10 Ideas for Decorating With Vintage Toys for Christmas

If you love all things retro and festive Christmas displays, why not combine both and decorate your home with vintage toys and games? Think Barbie doll accessories, books, board games, toddler toys and items from TV shows that were popular 40 to 50 years ago. These old toys and games are filled with vibrant hues and bold patterns so they can add a lot of color and personality to your holiday decor. Old toys are popular with collectors, making them easy to find at online auctions. Estate sales are another great source for finding all things retro, not just holiday decor. If you have young kids, look for sturdy items made of hard plastic or metal that won’t get damaged if they can’t resist playing with them — they’re kid’s toys after all. If not, plan on displaying your antique toys and games in hard-to-reach places.

First up: Barbie Cases. Back in the '50s, '60s and '70s, no Barbie-loving person would dare find themselves without a handy dandy carrying case. How was one supposed to transport Barbie (or Ken) to a sleepover with a portable wardrobe full of outfit options? Those cases come in great colors with amazing graphics. Coordinate them with your Christmas tree and bring them back out of the attic and use them as a seasonal decor item.

One of the best things about having a collection of vintage toys and board games is they make great Christmas tree skirts. Not only that, but they also hide your tree stand. A collection of retro games is perfect for this since the graphics are bold and colorful. Easy to find online or at estate sales and flea markets. Look for games you had as a child for extra fun.

Dress up old dollhouses to fit in with your Christmas decor. Add white felt to the rooftop for snow. Put a tiny wreath over the door. Don’t forget to put a tiny Santa or elf in the doorway, welcoming visitors. Even if you don’t have a retro dollhouse, a modern one will do.

No Christmas was complete without some sort of holiday-themed coloring book — better yet, a jumbo version with a new 64-pack of crayons. Even if the pages have been torn and colored on, the cover artwork is really what you are looking for when it comes to display.

Create a one-of-a-kind centerpiece for your holiday table using an old firetruck, small ornaments and festive foliage. Grab the hot glue gun and start decorating. Small toys and figurines also look great in these arrangements. It’s like a table garland but better!

The only thing more nostalgic than a silver aluminum Christmas tree is a pile of vintage gifts. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have kept your favorite toys, like Alvin the Chipmunk and the Fisher-Price barn, from childhood to stick under the tree. If not no worries. Old toys are a popular collectible making them easy to find at online auction retailers. Relive the days of flipping through the Christmas catalog and choosing your favorites, just this time it’s via the internet.

One of the beauties of an artificial tree is all the weight its branches can support. Take advantage of this by nestling in something fun like vintage toys. Nobody says Santa has to strictly put gifts under the tree, this year he can put them in the tree ahead of time. Typically, with an artificial tree you won’t need wire to hold the toys, just place the items snugly between branches.

Don’t be afraid to incorporate a collection of vintage toys with actual wrapped gifts under the tree. The combination will just add to the festive holiday whimsy of the look. The idea is to collect toys that resonate with you and remind you of your childhood. Nobody said Christmas magic was strictly for the kids.

Recreate the magic of your childhood Christmas with a collection of vintage toys. Even empty toy boxes work great for this idea. Keep your eyes peeled at estate sales, thrift stores and possibly your parents’ attic for retro toys. If you can't find the real deal, there are also great reproductions of vintage toys being made.