27 Easy Old-Fashioned Christmas Decor Ideas You’ll Love to Make
There’s nothing like making your own holiday decor. It’s a fun and cozy activity and you have a new decoration when you’re done.
The only problem? So many of them are, um…ugly.
This list is here to help. These old-fashioned Christmas decorations are all pretty tutorials with vintage charm. You’ll find handmade ornaments, wreaths, garlands with natural materials, and beautiful paper crafts.
Let’s make something you’ll be proud of.
Spiced Orange Pomander Balls
An easy, rewarding project that fills your home with cozy holiday fragrance. These lovely creations make charming centerpieces, double as natural air fresheners, and are completely eco-friendly – all you need are a few household items like oranges and cloves!
Vintage Wooden Thread Spool Ornament
A charming way to bring a bit of nostalgia to your tree. Simply wrap a spool with festive ribbon or twine, add a sprig of greenery, and you have an adorable, old-fashioned ornament that’s as unique as it is easy to make!
Dried Apple Wreath
The art of drying fruit has made a charming comeback, perfect for creating DIY décor like a dried apple wreath or festive garlands and ornaments with dried orange slices. Dried apple slices bring rustic, timeless warmth to your home, adding cozy, natural beauty to your fall, Christmas, and winter decorations.
Homemade Paper Snowflakes
Homemade paper snowflakes are a classic, simple way to bring winter magic indoors. Just fold and snip paper into unique designs, and you’ll have delicate, timeless decorations that add a cozy, handmade touch to windows, trees, or gift wrapping!
DIY Mercury Glass Ornaments
They are an elegant way to add vintage sparkle to your holiday decor. With just a few simple materials, you can create these beautiful, antique-inspired ornaments that bring timeless charm and shimmer to your tree.
DIY Hand-lettered Holiday Wrapping Paper
Learn the art of creating hand-lettered wrapping paper. With just kraft paper, a marker, and a few festive phrases or designs, you can create beautifully customized wrapping while saving both space and money and adding style and charm!
Yarn Pom-Pom & Ornament Garland
This is a playful, cozy addition to your holiday decor. Combine fluffy yarn pom-poms with your favorite ornaments for a festive garland that’s easy to make and adds a warm, handmade touch to mantels, banisters, or trees!
Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe
Here’s a straightforward recipe for homemade ornaments, a simple, fun project that lets you create lasting holiday keepsakes. With just flour, salt, and water, you can craft adorable, customizable ornaments – perfect for adding a handmade, personal touch to your tree or gifting to loved ones!
Woven Ribbon Bird Christmas Ornament
This is a sweet, whimsical addition to your Christmas tree, bringing a touch of handmade charm. By simply weaving ribbon into a bird shape, you’ll create a unique, lightweight decoration that adds color and character to your holiday decor – perfect for a cozy, crafty touch!
Dried Orange Slices
Dried orange slices are a simple, natural way to add warmth and a pop of color to your holiday decor. Perfect for garlands, wreaths, ornaments, or aromatic potpourri, these fragrant slices bring a festive, rustic charm that feels both timeless and inviting.
Pinecone Wreath
A a beautiful, rustic way to welcome the season with natural charm. Easy to make and long-lasting, this wreath adds cozy texture to your decor and brings the outdoors in, making it perfect for fall and winter!
Cinnamon Stick Santa Ornament
It’s a fragrant craft that adds a whimsical holiday touch to your tree. With just a few simple supplies, you can change a cinnamon stick into a cute Santa, bringing both charm and the warm scent of cinnamon to your festive decor!
Homemade Dried Orange Slice Garland
A homemade dried orange slice garland is a simple, natural way to bring warmth and color to your holiday decor. With just dried oranges and some twine, you can create an eco-friendly garland that adds cozy, rustic charm to your mantel, windows, or Christmas tree!
Baking Soda Dough Gingerbread Ornaments
These charming baking soda dough gingerbread ornaments are made with my special recipe, infused with the warm scent of cinnamon, and decorated with adorable puff paint details. These will fill your home with the cozy aroma of gingerbread as you create these festive, long-lasting ornaments – a perfect holiday craft that adds a handmade touch to your decor!
Cinnamon Stick Candles
Cinnamon stick candles are an easy way to add warmth and a festive scent to your holiday decor. Simply wrap cinnamon sticks around a candle, secure with twine or ribbon, and you’ll have a beautiful, rustic accent that fills your space with the cozy aroma of cinnamon as it glows!
Homemade Felt Ornaments
These are cozy, charming additions to your holiday decor, adding a personal touch to your tree. Easy to customize with different colors and shapes, these soft ornaments are perfect for crafting with kids or creating thoughtful, handmade gifts that will be cherished year after year.
