Sharing some of my favourite nostalgic Christmas decor finds that bring cozy memories of Christmases past.

There are just some things that make Christmas feel like Christmas. A twinkling tree, a fresh blanket of snow outside the window, the smells of Christmas baking filling the air while old holiday classics play softly in the background. Whether it’s baking up butter tarts & whipped shortbread, filling the tree with the mishmash of ornaments you’ve collected over the years, or curling up in front of your favourite holiday movie, we all have those things that make the holiday season feel extra special. And a big part of that I think, is the feelings of nostalgia that come with those traditions we come back to year after year. Savouring the foods, decor and activities that we can only enjoy through the holidays is what makes this season feel so magical, but it’s also what heightens those feelings of nostalgia as you come back to them year after year and relive those memories of Christmases past.

Around here, our list of Christmas musts is a long one, and it continues to grow each year as we add new activities, food & decor to our family holiday traditions. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some sugar cookies to decorate with more icing and sprinkles than cookie, or a Christmas light tour around town, curled up in the car in our Christmas pj’s with a mug full of hot chocolate (& extra marshmallows). It wouldn’t be Christmas without watching Home Alone while we binge eat Grandma’s caramel popcorn.

Over the years we’ve collected a ton of special foods, activities, and decor that that make the holidays feel so magical. Some we’ve brought with us from our own childhoods (Carson still uses the felt Christmas tree advent calendar that my brother and I used growing up), and others have started & evolved with our own little family and as our extended family grows & changes.

Now I know things are going to look quite different this holiday season. Some of those things that have come to make Christmas feel like Christmas for us just won’t be possible this year (I don’t think there’s anything that I’ll miss more than getting together for a BIG family dinner), some we’ll have to adapt a bit, but many others will remain just as they’ve always been. With all of the changes and unpredictability of our world today, I find myself craving the nostalgia of Christmas more than ever this year. And, though we won’t be able to celebrate in all of the ways we’ve come to look forward to, I plan to be as intentional and present as possible in every magical Christmas moment that we can create this year.

Today, I thought I’d share some of the Christmas decor that’s been inspiring memories of Christmases past for me this year. Cozy Christmas sheets, coloured tree lights & mercury glass ornaments, Santa mugs full of hot chocolate, Lionel trains to circle the tree, fancy holiday glassware, embroidered napkins and festive cookie jars – these are the decorations of my Christmases growing up. I can’t help but feel nostalgic when I look at each and every one of the pieces I’ve linked up below and I hope that as you scroll through them, they’ll bring up happy memories of your own Christmases past too!

nostalgic christmas decor

I’d love to hear about some of your nostalgic Christmas decor pieces that bring back those happy holiday memories from Christmases past! Did you work them into your current holiday decor too? Let me know in the comments below!

Wishing you SUCH a lovely day my friends! 

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