How to use antique Christmas decorations

How to use antique Christmas decorations

Add a twist to your traditions this Christmas with our contemporary ideas for decorating with antique and vintage finds

Exclusive US Offer - try a Homes & Antiques Magazine subscription and get your first 3 issues for only $12 PLUS delivery from the UK!
Published: November 30, 2017 at 1:42 pm

1

A group of reindeer create a statement in any hallway with their cheerful bauble necklaces. Decorate a console with festive foliage for an inviting welcome.

A collection of birch reindeer on display
Mirror, from a selection; French mid-century birch reindeer, £550 each, all M Charpentier Antiques. Small mercury ornament candle holder, £85 for a pair, Decorative Antiques UK. Ruby wine glasses, £220 for six, Graham Smith Antiques. Victorian silver resist candlestick, £135, Graham Smith Antiques. Vintage baubles, from £4 each, Goose Home and Garden. ‘Cercle’ console table, £595, Oka. Wrapping paper, from a selection at Sainsbury’s. Ribbons, find similar at John Lewis. - -

2

Stack a drinks trolley with everything you need after dinner: games, drinks and sweet treats. Fill antique glassware with delectable delights to tempt your guests and add sparkle to the room.

An antiques drinks trolley with glassware filled with sweets
Mid-century brass drinks trolley, £1,500, Nicholas Wells Antiques. On trolley: red finch bird decoration, £6, Oka; Victorian glass tazza, £285 for a pair, Graham Smith Antiques; mercury goblets, £235 for a pair, Decorative Antiques UK; large glass Regency cut crystal bowl, £275; large Georgian glass rummer, £395; Regency-style crystal and silver biscuiteer, £425; amber glass wine decanter, £195; coromandel wood games compendium, £1,650, all Graham Smith Antiques. ‘Miss Behaving’ footstool, in ‘Patricia’ velvet, from £461, Sofa Workshop. On footstool: clear cut glass Regency decanter, £450 for a pair; ruby wine glasses, £220 for six, all Graham Smith Antiques. Food and drink, from a selection at Sainsbury’s. ‘Shalimar’ rug, £1,485, Oka. - -

3

A selection of antique witch balls hung above the fireplace create a dramatic focal point, while a festive plant decorated with lights adds a glow to the corner of a room.

A selection of antique witch balls hung above a fireplace
‘Amelie’ two-seater sofa in ‘Sky Lime’, £1,494, Parker Knoll. On sofa: cushions (from left): 19th-century needlepoint cushion, £185 for a pair, M Charpentier Antiques; blue cushion in ‘Oaken’ in blue (F4352/03), £65 per m, Colefax and Fowler; ‘Huntingtower’ cushion £49.95; mohair throw in ‘Blonde’, £89.95, both Bronte by Moon. Side table with travertine top, £585, M Charpentier Antiques. On side table: antique books, from a selection at Briggs and Oliver; urn, £120; whitestone pots, from £7.50, all Petersham Nurseries. Large ‘Aztec’ ottoman in Liberty ‘Floral Mawston Meadow’ velvet, from £370; ‘Miss Behaving’ footstool in ‘Patricia’ velvet, from £461, both Sofa Workshop. On ottoman: stone bird bath, £75, Petersham Nurseries; vintage baubles, from £4 each, Goose Home and Garden; French Verlys glass dish, £545, Graham Smith Antiques; wrapping paper, from a selection at Sainsbury’s. On footstool: silver plate dish, £45, Decorative Antiques UK; ruby wine glasses, £220 for six; Regency decanter, £450 for a pair, all Graham Smith Antiques. Witch balls, from £100 each, Luke Honey. Ribbon from a selection at John Lewis. On mantelpiece: whitestone pots, from £7.50 each, Petersham Nurseries; terracotta pot, stylist’s own; Victorian silver resist candlestick, £135, Graham Smith Antiques; antique books, as before; red finch bird decoration, £6, Oka; small mercury candle holder, £85 for a pair, Decorative Antiques UK; vintage baubles, as before. ‘Shalimar’ rug, £1,485, Oka. - -

4

Hang mismatched glass pendants and chandeliers to create a dramatic yet sophisticated effect above your festive dining table.

