11 Methods to Ring within the Spirit of Christmas Gathering

It’s time to pull your many bins of holiday decor out from storage! If you’ve collected so many Santa mugs or ceramic Christmas trees that you’re not sure how to display them, not to worry. Whether you’ve gathered items from previous generations or are discovering a new collectible niche, properly displaying your unique and merry decorations is a must.

Transform your abundance of Christmas postcards into a decadent garland over the mantle with the help of a few clothespins. Or, if you’d like to step up your tree decor, bring a touch of whimsy with a new collection of beaded ornaments. To inspire your Christmas decorating this year, we’ve gathered our favorite ways to decorate with collections of holiday novelties.

Glass Ornaments

Once upon a Christmastime, glass ornaments, toppers, and beads were all the rage, adored for their unique shapes and often elaborate hand-applied and glitter designs. One manufacturer, Shiny Brite, started mass-producing its whimsical wares in 1937. Today, Christopher Radko continues the tradition, selling both reissued Shiny Brite pieces (reflector tulips and flocked balls) and contemporary glass ornaments.

You can find individual vintage ornaments for a few dollars a piece in antique shops and secondhand stores or discover matching sets online for $25 and up. Rare or complicated designs cost more. The greatest value usually lies in figurals: Clever ornaments shaped like people or things, as opposed to plain glass balls.

How to display them: Of course, nestling an array of glass ornaments into the tree is one fantastic way to showcase a favorite collection. But if you don’t have enough treats for the entire tree, gather a bowlful of ornaments for a centerpiece on the holiday table, wire several favorites into a garland in a low-traffic spot, or transform a slew of sizes and shapes into a custom wreath.

Brass Bells

The jingle-jangle of bells is a hallmark of Christmas, whether on a horse-drawn sleigh, ringing by carolers, or the call to start a church service—they tantalize our ears and our eyes. Bells range in shapes and form, from handbells to sleigh bells to cowbells, and all add festive touches to decor. You can buy them individually or in strings, clusters, ornaments, or lush garlands—the possi-bell-ities are almost endless!

Solid brass bells that will develop a lovely patina over time can be pricey ($5 and up for one), and matching sets cost even more. Sterling silver bells are even more sought after, making them pricier, Modern versions are often lighter weight and made of cheaper metal.

How to display them: Thread mismatched bells on a length of twine or yarn for a homemade garland. Hang individual bells on the Christmas tree or from the arms of a chandelier. Loop a bundle from doorknobs or evergreen swags. If you have a sizeable collection, string them from a sturdy garland at varying heights, for a beautiful and melodious vignette.

Gurley Candles

Gurley candles are small paraffin figurines in holiday shapes (ghosts, pilgrims, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, carolers) made in the 1940s until the late ’70s. Vintage versions usually have a paper Gurley or Tavern label (and possibly a price tag) on the bottom, making them easy to identify. You can find new versions at the Vermont Country Store which purchased the Gurley candle molds and now makes reproductions.

Gurley Candles were sold in five-and-dimes during their heydey; today a pair of small wax figures can cost $20 and up on eBay (items in their original boxes go for $80-plus). Look for bargains at estate sales and thrift shops in older neighborhoods.

How to display them: Though manufactured with a wick, these candles weren’t usually burned—rather, their charming figures were displayed as decor. We recommend doing the same. Assemble a throng of tree candles together, placing some atop overturned mugs to vary heights. Or sprinkle pieces among garlands, dishes, and other Christmas ware.

Christmas Postcards

Before custom cards with family portraits were the norm, colorful postcards carried holiday greetings and yearly updates between friends and family. The front of the cards depicted seasonal scenes, and a message, Some cards were fancified with gold embossing, die-cut borders, and glittery ‘snow.’

Old Christmas postcards at flea markets or antiques malls might cost a dollar or two apiece, and they’ll likely have writing and a stamp on the back, which just adds to their history and charm. You can order (or download and print yourself) new postcards with old-fashioned designs online, and they’re often even cheaper than vintage versions.

How to display them: Old-fashioned Christmas postcards are far too festive to tuck away in a drawer—put them out for all to see! Use tiny clothespins or binder clips to fasten them to a length of twine or string to drape over a mirror or mantel. Slip one at each place setting on the dinner table as a name card and souvenir for guests. Or hang them as tree ornaments using a small paper clip and a metal hook.

Ceramic Christmas Trees

First gracing tabletops in the 1940s, ceramic Christmas trees were a mainstay in many of our parents’ and grandparents’ homes. Original versions were often handcrafted on a small scale with individual lightbulbs on the branches. In the following decades, many ceramic companies developed molds based on the Christmas tree design and sold ready-to-paint trees through craft shops. A single lightbulb at the base illuminated all the colorful plastic ‘lights’ from within. Today, reproductions of these vintage trees have popped up in all sizes (from tiny 4-inch versions to extra-large 23-inchers) in a rainbow of colors.

Vintage trees will vary in price by size, condition, and color, and they can be pricey (over $300 for a midsize one). New ceramic trees are an appealing option because of their fabulous colors, perfect condition, and LED lights that don’t burn out or get hot. They range from $15 to over $100 for larger sizes in unusual colors (pink, gold, etc.).

How to display them: A well-rounded collection with several sizes and colors is as breathtaking as a single fanciful forest atop a shelf, console, or buffet. Small trees standing on the dining table can take on a candle-like appearance when their lights are turned on. A larger tree can substitute for a full-size Christmas tree in a smaller home, or put one on a nightstand for an extra dose of Christmas cheer in a bedroom.

