If you’re active on social media, especially if you see it as a way to check out other people’s decorations without leaving your own home, you may have seen the term “Tacky Christmas” this year. Apparently, it means decorating with your own traditions and personal preferences in mind instead of trying to follow this year’s trends so your Christmas photos can fit in with a carefully curated Instagram account. It’s about joy over aesthetics, festivity instead of fashion.
As many users have pointed out, it’s basically how most people decorate for Christmas anyway, and they have done it for years. And if you are, in fact, the kind of person who keeps up with the latest fashions, it’s on-trend this year! According to publications like Elle Decor and House Beautiful, “vintage” and “nostalgia” are key decorating terms. In August, Good Housekeeping even forecasted “Kitschmas” as the biggest upcoming Christmas trend!
And the best part is, of course, you don’t have to buy all-new decorations to stay in style. You probably have all you need—especially if you’re a collector! Here are a few authentic vintage pieces from recent auctions that capture the right style.
What says “vintage Christmas kitsch” better than a classic aluminum Christmas tree?
When it comes to vintage Christmas decorations, a ceramic Christmas tree might be the next best thing to an aluminum one.
Decorations with a handmade look are in style, even if you didn’t make them yourself. Materials like mesh, cardboard, and pipe cleaners make this Santa candy container look homemade.
Woodland themes are recommended for a nostalgic look. An auction lot like this with several small decorations has all you need.
How about wooden toys for an old-fashioned Christmas? These vintage jointed ornaments evoke pull toys of the past.
Bright colors and metallic decorations are more trends for this year—and years past.
Whether you see them as charmingly nostalgic or delightfully kitschy, vintage Christmas ornaments evoke memories of simpler, merrier times. Embracing these quirky treasures is not just decorating—it’s celebrating the holiday spirit with a playful wink to the timeless charm of Christmas past.
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