The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting Christmas and Holiday Decor: How to Create a Stunning Home on a Budget
If you’re dreaming of a beautifully decorated home this holiday season without the designer price tag, thrifting Christmas decorations might be your best-kept secret.
While scoring vintage ornaments and classic Christmas trees is easiest when you start your thrift shopping early in the year, there’s still plenty of magic to be found in secondhand stores this November and beyond.
Let me show you exactly what to look for, how to style it, and how to transform ordinary finds into extraordinary holiday treasures.
Why Thrifting Holiday Decor Is Better Than Buying New
Before we dive into what to thrift for Christmas decorating, let’s talk about why secondhand holiday decor is having such a moment right now.
Thrifted Christmas decorations offer character and quality that modern mass-produced items simply can’t match. Vintage ornaments were built to last, holiday serving pieces have actual weight and craftsmanship, and those secondhand throws and quilts carry stories that make your home feel warm and lived-in rather than staged.
Plus, sustainable Christmas decorating is good for your wallet and the planet.
When you thrift vintage Christmas decor instead of buying new, you’re keeping perfectly good items out of landfills while saving money for the things that matter most during the holidays.
The Early Bird Gets the Vintage Ornament: Why Timing Matters for Thrift Shopping Christmas Decor
Here’s what every savvy thrifter knows: the best time to find vintage Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas trees, garlands, and wreaths at thrift stores is actually between January and October.
During these off-season months, donation centers are flooded with post-holiday purges, but shoppers aren’t thinking about Christmas yet. You’ll find beautiful glass ornaments, vintage Shiny Brite collections, ceramic Christmas trees, and quality artificial trees sitting there waiting for you.
By November, when most people start thinking about holiday decorating, those prime Christmas pieces have often been snapped up by early shoppers and resellers. But don’t despair!
There’s a whole category of versatile thrifted items that work beautifully for Christmas styling year-round, and they’re abundant even during the holiday rush.
What to Thrift for Christmas Decor When the Obvious Items Are Gone
Containers for Natural Holiday Arrangements
Instead of hunting for that perfect pre-decorated wreath, shift your focus to beautiful vessels that can showcase foraged or purchased greenery and flowers. Look for vintage ironstone pitchers, rustic crocks, brass vessels, McCoy pottery, copper buckets, and white ceramic vases.
These timeless pieces work for Christmas centerpieces, mantel displays, and entryway arrangements filled with fresh pine, holly, eucalyptus, or even simple grocery store carnations mixed with evergreen sprigs.
Woven baskets in various sizes are absolute gold for holiday styling. Use them to display ornaments, hold throws by the fireplace, corral gift wrapping supplies, or fill with pinecones and battery-operated fairy lights. The neutral tones of vintage baskets complement every Christmas decorating style from farmhouse to traditional.
Vintage Barware for a Festive Drink Station
A holiday drink station instantly makes your home feel more festive and party-ready, and thrift stores are treasure troves of vintage barware.
Search for cut crystal glasses, vintage champagne coupes, cocktail shakers, silver or brass ice buckets, glass punch bowls with cups, vintage bar carts, and decorative serving trays.
Creating a Christmas mocktail station or holiday cocktail bar with thrifted glassware adds sophistication without the department store markup.
Mix and match different glass styles for an eclectic, collected-over-time look that feels more personal than a matching set. Those vintage brass bar tools? They’re not just functional, they’re conversation starters.
Cozy Mugs and Glass Jars for a Hot Cocoa Station
Speaking of drink stations, a hot chocolate bar is non-negotiable for family-friendly Christmas entertaining. Hit the mug section of your local thrift store and look for vintage holiday mugs, oversized coffee cups, ceramic mugs in warm colors, glass coffee mugs, and even vintage tea cups and saucers for a elegant twist.
Don’t overlook clear glass jars with lids for displaying toppings. Mason jars, apothecary jars, candy jars, and vintage canisters are perfect for showcasing marshmallows, peppermint sticks, chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, and whipped cream. Label them with chalkboard tags or ribbon for a polished presentation.