Miniature Créches

These tiny nativity scenes feature the traditional manger scene. Rather than each figure being its own piece, as in many nativity sets, the miniatures are a single cohesive scene so there are no parts to get lost or misplaced. Probably made in the mid-19th century and often manufactured in Hong Kong, créches are usually crafted of hard plastic in bold colors.

The price of these miniature créches varies widely, depending on the materials (plastic, ceramic, fabric, etc.), and they aren’t widely available. Estate sales are your best bet to find one for a good price (under $10); there are also a few on Etsy and eBay for under $70.

How to display them: Because créches are so small (just a few inches high), they have greater impact when grouped in a vignette with other accessories to fill out the scene. You could also slip some into the tree as ornaments or into the middle of a wreath to put the Christ child’s birth front and center.

Beaded Ornaments

Kits consisting of foam balls or metal forms, pins, beads, and and ribbon were sold at craft stores—and still are—as a great way for children and adults alike to create their trimmings for the tree. They are often studded with beads, sequins, and pearls and wrapped with ribbon, cording, and trim to outline their shape. They can be as simple (stars and wreaths) or intricate (balls and snowflakes) as the artist desires, and they bring great personality and a homemade quality to Christmas decor.

Score antique ornaments by the lot on eBay or Etsy; they’re often a few dollars each. Beaded ornament kits are surprisingly affordable (about $15 for a five-piece kit), but if you want to splurge on outrageously intricate kits, you certainly can; they run upwards of $50-a coordinating set of handmade ornaments might be worth every penny.

How to display them: Of course beaded ornaments are wonderful hanging from the tree. If you or the kids have made a batch yourselves, the ornaments likely deserve their own tree (perhaps a smaller secondary one), especially if all the baubles coordinate. They’re also gorgeous gathered in a bowl or basket for display on a mantel or tabletop.

Bottle-Brush Trees

Named after bristly wire brushes meant for scrubbing the insides of glass bottles, bottle-brush trees are highly cute, highly collectible figurines that have crept up everywhere in Christmas (and year-round) decor. The trees come in all sizes (from a couple of inches to a few feet) and a rainbow of colors; some are embellished with tiny ornaments, pinecones, or dustings of ‘snow.’

Antique trees are often a little bent, tattered, or missing a few bristles. You can find small ones for less than $3; bigger trees and embellished versions with ornaments or snow cost more. New bottle-brush trees are usually inexpensive at discount or big box stores—all the better for stocking up!

How to display them: Plant bottle-brush trees among other greenery to play up the forest theme, nestled along a garland on a mantel, tucked into a wreath, or sprouting in a gathering of ornaments and pinecones. For the most delightful display, include trees of all heights, and come up with a cool color scheme. They’re absolutely charming en masse.

Mercury Glass Figures

Also called silvered glass, mercury glass pieces were originally made out of elemental mercury when it hit the scene in the mid-1800s. Eventually, it was determined to be toxic, and now a liquid silvering solution is poured and sealed between two layers of glass for a shiny, glamorous finish. Both vintage and reproduction mercury glass are widely available as vases, bowls, figurines, and ornaments.

Vintage mercury glass ornaments are available on eBay and Etsy for a few dollars apiece or under $20 for a set of six. Tree figurines can be pricey; over $100 for a set of small trees. Modern reproductions can be had for about the same price.

How to display them: The shine and shimmer of mercury glass elevates everything around it, so it’s a great addition to a holiday table in the form of candlesticks, votives, and vases—candlelight flickering from inside is especially beguiling. Display an array of glass trees in all shapes and colors. Silvered glass ornaments on the tree or wired into a garland add a special touch.

Tinsel Trees

Sometimes called aluminum Christmas trees, tinsel trees were popular in the late 1950s and 1960s. Made of aluminum as a glittery example of the Space Age, they were often displayed with a rotating “color wheel” light under the tree that projected tinted lighting through the branches. In recent years, these midcentury marvels have surged in popularity and are widely available again.

True vintage tinsel trees are rare—and expensive. Even small ones in decent condition go for $200-plus on eBay. But rest assured that new versions are everywhere, from tabletop size to 5 feet tall, and they come in several colors, not just silver. Prices start at $25 and can soar sky-high.

How to display them: Because tinsel trees tend to be shorter than conventional green Christmas trees, they are suitable as a secondary tree in a smaller room or the main tree in a more modest house. Lean into the quirkiness of one with fun contemporary ornaments, or let it lend its inherent glamour and modernity to a vignette.

Jadeite

Jadeite is an opaque green milk glass first introduced in 1930, with some early versions containing uranium (they glow under ultraviolet light). It was made by a few different companies (Fire King and McKee are two brands) steadily through the 1970s, and it experienced a resurgence in the 1990s largely through the influence of Martha Stewart, whose Jadeite collection made appearances on her television show.

Vintage pieces can be had for under $10 (for a lone cup or plate), all the way up to $100-plus for a matching set of mixing bowls. Older or specialty pieces, such as uranium glass, embossed items, or imported pieces, go for even higher prices online. New Jadeite also runs the gamut in price depending on the manufacturer.

How to display them: Jadeite’s soft green isn’t conventional for Christmas, but it looks festive and fantastic paired with rich red accessories and more overt “holiday” fare. Show off a large collection by stacking bowls, plates, and cups alongside greenery, red ball ornaments, and cloth napkins. Invite Jadeite to a holiday meal by setting the table with your collection of green pieces mixed with crystal or fine china.