16+ Thrifted Christmas Decor Items to Buy This Year

Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by lindseymahoney

Looking to expand your Christmas decorations without spending a fortune?! You are in the right place! Along with creating a beautiful and uniquely decorated home every Christmas, you will save tons of money purchasing these items secondhand. Let’s check out my tips and ideas for collecting thrifted decor this Christmas!

15+ Thrifted Christmas Decor Ideas to Buy This Year

How can I decorate for Christmas on a budget?

I absolutely love this question!

Shopping for Christmas decor at second-hand stores and estate sales is a great way to find quality items at a fraction of the price. I also enjoy shopping in my own house to find creative Christmas decorations to use throughout the house.

Another way to save money when decorating for Christmas is to reuse your decorations year after year. It can be really easy to see the hot new trend when decorating for the holidays and want to switch it up every few years, but I personally think it is a waste of money and resources.

Reusing Christmas decor year after year is the perfect way to create nostalgia through the years. Each piece holds a memory of time spent with family.

*Looking for more budget-friendly Christmas decorating ideas? Check out these cheap or free ideas for the holidays!

Thrifted Christmas Decor Items to Look For All Year

Here are my favorite simple Christmas decor ideas and items to search for when visiting secondhand stores and estate sales near you.

1 | Vintage Christmas Village

Setting up a vintage Christmas village at Christmastime feels so nostalgic. There are many places to find secondhand village accessories either online or at estate sales. Adding to your collection year after year is a fun activity and it is amazing how much kids love them too!

The two most popular brands that make the Christmas villages are Lemax and Department 56.

2 | Garland Greenery

Christmas garland or any faux greenery can be expensive when bought brand-new! I purchased old Christmas garland at an estate sale but was able to spruce it up with faux flowers and ribbons. I saved a good chunk of money by purchasing the garland strands secondhand.

3 | Ornate Frames for Seasonal Prints

This is one of my favorite Christmas DIY projects because it makes such a statement and was pretty inexpensive to create! The natural elements used in the mantel design perfectly complement the vintage print.

Estate sales are a great place to find vintage picture frames that are perfect for displaying Christmas scenes. I downloaded a digital print from Etsy, added a faux oil painting technique and popped it into the frame.

4 | Seasonal Pillows

While some people may not feel comfortable buying used pillows, I think an exception can be made for decorative pillows. Christmas pillows are generally set out for 1-2 months a year and are more decorative than functional.

Estate sales are a great place to find decorative pillows and seasonal home decor at deep discount prices. I found an adorable Christmas pillow by the Frontgate brand at a local sale and purchased it for $18. The retail price is $99!

5 | Christmas Ornaments

Thrifted Christmas tree ornaments are a great way to fill in your tree without breaking the bank. I like to keep an eye out for ornaments that have special meaning for my family or beautifully made ornaments. Vintage glass ornaments, like vintage shiny brite ornaments, are a fun item to hunt for at flea markets and antique stores throughout the year.

If you don’t love the look of the original ornament, you can also bring it home and alter it to better fit your Christmas decor aesthetic.

For example, I took plain, white ornaments and applied gold rub n’ buff to fit with our red and gold Christmas decor. I added a pretty bow to the top of some ornaments as well.

6 | Ribbons and Wrapping Paper

I love a beautifully wrapped gift, but I have a hard time justifying the cost full-price ribbon and gift wrap found at local retail stores.

Buying wrapping paper and decorative ribbons secondhand definitely makes me feel better and saves me money! I have a drawer full of ribbons found at estate sales that can be added to all of my gifts.

7 | Seasonal China for Formal Tablescapes

I recently picked up plaid plates and mugs at an estate sale that I can’t wait to use this holiday season. Setting a beautiful holiday table and hosting dinner is one of my favorite ways to create core memories with loved ones over the holidays.

8 | Christmas Table Linens

Table linens can be a lot of money when bought brand new. Estate sales are a fantastic place to find beautiful linens to set your holiday table.

Recently I found a brand-new red, Ralph Lauren tablecloth and William’s Sonoma napkins for the holiday season.

9 | Lanterns

Lanterns with battery-operated candles in them look so beautiful when incorporated into Christmas decor.

Whether the lanterns are displayed on a side table or incorporated into exterior Christmas decor, a flickering candle inside of a lantern is a classic holiday look.

10 | Candleholders

I have found brass candleholders at local garage sales (or yard sale), our local Goodwill store, and thrift stores that look great with my red and gold Christmas decor.

Glass candleholders are also a great option if you want to add some greenery around the candle.

Depending on your holiday decor style, there are endless possibilities with candleholders you can find at great prices from secondhand stores.

11 | Candles

I can typically find candlesticks at estate sales for as low as $0.50 a pair. You can’t beat that price!

If there are fun colors or shapes, I like to purchase and use them on our dining room table for dinner parties.

If you want the ambiance of lit candlesticks without the hazard of a lit flame, consider battery-operated candlesticks that can be used year after year.

12 | Faux Christmas Trees

Fake Christmas trees can be costly, so a thrifted Christmas tree is a great option to save money. Facebook Marketplace is a great spot to find secondhand trees as well as local estate sales and antique malls.

We personalized a secondhand Christmas tree by adding flocking material to the branches to create the appearance of snow. Once the tree was decorated and lit, it looked like a million bucks!

13| Christmas Wreaths

Sometimes you can find beautiful Christmas wreaths while hunting for thrifted pieces, but I would encourage you to look for simpler wreaths as well.

A plain wreath can easily be dressed up for the holidays with a Christmas bow and even some faux flowers.

14 | Holiday Artwork

Keep an eye out for Christmas-themed artwork to display during the holidays.

I struggle to buy brand-new artwork that will be stored in my basement for 10 months out of the year, so thrifting these items makes it much easier to justify when purchasing Christmas decorations!

15 | Christmas Tschotckis

This is the time of the year when you can display Christmas decorations that serve no other purpose than to bring you joy and bring back memories. Christmas tschotckis are fun tind at vintage markets and a great way to create a unique look for the holidays.

I do try to limit my thrifted items somewhat to avoid a cluttered look so I don’t drive my husband crazy!

Whether it is a cute nutcracker, a vintage Santa figurine, or even a holiday music box, you can always find unique pieces at thrift shops!

16 | Christmas Books

Decorating your home using books you already own is such a great way to add Christmas spirit without spending a fortune.

Books are really easy to find while thrift shopping and are typically $1-$2. Look for book covers with festive colors to use throughout your home.

Gather any books with red, green, and gold spines and display them together for a subtle seasonal look.

Set out Christmas-themed books for guests and family to peruse.

More Christmas Items to Find at Your Local Thrift Store

Keep a list of specific items you want to find saved on your phone. Whenever you visit an antique store throughout the year, review your saved list and buy the items you find at deep discount prices!

Servingware
Vintage glass Christmas trees
Vintage Christmas ornaments to display in bowls
Crystal glassware for the dining table
Silver bells – to display in a Christmas vignette
Ice skates – These look great hanging from a vintage sled displayed on a porch
Tree skirts
Glass cloches to use as decoration
French horns – great to display on a mantel or within a little vignette
Vintage santas – a fun collection to display every year
Santa mugs
Vintage silver – I like to use silver ice buckets to display poinsettia plants
Vintage tinsel

Shopping at local antique shops and estate sales is one of my favorite pastimes and I feel such a thrill when I find a great deal. I hope these thrifty tips have energized you to find some fun items this Christmas season!

Happy Hunting!