Read more: The Complete Guide to Creating a Thrifted Hot Cocoa Station: Every Detail You Need
Textiles That Transform Your Space
Quilts, throws, and throw pillows in holiday colors create instant coziness, and they’re abundant at thrift stores year-round. You don’t need explicitly Christmas patterns to achieve holiday vibes. Look for quilts in reds, greens, and creams, plaid wool blankets, cable knit throws, velvet pillows in jewel tones, tapestry pillows with winter scenes, and faux fur throws for texture.
Layer these textiles throughout your living spaces. Drape a vintage quilt over your sofa, stack cozy throws in that basket we talked about earlier, and pile pillows in complementary holiday colors on beds and chairs. A beautiful quilt or throw also makes a stunning Christmas tree skirt or tablecloth!
The beauty of neutral or subtle patterns is that they work for your winter decorating long after Christmas passes.
The Secret Weapon: Items You Can Transform
This is where thrifting for Christmas gets really fun. Simple or dated ornaments can be completely transformed with spray paint, glass glitter, or decoupage. Buy that bag of “ugly” ornaments for two dollars and turn them into expensive-looking heirloom pieces with some metallic paint and Mod Podge.
Thrifted sweaters, especially wool ones, can become custom pillow covers with nothing more than fabric glue or basic stitching. Cut the sweater to size, glue or sew three sides around a pillow form, and you’ve got designer-looking cable knit pillows for a fraction of the cost.
Balls of yarn in holiday colors are typically cheap at thrift stores, and they can be made into charming pompom garlands for your tree or mantel. Scrapbooking paper, old book pages, or even vintage sheet music can be cut into strips and formed into paper chains or folded into origami-style banners.
Ribbon is another thrift store staple that’s perfect for Christmas. Use wide velvet or satin ribbon to create bows for your tree, wrap around pillar candles, tie around napkins, or create a ribbon chandelier. Wired ribbon is especially valuable because it holds its shape.
Don’t Overlook These Holiday Thrifting Gems
Here are more items to add to your Christmas thrift shopping list:
Candlesticks and Candle Holders: Brass candlesticks, silver candelabras, mercury glass votives, and vintage hurricane lamps create magical holiday ambiance. Group them in varying heights on your dining table or mantel.
Serving Pieces: Vintage silver platters, cake stands, tiered serving trays, and decorative bowls are essential for holiday entertaining. A tarnished silver tray can be left with its patina for character or polished up for elegance.
Frames: Thrifted frames in gold, silver, or wood can display holiday cards, vintage Christmas prints, or family photos. Create a gallery wall of Christmas memories or frame vintage wrapping paper as instant art.
Books: Old hardcover books with red, green, or gold spines can be stacked as decorative elements, used to add height under centerpieces, or tied with ribbon as package-style decor.
Cutting Boards and Wooden Trays: Perfect for creating vignettes with candles, greenery, and ornaments, or for serving holiday treats.
Lanterns: Both indoor and outdoor lanterns can be filled with ornaments, fairy lights, or greenery for easy holiday styling.
String Lights: While you might hesitate on electrical items, many thrift stores test their lights. Vintage larger bulbs have a warm glow that modern LEDs can’t match. In a recent thrifting video, we walked through a thrift store where many brand new Christmas lights and decor were donated (still in the boxes).
Six Stunning Christmas Decorating Styles to Create with Thrifted Finds
1. Ralph Lauren Inspired Christmas: Thrifting the Luxury Look
Ralph Lauren Christmas decor has exploded in popularity this year, with individual ornaments selling for fifty dollars or more. But you can capture that same sophisticated, equestrian-inspired, tartan-heavy aesthetic by thrifting strategically.
What to Thrift for Ralph Lauren Christmas Style:
- Tartan plaid blankets, especially in traditional red, green, and navy
- Brass candlesticks and hurricane lamps
- Leather-bound books for stacking
- Crystal or cut glass barware
- Navy blue or forest green velvet pillows
- Equestrian-themed items like brass horseshoes or riding boot planters
- Plaid ribbon for tree decorating
- Silver serving pieces
- Wool blankets in heritage plaids
How to Style It: Layer rich textures and traditional patterns throughout your space. Drape tartan throws over leather furniture, stack books tied with plaid ribbon, and fill brass vessels with white flowers and evergreens. Your tree should be lush and full, decorated with simple glass ball ornaments in navy, green, burgundy, and gold, tied together with wide plaid ribbon. Think country manor meets Christmas tradition.
