Festive Holiday Decor to Buy Secondhand

Deck the halls…secondhand style! Shop sustainably for pieces that will brighten up your home and fill it with holiday cheer. Here, two secondhand pros share their favorite types of seasonal items to look for at thrift stores, estate sales, and beyond. 

Christmas Ornaments:

Instead of buying the same ornaments everyone else will be displaying on their tree, go the vintage route in order to source something unique. “I buy vintage glass Christmas ornaments year round,” says Jacqueline Burrows, the founder of The Sleepy Flea. “The vibrant colors and patina of vintage ornaments are simply unmatched today.” 

Secondhand shopping is your chance to score unique Christmas ornaments like this Rare Vintage Glass Diorama Christmas Ornaments.

Burrows recommends keeping an eye out specifically for “Shiny Brite” ornaments. “If you look closely, the name is often stamped on the ornament cap near the hanger, or if you get lucky, they may still have the original box,” she says.

Brass Menorahs:

Make like Burrows and look for vintage brass menorahs for Hanukkah. Don’t be intimidated if you stumble on some that need a little bit of TLC. “You can find some really pretty vintage designs that just need a quick polish with some Bar Keepers Friend,” she says. 

Make like Burrows and look for vintage brass menorahs for Hanukkah.

Linens and Tableware: 

Deck the mantel and style your tablescape using all secondhand finds. Burrows will shop for needlepoint stockings, vintage tablecloths, and holiday glassware (she’s partial to brands including Culver or Libbey). Laurie Jones, the founder of The House 15, makes an effort to collect silver items including trays, bowls, and candlesticks. Don’t forget to look out for holiday candles themselves, she adds. “Many times, they’re unused and in great condition,” Jones says. 

Deck the mantel and style your tablescape using all secondhand finds. All of these are available to bid here.

General Items to Repurpose:

Make use of everyday finds as you get ready to entertain. “I also like to repurpose vintage pieces for holiday needs,” Burrow says. “For example, a chinoiserie fishbowl planter makes a great Christmas tree stand or a velvet ribbon tied around any silver candlestick instantly reads holiday cheer.

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

December 10, 2024     Updated 12:01 PM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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