Retro Christmas Decorations

[Blindleadingtheblind]

This year I've decided I want retro looking chrostmas decorations, the kind I grew up with in the 80s and 90s (my parents never rely updated their decs).

I want hanging tat going across the ceiling and glass coloured baubles. I'd love some of those plastic baubles that have a cotton weave over them too. Not explaining myself well.

The cherry on top would be the tree lights. I want the coloured ones that have sort of like a flower lamp shade over them.

Going to have a look on Ebay for stuff but if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.

The key thing is to try and avoid blue lights. They didn’t seem to have that colour in the 80s, and I think it makes all the difference to the retro look.

ukchristmasworld.com/collections/fairy-lights

What about lametta? I remember that being popular

I’ve got Victorian lanterns like the ones in the link above. They are nice but I was slightly disappointed that the traditional bulbs have been replaced by LEDs. Easier to maintain the set of lights, but not quite as retro!

christmasdecorationsoutlet.co.uk/collections/christmas-room-decorations

There’s some of the foil ones here. I saw some last year in a shop but I can’t remember where

@Bearsbearsbears40

I’ve got Victorian lanterns like the ones in the link above. They are nice but I was slightly disappointed that the traditional bulbs have been replaced by LEDs. Easier to maintain the set of lights, but not quite as retro!

The ones in the link say they have filament so hopefully have the look

@Blindleadingtheblind

This year I've decided I want retro looking chrostmas decorations, the kind I grew up with in the 80s and 90s (my parents never rely updated their decs).

I want hanging tat going across the ceiling and glass coloured baubles. I'd love some of those plastic baubles that have a cotton weave over them too. Not explaining myself well.

The cherry on top would be the tree lights. I want the coloured ones that have sort of like a flower lamp shade over them.

Going to have a look on Ebay for stuff but if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.

We did this a few years back as our house needs 'modernising' so well suited to it.

You need lametta! We did chocolate whiskey liqueurs for the Xmas tree. B&M were great for the tin foil hanging tat.

We also found the silk string covered baubles in garden centres.

Line up old Xmas telly too from YouTube.

It was great fun!

@EvilPea thanks for pointing it out, might have to find a space for some more now and order these!

Oh, and paper chains. We got some in Lakeland.

Charity shops. I found a bag of retro looking baubles last year, paper mache ones etc. I’ll see if I can find the pictures I took of them.

My Christmas is resolutely vintage.
You can pick up boxes of old baubles from eBay and Etsy
Coloured lights - Noma (I think is the brand) on Amazon do a retro look set. Otherwise you can get working sets of Pifco and others from eBay.

[quote Bearsbearsbears40]@EvilPea thanks for pointing it out, might have to find a space for some more now and order these![/quote]
It would be interesting to see how retro they do look

I have fond memories of the little bell / caps on them and the pain of treading on them if they fell off

Here they are. Didn’t end up using all of them but they are all wonderfully tacky and Christmassy.

I've got coloured lights from the actual 90s that I'm going to use this year. I really hope they don't set the house on fire!

The pale ones are like soft shiny cotton or silky thread with the plastic wrapper round the middle and the tinsel baubles are my favourite.

Ok, I’ve gone with this for a while - still trying to decide whether to buy the retro wrapping on eBay as well but I’ve got those noma lights above and….
They really do go with the retro theme, even so far as sitting there swearing at them trying to find the bloody bulb that doesn’t work one by one. I bought 4 for my tree and it’s happened to every single set after about 10 days. Highly irritating

If a company started making the traditional coloured lights again I'm sure they'd make a killing as they are crazy prices on eBay!
I managed to get some last year and im thrilled with them.

Don't forget the terrifying Angel for the top!
I got my lights from eBay - had to add my own plug!

Not sure how I've wandered into the Christmas section but the pic of your charity shop finds made me feel teary and happy, thinking about my parents' decorations. They were used until my mum died (a few days after Christmas 2018).

I hadn’t thought of looking in charity shops (I don’t know why, I buy a lot in them) for decorations. The idea that the Christmas memories can go on in the decorations is lovely.

@bigburdd

Don't forget the terrifying Angel for the top! I got my lights from eBay - had to add my own plug!

Is that your angel???

Aw, 80s Christmas decorations bring back such happy nostalgic memories for me

Are you crafty?

My mother used to make her own wreaths and table decorations. I think the base was a floristy oasis. She'd then wire in small and large pine cones (pre- sprayed in glitter glue), thin strips of coloured foil ribbon which had been looped, and maybe fake flowers, small poinsetta etc. The centrepieces also had a real candle in the centre.

The pic isn't the actual thing, but vaguely similar.

I’ve got some vintage style Christmas fairy lights they are fab, from uk Christmas world they are called pickwick fairy lights if that helps to google

[quote EvilPea]ukchristmasworld.com/collections/fairy-lights[/quote]

My grandparents had those bell lights. I need them ❤