As holiday decorating season arrives, designers and editors are pointing to a renewed appetite for secondhand and vintage items that add character and nostalgia to homes. Industry voices interviewed by Good Housekeeping identified specific pieces they expect to be popular this year, from glass ornaments to ceramic tabletop trees.
Why vintage is back
Interior designers quoted in the story said the shift reflects both aesthetic preferences and practical considerations. Vintage pieces can be distinctive, affordable and sustainable, offering textures and stories that new mass-produced items often lack. Teresa Collins, an interior designer cited by Good Housekeeping, said she enjoys the thrill of searching for reflective ornaments that complement treasured pieces.
“I love the hunt for white, clear, and reflective ornaments that can join the pieces I have treasured for years,” Teresa Collins said.
Designers singled out several categories of items that are expected to be especially popular with shoppers hunting thrift stores, flea markets and vintage shops.
- Glass ornaments: Classic Shiny Brite-style baubles, mercury glass and reflective ornaments that catch holiday lights.
- Handmade holiday stockings: Needlepoint, embroidery and personalized stockings that serve as keepsakes and family heirlooms.
- Ceramic tabletop trees: Mold-made ceramic trees with colored plastic bulbs, popular in the 1960s and 1970s, which designers say lend a soft glow to small displays.
How designers recommend using vintage pieces
Design professionals in the article suggested ways to incorporate vintage finds into contemporary homes. One approach is to mix a few standout vintage items with newer elements to create a collected look rather than a themed room. Page Finlay, another designer cited, noted that ceramic trees work well on bar carts, kitchen counters or in bathrooms, and that replacement bulbs are often available for older pieces.
Good Housekeeping also highlighted that vintage holiday decor can be used beyond the tree: ornaments can be woven into gift wrapping, and small ceramic items can serve as tabletop accents or part of a centerpiece. Designers recommended acting quickly when a desirable item appears at a thrift or flea market, since demand for these nostalgic objects is rising.
The trend ties into a broader secondhand renaissance across home decor, where older objects — whether for their craftsmanship, patina or personal meaning — are increasingly prized by shoppers looking to create a curated, personal holiday display.