2. Colorful Maximalist Christmas: More Is More
If you love a rainbow Christmas or vibrant holiday decor, thrifting is perfect for building a colorful collection over time without the matching-set mentality.
What to Thrift for Colorful Christmas:
- Mismatched vintage ornaments in every color
- Colorful glass bottles and vases
- Bright vintage linens and tea towels
- Multicolored string lights
- Ceramic figurines and holiday decor
- Patterned wrapping paper and ribbons
- Colorful glassware for drinks
- Bright pillows and throws
- Vintage toys to use as decorations
How to Style It: Embrace the joyful chaos of a rainbow Christmas. Mix vintage Shiny Brite ornaments in hot pink, turquoise, orange, and lime green. Display a collection of colorful glass bottles on a windowsill with single blooms or candles. String multicolored lights alongside your traditional white ones. Use that collection of mismatched vintage ornaments to fill glass jars and bowls throughout your home. The key is abundance and joy, not coordination.
3. Traditional Red and Green Christmas: Classic Never Goes Out of Style
You can’t go wrong with a traditional Christmas color scheme, and vintage red and green pieces have a richness that new items lack.
What to Thrift for Traditional Christmas:
- Vintage red and green glass ornaments
- Holly-patterned dishes and serving pieces
- Red plaid or solid red wool blankets
- Green glass bottles and vases
- Classic red candlesticks
- Traditional Christmas music on vinyl (for display or playing)
- Red and green quilts
- Brass or gold candle holders
- White ironstone dishes for contrast
How to Style It: Create a cohesive look by sticking to the classic palette but varying textures and shades. Mix bright cherry red with deep burgundy, forest green with sage. Use white as a neutral backdrop with white dishes, cream candles, and white or cream throws. Your mantel might feature evergreen garland (real or faux), red pillar candles in brass holders or lanterns. Vintage stockings in red and green add so much nostalgia. Keep it unfussy and extra cozy.
4. Cozy Cottage Christmas: Warm and Handmade Feeling
Cottage style Christmas decorating feels collected, handmade, and effortlessly charming. This is where all those craft projects with thrifted sweaters, yarn, and paper really shine.
What to Thrift for Cottage Christmas:
- White ironstone pitchers and bowls
- Cream-colored linens and quilts
- Wicker baskets in all sizes
- Vintage crocheted or knit items
- Mismatched white or cream dishes
- Simple glass ornaments for painting
- Sweaters to turn into pillows
- Wooden cutting boards and bowls
- Mason jars for candles
How to Style It: Think soft, neutral, and handmade. Paint simple thrifted ornaments in soft colors like sage, blush pink, cream, and soft gold. Transform those thrifted sweaters into cozy pillow covers. Make pompom garlands from cream and soft green yarn. Fill white ironstone pitchers with eucalyptus and white flowers. Display your handmade paper chains and banners proudly. Everything should feel personal and crafted with love, like decorations passed down through generations even if you made them last week.
5. Rustic Farmhouse Christmas: Natural and Neutral
The farmhouse Christmas aesthetic relies heavily on natural materials, neutral colors, and vintage finds, making it perfect for thrifters.
What to Thrift for Farmhouse Christmas:
- Galvanized metal buckets and containers
- Wooden crates and boxes
- Cream, gray, and brown textiles
- Simple glass ornaments
- White ceramic pitchers
- Burlap ribbon and natural twine
- Wooden bead garlands (or beads to make your own)
- Enamelware dishes
- Antique tools for decorative use
How to Style It: Keep your palette neutral with cream, white, gray, natural wood, and touches of black. Use those galvanized buckets to hold evergreen branches or small trees. Stack wooden crates to create levels on your mantel or sideboard. Wrap gifts in kraft paper tied with burlap ribbon. Paint simple ornaments in matte white or cream for a unified look. Add texture with chunky knit throws, plaid in muted colors, and plenty of natural greenery.
