Channel the warmth and magic of Christmas with retro ornaments, colors, and themes that remind you of your childhood. Yes, nostalgic decorating has returned to our interior design consciousness and has positively influenced our recent Christmas decorating ideas, too.
Entrepreneur and HGTV star Joanna Gaines was one of the first designers to champion a return of retro Christmas ornaments. Take the Nutcracker decorations, for instance, in traditional red, green, and gold. These handsome soldiers never fail to make you smile, and can be easily dotted around your home for an instant dose of festive flair. Flank a pair on either side of your mantlepiece, use them to dress your Christmas tree, or make do like Gaines and create a Christmas wreath using only Nutcrackers and other wooden ornaments – Angels are another favorite of mine.
Shop retro Christmas decorations
Nutcrackers are steeped in Christmas tradition and this festive season you can’t down an eggnog without spotting one! In German folklore, decorative nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck and protect the home.
This merry band of nutcrackers has been crafted using natural wood for a raw, minimalist finish. The set of five includes a drummer, cymbalist, guitarist, French horn player, and a band leader. Dress your Christmas tree, festive wreath or even use them to adorn presents.
Lenox holiday ornaments are some of the best around, and they evoke so many good memories for me and my family. We've cherished the same ones for many years, so if you don't already own a set, why not add these retro-themed ones to your tree this year? You won't regret it...
It is very easy to get retro decorating wrong. The key is to invest in well-made ornaments that have longevity and history. The Nutcracker is steeped in a rich history that dates back to 17th-century Germany.
According to German folklore, Nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to the family and protect the home. They were believed to represent power, and strength – and to deter evil spirits.
Nutcracker dolls became popular in the USA after World War II when American soldiers brought them back as presents from German Christmas markets. Today, they've cemented their place in our Christmas traditions, and continue to bring joy to children and adults around the world at this festive time of the year.
-
How to make a garden look older – 11 ways to create the illusion of a bygone era and add heritage charm to your yardGive your garden instant maturity and a period feel with these tried and tested design and planting ideas, all firmly rooted in traditional style
-
Best organic bedding 2025 − get a good night's sleep naturally with sustainable selects from our Sleep EditorThe best organic bedding is soft on your skin, cool to the touch, and kind to the planet – here are my favorite finds from Avocado, ettitude, Woolroom, and more
-
I'm calling it: Joanna Gaines and Victoria Beckham's favorite color will top trends in 2025 – designers and color forecasters agreeSoothing, bold and rich, our love affair with this sumptuous shade is far from over
-
Joanna Gaines designed a sentimental 'tiny museum of springtime' in her kitchen – it's a seasonal feature you can recreate for under $100The designer released a shadow box display that is perfect for storing dried flowers and photographs – and it comes in a gorgeous brass frame
-
Joanna Gaines' famous TV kitchen champions unpainted kitchen cabinetry – the trend designers say we will want to replicate in 2025Celebrating the craftsmanship of natural wood, unpainted kitchen cabinets embrace an authentic beauty and an old-world charm
-
Joanna Gaines' kitchen corner is the perfect way to make dead space feel important, useful and beautifulGet creative with your kitchen corners. The decorating possibilities are endless
-
Joanna Gaines's Christmas living room reinvents 90s minimalism for 2024 – and proves that white can be warm and cozyForget stark minimalist interiors, Joanna Gaines has found a way to warm up a predominantly white and silver color palette – just in time for Christmas
-
Joanna Gaines's festive front porch is decorated with a garland, wreath, and an unusual floral display – and it is not a Christmas treeDo away with traditional decor in favor of something that will still work after Christmas
-
Joanna Gaines' Christmas living room is a masterclass in traditional decorating for 2024 – it is timeless, sophisticated, and will never dateCelebrate the timeless beauty of Christmases past with classic decor, plenty of foliage and cozy colors inspired by nature
-
I struggled for years to style my dining room until I saw Joanna Gaines's 'quiet luxury masterpiece' – it is the perfect blend between chic and calmDining rooms should have a special ambiance, whether for cozy lunches or elegant dinner parties. Joanna Gaines's space gets the balance just right
