Love vintage ornaments? Shopping at flea markets? Let me show you how I incorporate these things into my Christmas decor Brocante style!
To wrap up this year’s Christmas in July series, I am sharing how to incorporate your flea market finds into your holiday decor!
Step back in thyme with me this holiday season as I show you how to add a touch of vintage charm to your home with brocante-inspired Christmas decor. Brocante style is the perfect way to infuse holiday decor with nostalgia and a touch of elegance. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting to embrace the vintage aesthetic, incorporating brocante elements into your Christmas decorations is sure to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
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Before we really get started:
No matter how you arrived here today, whether you are one of my regular readers, you found me via Google, or you “hopped” over from one of the linky parties, I am so glad you are here! My name is Kimberly and I have a passion for flowers (a former florist) and flour (a former pizzeria owner) and many things in between! Especially rusty and chippy items!
I love to share all the things I have learned over the years. Sometimes I tell stories about my life. Other times, I will share a craft, a decorating tip or a recipe. I hope you enjoy your thyme here today and learn at least one thing during your visit!
Let’s Get Started!
Christmas Decor Brocante Style
What is brocante style? Brocante style is a French-inspired decorating style that blends vintage and antique pieces into your decor! From antique ornaments to appliqued Christmas stockings, there are some many ways to showcase your love for all things vintage during the holiday season. Try incorporating delicate lace tablecloths, vintage pewter candle holders, and classic mercury glass ornaments for a truly one-of-a-kind look. The beauty of brocante decor lies in the individual pieces, each with its own story and history. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different textures and materials to create a visually rich and textured display. By adding a brocante-inspired touch to your holiday decor, you’ll create a warm and festive ambiance that will be unique to you.
This year, I am swapping out traditional Christmas colors for muted tones of faded greens, soft pinks, and antique whites to capture the essence of brocante style. The floral drawstring bag pictured below is the muse for my Brocante Style holiday. In full disclosure, I have had a few health challenges this year so it is taking me much longer than normal to finish my holiday decorating!
What is brocante-inspired Christmas decor?
Brocante-inspired Christmas decor is a style that combines vintage and antique elements with traditional holiday decorations. The word “brocante” comes from the French word for flea market, and it refers to the art of finding and repurposing unique, second-hand items. Brocante style is characterized by a love for aged and weathered pieces that evoke a sense of history and nostalgia. When it comes to Christmas decor, brocante-inspired elements can include antique ornaments, vintage textiles, and repurposed items that add a touch of whimsy and charm to your holiday home.
Incorporating brocante-inspired Christmas decor into your home allows you to create a unique and personalized holiday display that stands out from the mass-produced decorations found in stores. Each piece tells a story and adds a sense of character to your space. Whether it’s a chipped ceramic Santa Claus or a hand-sewn stocking, brocante-inspired pieces have a way of capturing the magic of the season in a way that new and shiny decorations often can’t. The stockings below where actually two of my childhood Christmas stockings. They are decorated with felt appliques and sequins.
The charm of vintage Christmas decorations
There’s something undeniably charming about vintage Christmas decorations. The nostalgia they evoke, the craftsmanship they showcase, and the sense of history they carry all contribute to their enduring appeal. Vintage ornaments, for example, often feature delicate hand-painted details and unique shapes that you won’t find in modern decorations. These ornaments were treasured heirlooms passed down from generation to generation, and each one has a story to tell.
In addition to ornaments, vintage Christmas decorations can include things like tinsel, garlands, and tree toppers. These items were often made by hand and were designed to be cherished year after year. Vintage decorations are also known for their vibrant colors and unique textures, which add depth and visual interest to your holiday displays. By incorporating vintage elements into your decor, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Benefits of Incorporating Brocante Style elements into your holiday home
There are several benefits to incorporating vintage elements into your holiday home decor. Brocante style pieces add a sense of history and character to your space. Whether it’s a pair of weathered corbels or a collection of antique ornaments, these items bring a unique and personal touch to your holiday displays. They also serve as conversation starters, allowing you to share the stories behind each piece with friends and family.
The pair of corbels were part of a piece of architectural salvage that I found in my parents’ barn! You can read more about them here: Unique Ways to Decorate with Gingerbread!
The china cache pot is a Nippon piece. It was a wedding gift from a dear friend. The colors look really good with the pink Santa. I added this piece of Bement Pottery to the display.
