Old-School Christmas Tree Ornaments & Throwback Tips

Gazing at a classic Christmas tree or customary tree adornments, our minds often wander to the festive seasons of our youth. For many, this sense of nostalgia encapsulates the essence of their holiday spirit and forms a core element of their holiday traditions. Below, you’ll find some prime examples of classic tree decorations and retro tree ideas to help you bring back your favorite traditional tree from yesteryears and make it a focal point of your vintage holiday decor.

Below are the ornaments, trimmings, and decor items to help you recreate a tree reminiscent of those you fondly recall. Here are some excellent tips and suggestions for assembling a top-notch retro Christmas tree.

Our Beloved Classic Christmas Tree Decorations

Personalized Vintage Ornaments

Stainless steel and gold brass custom ornaments are also a staple of a vintage tree. These metal decorations were very much in vogue in years past. You can craft a unique antique ornament to match your tastes! Their intricate designs and high-quality materials make them collectible and a lasting memento of your festive memories with loved ones.

Retro Christmas Lights

The most essential element of a tree is undoubtedly the lights. One of the most cherished features of retro holiday trees is the warm glow of the lights—they often evoke a sense of nostalgia, with many feeling that the old-style lights offer a charm newer LED lights can’t match. Moreover, the sizes of vintage lights differ distinctly from their modern counterparts.

The retro lights you likely recollect are either C7 or C9 bulbs, whether clear or frosted. Fortunately, the market now offers these designs (and more) with LED technology, which consumes much less energy and emits far less heat.

Here are a few examples of classic holiday lights: Original Frosted C7 Bulbs, Frosted C9 Bulbs, and the always popular Bubble Lights.

Echoing the charm of these originals, it’s now trendy to emulate these styles using modern technology. Below are contemporary items (not vintage), that recreate the same look but with updated tech. So, no matter what classic style you’re after, you’re sure to find a modern equivalent.
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Uncertain about which lights to choose, how many you need, or sizing details? Refer to the Beginners Guide to Holiday Lights!

Antique Holiday Ornaments

Top-notch vintage holiday tree decorations certainly include flocked and indented ornaments from Shiny Brite. Shiny Brite has relaunched, and while you can still find the originals on platforms such as Etsy and eBay, you can also purchase newer reproductions. These must be some of the finest antique holiday tree decorations ever. Traditionally, these vintage glass ornaments were made in Germany.

Authentic Vintage Holiday Tree Ornaments
 

Modern Versions of Shiny Brite Vintage Balls
 

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You might also recognize the blown glass and Mercury Glass styles. Classic holiday tree decorations like these exude an old-world charm, and modern replicas of these are also available.

More Retro Holiday Tree Decorations

Antique Christmas Tree Tinsel

There’s a nostalgic charm to this embellishment that was adored back in the 1950s—if you could still see any greenery (other than the silver/gold), you hadn’t adorned enough! Believe it or not, you can still find some original Tinsel and Tinsel Garlands available for sale in vintage online stores. These are undoubtedly the kings of affordable old-school decorations that have endured the years.

But naturally, it’s far more economical to purchase new tinsel online since it’s essentially disposable.

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Old-School Christmas Tree Topper

Perhaps your family used a star or an angel, but for many, there was the classic topper that combined all elements—lights and tinsel.

Below are some examples of the Vintage Christmas Tree Topper, perfect for a Retro Holiday Tree:

   Whatever you had in your childhood, or maybe remember from your grandparents’ home—you are fortunate to relive a timeless vintage style. Just like our beloved vintage ornaments and decorations, modern versions are also available:

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Classic Santa Ornaments

If you’re hunting for special Santa ornaments and want to maintain that vintage Christmas appeal—I highly recommend seeking flocked Santa Figurines similar to those below. Even though they might be rare these days, you can also decorate your Retro Christmas Tree with antique-style decorations or German glass-blown ornaments; see a few examples below.

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What do you think makes the ideal Vintage Tree? Share your thoughts!