Easy Mason Jar Lanterns
These are a simple yet charming way to add a warm glow to your holiday decor. Just fill mason jars with candles or twinkling lights, and add greenery or ribbon for a cozy, rustic lantern perfect for tables, mantels, or walkways!
Vintage Recycled Card Ornaments
These are a lovely way to repurpose old holiday cards into unique, nostalgic decorations. Just cut and layer pieces from vintage cards, adding a ribbon or twine loop to create charming ornaments that bring your tree a touch of retro holiday cheer!
Clothespin Snowflake Ornaments
They are a simple and stylish DIY project that adds rustic charm to your holiday decor. Just glue wooden clothespins into a snowflake shape, paint, or decorate as you like, and you’ll have a beautiful, handcrafted ornament perfect for your tree or as a thoughtful gift! These are simple enough for the kids to make, too.
Cranberry Popcorn Garland
A cranberry popcorn garland is a classic, natural decoration that adds nostalgic charm to your holiday decor. String fresh cranberries and fluffy popcorn for a beautiful, eco-friendly garland perfect for draping on your tree or adding a festive touch to mantels and windows!
Christmas Scented Sachets
They are a lovely way to bring festive fragrance to your home or gifts. Filled with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and dried orange peel, these simple sachets add a warm, cozy scent to drawers, closets, or stockings – perfect for spreading holiday cheer in every corner!
Homemade Rag Wreath
This easy, charming project adds a cozy, rustic touch to your holiday decor. Simply tie strips of fabric onto a wreath form, and you’ll have a soft, textured decoration perfect for doors, mantels, or windows, bringing warmth and personality to your space!
Wood Slice Ornaments
Wood slice ornaments are a beautiful, rustic way to add natural charm to your Christmas tree. With a few wood slices, paint, or a wood-burning tool, you can create unique, personalized ornaments that make thoughtful, handcrafted gifts!
Holiday Terrarium
This magical, miniature winter wonderland brings festive charm to any room. Simply fill a glass container with faux snow, tiny trees, and holiday figurines to create a cozy scene that adds a touch of whimsy and elegance to your seasonal decor!
Fabric Scrap Tree Skirt
This is a charming, eco-friendly way to add a cozy, handmade touch to your holiday decor. By layering fabric scraps around a base, you’ll create a unique and colorful skirt that gives your Christmas tree a warm, rustic feel – perfect for using leftover materials and adding personal style!
Yarn-Wrapped Candy Cane Ornaments
This fun, easy craft brings a cozy, handmade vibe to your tree. Just wrap yarn around a candy cane shape, secure the ends, and have a soft, colorful decoration perfect for adding a festive touch to your holiday decor or as a sweet gift topper!
Miniature Gingerbread Houses
Miniature gingerbread houses are an adorable, festive addition to your holiday decor or dessert display. Perfect for decorating with icing and candy, these tiny houses add charm to your table, make fun edible gifts, or even serve as lovely toppers for mugs of hot cocoa!
How to Use Some of These Projects:
It’s no fun to create something and then not know what to do with it! Here are some ways to use these.
- Arrange a few as a centerpiece for your holiday dining table.
- Decorate your mantle or fireplace.
- Gift to friends and family for a thoughtful and budget-friendly present.
- Put in windowsills
- Create a festive atmosphere in your office or workplace by decorating your desk or workspace.
- Place in your bedroom or guest room to create a festive retreat.
- Donate to local charities or nursing homes to spread holiday cheer.
FAQs
You’ll need simple, easy-to-find items like paper, glue, and a few natural elements, such as pine cones or dried oranges. Nothing fancy here – you might already have most of it around the house or can pick it up inexpensively at a craft store!
Absolutely! Many of these projects are perfect for getting kids involved. The ideas here are low-cost and low-risk, so let them have fun decorating with you. Just keep scissors and hot glue away from little hands.
Most of these decorations, like paper snowflakes or dried fruit garlands, will last through the season. Store them carefully after the holidays; you might even get a few years out of certain items!
While they naturally lend themselves to a cozy farmhouse look, these decorations can fit any style! Their simple, nostalgic look also adds warmth to modern spaces – they’re very adaptable.
Definitely! These old-fashioned decorations are all about charm over perfection. They’re meant to look handmade, so there’s no need for fancy skills or professional results – have fun with them!
Making these decorations is an easy way to create a cozy and nostalgic feel this season. Have fun making things yourself, and let each handmade item add a special touch to your holiday festivities. These DIY projects make your home feel warm and inviting and provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option compared to store-bought decorations. I hope you discover one that you love!
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.