Another benefit of using vintage elements in your Christmas decor is their sustainability. By repurposing and reusing old items, you’re helping to reduce waste and minimize your environmental impact. Vintage pieces are often well-made and built to last, meaning you can enjoy them for many years to come. By opting for vintage decorations, you’re also supporting small businesses and local artisans who specialize in finding and restoring these treasures.
Finally, incorporating vintage elements into your holiday decor allows you to embrace a more minimalist approach. Instead of overwhelming your space with an abundance of mass-produced decorations, you can focus on a curated collection of unique and meaningful pieces. This not only creates a more visually appealing display but also allows you to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of each item.
Now that you know what Christmas decor Brocante style is, let me show you how I have used it in my home!
Let’s Decorate the Tree Brocante Style!
Many of the pink vintage ornaments belonged to my Mom. She purchased them in Chicago at Marshall Fields in the early 60s. Most of the other glass ornaments I have collected over the years.
In addition to the glass ornaments, I added beaded garland, a few floral picks and some silk flower heads. All of the detailed instructions about fluffing the tree and adding the ribbon streamers can be found by clicking the link under the picture of the finished tree.
Decorating the Tree with Vintage Christmas Ornaments
close up of the tree
The tiny pink baby shoes were mine as a baby. If you have been following the blog, you already know my Mother saved practically everything! If you are just getting started with my blog journey, you can read more about my Mom and her propensity to save things here: She used to tell people to check with her first before purchasing something as she probably had what they were looking for! And a lot of the time, she did!
The only non vintage ornaments we added where the ceramic ones with our dogs’ names on them.
I love the tiny white bells that are attached to the bead garland. They are so precious!
One Last Look At The Tree
The tree skirt is simply some vintage material that I wrapped around the base of the tree.
We Finally Have A Mantel!
As part of the renovations, I finally got the antique fireplace mantel installed. You may remember this mantel from the Spring of 2022. That was when I first purchased it. I had hoped to get it attached to the wall much sooner but life and Hurricane Ian got in the way!
Rustic Inspired Living Room Refresh- ORC Week 8
Here is how the mantel looks with very minimal decorating. We turned our front living room into our dining room. Since I like to name my rooms, I am calling this the Keeping room. Yes, I think I live in colonial times even though I live in Southwest Florida!
Due to time and health constraints, I haven’t gotten the mantel completely decorated. The photo below is from last Christmas!
and here is the mantel this year, ready to be decorated! We finally got that old window hung!
Here is a better picture of that antique basket. It belonged to my paternal grandmother. I am not sure how old it is but she passed away in the early 1950s so it has to be at least 70 years old. I am hoping to get it filled with artificial or faux greenery before Christmas!
Here is a very lame start to this year’s mantel! I added a small piece of gingerbread and an old pink enamel pot. My parents kept that little pot on their boat. Can you guess why?
Close up of the Shabby inspired snowman and the pink enamel pot!
More Brocante Style Displays
Another option for the mantel is this pink and cream silk arrangement. It was a spring arrangement that I transformed into a holiday arrangement simply by changing out a few of the flowers and adding pearl accented battery operated lights!
Presto Changeo! From Spring to Christmas in Under 30 Minutes!
If I get tired of the Christmas version, I can always rework it into this year round garden style version!
Save This Pin For Later!
A Few More Places I use Brocante Style Holiday Decor!
It isn’t Christmas without at least one dough bowl centerpiece!
or maybe two!
This is a smaller tree I decorated one year. Dave’s vintage nativity scene is accented by a wood carving I made in art class or maybe it was 4-H, I don’t remember for sure!
Shabby Chic Inspired Christmas Tree
Sugar molds are so much fun to decorate for the various seasons! Here are a few of my favorite Christmas ones! I know these are not pink themed but they are cute!
While not actually brocante style, I did use pink in the bathroom!
I carried the pink and cream theme out to the lanai. I absolutely love these marble poinsettias!
If poinsettias aren’t your favorite holiday plant, a few Norfolk Island pine trees and red anthuriums can add a touch of Christmas to your decor! I used an old wooden dough bowl to display the plants!
This table runner features a vintage inspired Santa:
And of course, I add brocante style decor to entryway!
Garden Style Holiday Decor for the Entryway
I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas decor Brocante style home tour!
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