Collecting Christmas
How to Start a Collection of Christmas Décor
That will Last a Lifetime
A few days ago I was in a shop, and I overheard two older women discussing Christmas decorations. One woman, clearly a mom of a young adult, said: "It's just so sad – they hardly have any ornaments for their tree. I'm just buying a few pretty ones for her this year." And the other woman said, "But remember, it takes years to collect it all." They both nodded. I wanted to walk up and say, "I am writing about this very thing this week!"
This essay is for anyone who is starting out – or starting over. And here's what I would say: rather than approaching Christmas decor as a shopping experience, consider approaching it as a collecting endeavor.
A collection builds and grows over time. It doesn't appear all at once. It comes as the result of hunts and haunts, quests, voyages, and journeys near and far. Collecting Christmas décor isn't just about filling your home with festive pieces—it’s about creating a tradition that grows with you, tells your story, and becomes a cherished part of every holiday season.
But how do you build that collection? With some intentionality! And some luck. And creativity, too.
Whether you’re just starting out or reinventing your holiday style, building a timeless Christmas décor collection can be simple, meaningful, and incredibly fun.
So let's take a look at my own collection more than twenty-five years in the making. I'll tell you some of the stories behind what I collect and why, which may help you start a Christmas décor collection that will unfold beautifully each year and last for generations.
These are some of the ornaments and decorations I bought at Neiman Marcus all those years ago. They are hand-painted ornaments made in Ukraine, if I remember correctly.
My mother has exquisite taste, and our home had always been beautifully-decorated even when our budget was tight (and it usually was). My sister and I learned to collect from a very young age – each getting to choose an ornament for the year on an annual shopping trip. I remember agonizing over which ornament to choose knowing that it would be a whole year before I got to choose another one.
I began my own Christmas collection in graduate school. I was in my first studio apartment, and in the midst of studying and writing, I wanted to bring some joy into my tiny space. My mother sent me a little artificial tree for my table, and I bought a garland which I draped over the dividing screen which hid my bed from the rest of the room.
That year I also was given a gift certificate to Neiman Marcus, a store I rarely frequented. Sometime in the week after Christmas I wandered with my gift certificate knowing that it would not go far in that luxurious store. But tucked away near one of the exits I stumbled upon a treasure trove – the Christmas decorations which were all marked 90% off.
Well, you can make a $100 gift certificate go VERY far when everything is 90% off – even at Neiman Marcus!
And thus began my Christmas collection. For a few dollars here and a few dollars there I chose carefully – napkin rings, Santas, hand-painted ornaments. I still have almost everything I bought that day. They became the foundation of my Christmas collection.
The little tree my mother gave me when I was in graduate school — now in my Mudroom.
Tip: Begin with a Signature Theme That Reflects You
Before buying anything, decide on a guiding theme. This gives your collection cohesion and keeps you from accumulating random pieces that don’t age well. Popular, timeless themes include:
Classic red and green
Winter white and metallics
Rustic woodland
Scandinavian minimalism
Vintage Christmas nostalgia
Pro-Tip: Choose a theme that feels warm and familiar, not just trendy—your future self will thank you.
My theme: classic cranberry reds and deep forest greens for color. And my collection centers on Christmas trees – in many, many forms.
It’s just too dry here to use real garlands inside. They don’t last. So I have chosen our garlands carefully knowing that I am committed to them for decades.
Remember that garland I bought when I was in graduate school? I had it until just a few years ago when mice got into it and damaged it beyond repair. When you think about it, even if you leave your Christmas decor up for 6 weeks per year, it still would take nearly nine years for those items to be out and up for a year total. So holiday decorations should be made to last – and we should strive to use them for as long as possible.
Had those mice not nested in that garland, it would still be draped on the table behind my sofa. That's because I have spent years focused on buying quality items – not vast quantities. I have a few rules for my collection that have evolved over time:
No plastic ornaments. With rare exceptions mine are all glass, wood, or porcelain.
Nothing too trendy or niche. I ask myself, "Will I still love this in 10 years?"
Only buying garlands and floral picks that look and feel real
I don't replace things unless I truly have to (ie mice).
I have collected slowly and built on what I love. Most years I intentionally set aside money for after-Christmas shopping. I found boutiques and design shops that carried high-quality items which would be 50-75% off on the day after Christmas. Smaller boutiques and shops need to sell their holiday merchandise as quickly as possible so that they don't have to store it. I have benefitted greatly as a result!
I use garlands in a variety of ways. These are lovely, but they aren’t as full or as interesting as I want them to be, so I'm adding floral picks to bring in more color and texture.
Tip: Invest in Quality, Not Quantity
If the goal is to build a collection that lasts a lifetime, quality matters. Look for:
Artisan-made ornaments
Handcrafted wooden or ceramic pieces
Sturdy garlands and wreaths made to last decades, not years
Fabric items with strong stitching
High-quality décor ages beautifully, avoids landfill waste, and often becomes heirloom-worthy. This is the approach I have taken with my artificial Christmas tree, and it's the approach I've taken with everything else, too.
These are some of the ornaments and decorations I bought at Neiman Marcus all those years ago. They are hand-painted ornaments made in Ukraine, if I remember correctly.
My husband and I got married near the holidays, and when I was looking for a gift to give our wedding party, I found some beautiful, hand-painted Christmas ornaments. That was the beginning of a tradition.
Each year I choose an ornament to give as a gift to a small group of friends and family. And what started as my own project has become a family affair: what ornament will we give this year? Some years we have made them. Some years we have bought them in exotic places. Other years they have been commissioned by local makers and artists. But over the years these ornaments have grown our own collection – and those of other people, too.
The little tree my mother gave me when I was in graduate school — now in my Mudroom.
Tip: Start Small: Pick One Category to Collect First
Instead of trying to buy everything at once, begin with one type of item:
Ornaments
Nutcrackers
Snow globes
Candle holders
Christmas village houses
Building slowly gives your collection more intention and emotional value.
And don't be afraid to tell people about your collection, too! They may find the perfect gift for you. When my son was very small, I found a fabulous book, The Yule Tomte and the Christmas Rabbits. It's an easy introduction to our Scandinavian heritage and the joy of tomte. And that Christmas I gave him a Tomte. But word spread. And now we have tomte from friends and family, too. My son arranges them each year, and they bring a bit of fun and whimsy to our family room while watching over us and keeping us all out of mischief.