6. Vintage Glamour Christmas: Sparkle and Shine
If you love metallics, sparkle, and a touch of old Hollywood glamour, vintage Christmas decorating is made for you.
What to Thrift for Glamorous Christmas:
- Mercury glass ornaments and votives
- Gold or silver candlesticks
- Vintage champagne coupes and cocktail glasses
- Sequined or beaded pillows
- Vintage jewelry to repurpose as ornament hangers
- Gold or silver picture frames
- Mirrored or glass trays
- Faux fur throws
- Crystal or cut glass bowls
How to Style It: Layer metallics without fear. Mix gold and silver freely, add in rose gold if you find it. Use that glass glitter technique to transform plain ornaments into sparkling statement pieces. Hang ornaments from vintage crystal or pearl necklaces instead of standard hooks. Display champagne coupes filled with ornaments or metallic flowers. Drape faux fur throws over furniture and use sequined pillows as jewel-like accents. Everything should catch the light and create a sense of celebration.
Expert Tips for Thrifting Christmas Decorations Successfully
Know Your Measurements: Before you buy that vintage basket or planter, know where you want to use it and approximately what size you need. Measure your mantel, table, and shelves beforehand.
Inspect Carefully: Check ornaments for cracks, test any electrical items when possible, look for stains on textiles that might not come out, and make sure baskets are structurally sound.
Think Beyond the Obvious: A brass planter can hold ornaments, a cake stand can display a candle arrangement, a wooden bowl can corral throws, and a vintage suitcase can store decorations.
Build Your Collection Over Time: You don’t need to thrift everything in one season. Start with the versatile items like baskets, candlesticks, and neutral textiles that you’ll use every year.
Embrace Imperfection: That tarnished silver? It’s called patina and it’s desirable. Those mismatched ornaments? They tell a story. The slightly worn quilt? It’s got character.
Shop Off-Season: While Christmas-specific items are harder to find in November and December, revisit thrift stores in January through March for the absolute best selection of holiday items at clearance prices.
Look in Every Section: Don’t just shop the seasonal aisle. Christmas styling items live in kitchenware, home decor, linens, craft supplies, and even the book section.
Bring Cash: Some thrift stores offer better deals or discounts for cash purchases, and you’ll avoid overspending when you work with a set budget.
How to Store Your Thrifted Christmas Treasures
Once you’ve assembled your collection of thrifted holiday decor, protect your investment with proper storage. Use acid-free tissue paper for vintage ornaments, store textiles in breathable cotton bags or sheets to prevent moisture and pests, keep metals from tarnishing by wrapping in anti-tarnish cloth, and label your storage bins clearly so you can find specific items next year.
Consider photographing your best arrangements before you pack them away so you can recreate your favorite looks next season. This also helps you remember what you have so you don’t duplicate purchases.
The Joy of Thrifted Christmas Decorating
There’s something magical about decorating for Christmas with items that have history and character. That vintage ornament might have hung on someone’s tree for fifty Christmases before finding its way to yours. That quilt kept someone’s grandmother warm. That brass candlestick lit countless holiday dinners.
When you choose to thrift your Christmas decorations, you’re not just saving money or being environmentally conscious (though both are wonderful). You’re curating a home that reflects your personal style, tells a story, and feels authentically yours rather than catalog-perfect. You’re creating new traditions with old things, and there’s something beautifully full-circle about that.
So grab your reusable shopping bags and head to your local thrift stores. Whether you’re hunting for Ralph Lauren-inspired tartan perfection, building a colorful maximalist Christmas, or creating a cozy cottage holiday haven, the perfect pieces are out there waiting for you.
Happy thrifting, and may your holidays be merry, bright, and beautifully budget-friendly!
PIN THIS POST: Save this guide to Pinterest so you can reference it all year long as you build your collection of thrifted Christmas decor!
What’s your favorite thing to thrift for holiday decorating? Share in the comments below – I’d love to hear about your best secondhand Christmas finds!
