, that was that. I had scored BIG time. I dug carefully through the stacks, ultimately choosing this Shiny Brite box WITH six intact ornaments. 

And, I paid just $15…for everything!! You can’t even find an empty box for under $40 these days, so I was completely elated! 

For Christmas, I’m planning on styling the box itself on the mantel somehow, and the ornaments will go on my tree. 

Large Ironstone Pitcher

This may not be a Christmas specific item since I use ironstone year round, but WHAT?! Like…are you kidding me?! Look at this thing…it’s HUGE!!! It’s the largest piece of ironstone I have in my collection now and for sure the largest piece I’ve EVER seen while thrift shopping.

Yes, I found this at a thrift store and yes I only paid $12.99 for it!! 

I have this beauty styled on my dresser with some simple holiday greenery tucked inside. I just LOVE it so much!

Red Transferware Plates

Another item on my bucket list has been found!! I recently sourced this set of four red transferware plates, two salad plates and two dinner plates, from my local thrift store. The smaller plates were .99 cents each and the large plates were $1.99 each! 

I couldn’t believe it when I saw them sitting on the shelf. I scooped them up immediately, knowing how perfect they would be for Christmas decor!

The pattern is called ‘Salisbury’, which can be seen on the back sides of each plate. 

I actually have this exact same pattern in green which I pull out and use during spring! Isn’t that cool?!

For Christmas, I’m planning on using plate hangers and hanging these on the wall above my milk glass shelf. I can’t wait…they are going to look SO good!

Vintage Shiny Brite Bell Ornament

How pretty is this one?! 

I love hunting for unique Shiny Brite ornaments to add to my collection.  I am pretty picky about the ones I purchase but this gorgeous bell checked all the boxes! I found this at an antique mall in Wisconsin a few months ago while on a road trip. It was on sale so I only paid around $5.00 for it, which is a great deal!

Isn’t it so cool how it’s, like, ombre? Darker silver at the top, lighter silver at the bottom.

To make sure what I was buying is genuine vintage and not a reproduction, I always check for markings or stamps. On Shiny Brites, they are usually found around the rim. It’s kinda hard to see in the photo but it says ‘Made in the US of A’. Isn’t that cute?! Genuine, real vintage. 

This pretty bell will make such a lovely addition to my Christmas tree this season!

Green and White Platter

And last, but certainly not least, is this amazing green and white restaurantware platter! I recently thrifted this for $5.99 which might have been a tad high but I’ve never seen this pattern nor this shape of platter before, so I thought that was worth it.

I’ve been collecting green and white restaurantware for many years now and this platter fits in perfectly! 

Obviously I love to bring out these old dishes for the Christmas season but I actually use them all through the winter, too.

My plan for this gorgeous platter is to place a whole bunch of vintage Shiny Brites in it and style it on the credenza in the living room. How stunning!

Vintage Christmas Decor That Stands The Test of Time + How Much I Spent

In total, I spent just a hair under $45 for everything in the haul. 

And! By sourcing them secondhand, they are not just throw away items that will end up in the landfill in one years time. I can’t think of anything better that I would want for Christmas!

Closing Tidbits on Vintage Christmas Decor I Thrifted This Season

I truly hope you found meaning in my Christmas decor haul this season. There is so much that you can do with vintage Christmas decor. I’ve only scratched the surface on all the ideas that abound when it comes to these old, festive relics!

It’s not ever about ‘oh look at all the things I found!’ But, rather, showing you that, by shopping secondhand, you are not only saving the environment by keeping beautiful pieces out of landfills, but you are also saving money on things you would otherwise buy new! Isn’t that great?!

Be encouraged to take good care this season; of yourself, of the environment, of your budget, and of your home. 

Happy Christmas thrifting to you!

Leave me a comment! What’s the best vintage Christmas find you’ve picked up? I love hearing from you!

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FAQ’s on Thrifting Vintage Christmas Decor

How can I tell if Christmas decor is vintage?

Check the bottom or back for stamps, stickers, or marks like “Made in Japan,” “Made in Occupied Japan,” or a maker’s name. Vintage pieces also tend to show their age through hand-painted details, heavier materials, and gentle wear. Generally, “vintage” means at least 20 years old, while “antique” means 100 or more.

Where is the best place to find vintage Christmas decor?

Thrift stores, antique malls, estate sales, church and charity sales, and flea markets are all good bets. Estate sales and antique malls often have the best selection, while thrift stores tend to have the lowest prices.

Is vintage Christmas decor worth money?

Some pieces are, depending on the maker, condition, and rarity. Mercury glass ornaments, Shiny Brite ornaments in original boxes, and Lefton ceramics can sell for more than you’d expect. Most thrifted finds are worth more as decor than as an investment, so buy what you love.

How do I clean vintage Christmas ornaments safely?

Start gentle. Use a soft, dry brush or microfiber cloth, and for ceramics, a slightly damp cloth with mild soap. Avoid soaking painted, glittered, or mercury glass pieces, since water can damage the finish.

How do I store vintage Christmas decor so it doesn’t get damaged?

Wrap each piece individually in acid-free tissue or soft cloth, and store them in sturdy bins with dividers or in egg cartons for small ornaments. Keep them somewhere cool and dry, since attics and basements can cause damage from heat and moisture.

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