A chandelier hangs above a festive themed dining table
French Louis XVI-style dining chairs, £2,400 for six, M Charpentier Antiques. Lighting (from left): gilt toleware chandelier, £235, Petersham Nurseries; 1920s milk glass ceramic pendant, £120 each, Original House; grey bead chandelier, £440, Petersham Nurseries; gilt and fleur-de-lys chandelier, £350, Petersham Nurseries. On mantelpiece: mirror, find similar at M Charpentier Antiques; mercury goblet, £235 for a pair, Decorative Antiques UK. On table (from left): ‘Sorano’ plates, £12 each; ‘Sorano’ side plates, £6 each, all Oka; mercury candlestick, £295 for a pair, Decorative Antiques UK; whitestone pots, from £7.50 each, Petersham Nurseries; cutlery and napkins, find similar at Briggs and Oliver; large stone pot, £175, Petersham Nurseries; Edwardian champagne glasses, £395 for eight; Victorian ewer-shaped glass jug, £250, all Graham Smith Antiques; tablecloth in ‘Perseus’ in ‘Red/Aqua’ (F4348/02), £65 per m, Colefax and Fowler; wrapping paper, from a selection at Sainsburys. - -

5

Create an edible centrepiece by piling an antique toleware stand high with Christmas nuts. Produce a warm atmosphere and a sense of intimacy with plenty of cosy candlelight.

An antique toleware containing nuts sits between two candles on a dining table
On mantelpiece: mirror, find similar at M Charpentier Antiques; pair of 18th-century toleware candlesticks, £2,850, Wakelin & Linfield. On table: toleware four-tier shrimp holder, £240, M Charpentier Antiques; rare brass and toleware candlesticks, from a selection at Wakelin & Linfield; Edwardian champagne glass, £395 for eight, Graham Smith Antiques; whitestone pot, from £7.50, Petersham Nurseries; ‘Sorano’ side plate, £6, Oka; napkins and fish knives, find similar at Briggs and Oliver; tablecloth as before. - -

6

A wire birdcage doubles wonderfully as a festive focal point. Fill it up with sparkling baubles in a variety of colours to make an eye-catching display.

A birdcage filled with baubles
Nineteenth-century French birdcage, £375, M Charpentier Antiques. Vintage baubles, from £4 each, Goose Home and Garden. Red finch bird decoration, £6, Oka. Confit pots, from £145, all from a selection at Petersham Nurseries. French 18th-century small mercury plate gold mirror, £235; small Swedish bedside table, £1,200, both M Charpentier Antiques. Silver plate dish, £45, Decorative Antiques UK. - -

7

Mix wall lights with delicate ceramics to make a statement above a bed. Finish off with a festive garland above the headboard.

A bedroom with ceramic plates attached to the wall behind it
‘Foxtail’ double bed frame, £825, Button & Sprung. Small Swedish bedside table, £1,200, M Charpentier Antiques. Pine and cone garland, £115, Oka. On wall: Royal Worcester plates, £130 for four, Graham Smith Antiques; other plates, from a selection at Graham Smith Antiques; Italian sconce, £1,600 for a pair; French 1920s mirror sconce, £750 for a pair, all Maison Artefact; metal candle sconce, find similar at Maison Artefact. ‘Amelia’ bed linen, £100 for double duvet set, Christy. Cushion in ‘Mazely’ in red (F4333/05), £65 per m, Colefax and Fowler. Mohair cushion in ‘Burnt Gold’, £49.95, Bronte by Moon. Velvet cushion, from a selection at Christy. ‘Forest Green’ bedspread, £325, Raj Tent Club. ‘Atlas’ throw in ‘Brick Red’, £90, Christy. Silk throw in ‘Isador’ silk in ‘Pale Aqua’ (F4329/02), £125 per m, Colefax and Fowler. On table: 19th-century brass candlestick lamp, £550 for a pair, M Charpentier Antiques; confit pot from a selection at Petersham Nurseries; silver plate dish, £45; antique tassle decoration (on bed), £80, both Decorative Antiques UK. - -

Photographs: Katya De Grunwald

Twitter/Instagram: @katyadegrunwald

Styling: Sally Denning

Sidebar Image

Exclusive US Offer

Try a Homes & Antiques magazine subscription and get free delivery from the UK!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Want to be updated when there is Homes and Antiques news?
By entering your details, you are agreeing to homes and Antiques terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Exclusive US Offer

Try a Homes & Antiques magazine subscription and get free delivery from the UK!

This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2024