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.
These napkin rings are from that first Neiman’s trip — handpainted from Mexico.
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.
Trees and reindeer on top of the piano. Simple.
Our ornament collection is a family history — gifts from friends, reminders of great trips, a memorial to a very special dog. It’s a beautiful way to walk through our past.
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.
This is the ornament we gave each of my bridesmaids and attendants. What a joyful reminder of a beautiful day!
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 Little 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.
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.
I have never spent a lot of money at once on Christmas decor. Each year I set aside a little money for after-Christmas shopping, and I keep a running list of what I want or need. This year: more floral picks to add volume and interest to some of my garlands.
Over the years I have built a collection that is more beautiful than I could have even imagined.
Jeweled pomegranates — floral picks I have had for years, and I love finding different ways to layer them into the display.
Tip: Add One Special Piece Every Year
This is the secret to a Christmas collection that feels magical: add one meaningful item annually. This could be:
A personalized ornament
A limited-edition piece
Something from your travels
An item commemorating a milestone year
Over time, your décor becomes a visual timeline of your life.
Oh, Christmas Tree! This one is from King of Christmas and was a gifted collaboration. I LOVE it. More about the tree here.
Each of these ornaments is also a story, a memory, a joy!
Some people have lots of childhood ornaments on their own trees. My mother still has most of ours, though a few have come my way over the years. But almost every ornament on my tree tells a story. A beautiful blown-glass angel was a wedding gift from my fourth grade teacher. An ornament I bought on my first trip to Japan. An embroidered snow man that my son made in pre-school.
Once when visiting my grandmother she gave me a whole box of antique chandelier crystals. They sparkle and shine on my tree, and I've added more over the years including some crystals I bought at the Waterford factory in Ireland and others I found at an antique store.
Decorating our tree is a trip through our family's history, and we delight in greeting old friends each year when we pull out the boxes of ornaments. It's a visual history of our interconnected lives.
Most things are old. Something’s relatively new. Nothing’s borrowed, but one thing is blue.
Tip: Mix Sentimental Pieces with Stylish Ones
The most heartwarming collections balance design with memory:
Homemade ornaments
Hand-me-downs from family
Childhood keepsakes
DIY décor you made as a tradition
Sentimental items bring soul; stylish pieces bring cohesion. Together, they create the perfect blend.
The dining room. I might have a house plant problem… maybe.
Having grown up looking through the pages of Southern Living and Sunset magazines, I have a fairly classic and consistent style. While I can admire color-coordinated trees that look like department store displays, that style has no place in my home. Over time I have collected pieces that are:
Deep cranberry reds and forest greens
Natural elements like birds, plants, and pomegranates
Sparkle from crystal and mercury glass
Shine from vintage silver
Warmth from candles and twinkle lights
Our dining room set for the holiday season. The branch chandelier is a fun place to decorate for each season and gets adorned regularly. Currently: birds and crystals.
Tip: Keep Your Color Palette Consistent
To ensure your collection looks unified—even as it grows over decades—stick to a core palette. This helps everything feel intentional and elegant, even if pieces vary in style or age.
A consistent palette also makes decorating each year faster and more enjoyable.
Using decorations in different ways year to year keeps my house looking fresh without spending more money.
One of my goals from the very start was to have enough that my house never really looked the same year after year. It evolves and changes – but not because I am shopping. It changes because I buy things which can be used in different ways.
For example, one of my favorite tricks comes in the form of my collection of floral picks. I have a variety of them which I use to make my garlands look fuller and more beautiful. But I don't use them in the same way every year. And when I switch things up, it looks familiar but fresh.
Elements of my Scandinavian heritage including this antique Viking ship and a piece of Hardanger embroidery done by my great grandmother.
Christmas creeps into the Art Room, too.
Tip: Choose Décor That Can Layer Over Time
The best Christmas collections aren’t static—they unfold.
Look for pieces that can be added to, such as:
Floral picks which can be used in wreaths, garlands, and on trees
Ornaments
Mantelpiece collections
Nativity scenes
Table linens like runners, placemats, and table cloths
Layering allows your display to evolve yearly without replacing pieces.
Bows on the chandeliers in the Kitchen — out of the way, but very festive!
You know I love journaling, and I work hard to document the stories of our Christmas collection knowing that one day I won't be here to share them. And our son, who loves Christmas as much as I do, will have a record of our memories for himself one day.
I keep my notes for him in The Nice List which is my ready-made Christmas journal and workbook. It's a natural place to make a few notes – and perhaps add some photos – to pass along those stories from one generation to the next.
Tip: Document Your Traditions
Consider keeping a small “Christmas Collection Journal” where you note:
Where a piece came from
Why you chose it
Any memories tied to it
One day, this will become a meaningful keepsake for future generations.
I made our family stockings when my son was an infant. I have a tutorial for this very easy project here.
We call this The Room of Requirement — at the top are the Christmas bins. | The new tree came with it’s own storage bag. | Every bin is labeled with its contents.
With all these sentimental decorations, I have worked hard to keep them organized and stored safely. When we renovated our Mudroom and storage closet (aka The Room of Requirement), putting up proper shelves and getting all of the Christmas stuff in one place was a big part of that project.
I now have a system of bins which hold it all – along with decorations for other holidays. They tuck away neatly and make decorating (and putting things away) so much easier. One of the things I appreciate about our new artificial tree, too, is that it came with its own storage bag which will make stowing it away very simple.
Here’s what our new tree looks like in the dining room. Maybe next year!
Tip: Store Your Décor Properly
A lifetime collection needs lifetime-friendly storage:
Use acid-free containers for delicate items
Wrap ornaments individually or use a divided bin
Label bins clearly
Store in climate-controlled spaces (not in an attic or garage, if you can help it)
Good storage is the key to preserving sparkle, color, and structure.
Shopping Tips
I started shopping for Christmas decor after the holidays. And that is still my number one tip: never pay full price – especially at a big store. But there are other places to look for Christmas decorations, and you may find something magical!
These are shed antlers from elk. An artist turned them into a candleabra.
Where to Shop for Christmas Decor:
Design shops and garden centers: many garden centers have holiday decor during the slow seasons – and they are often so charming!
Vintage Shops
Local artists at craft fairs
Yard Sales and Estate Sales
Trading sites and Facebook Marketplace
Museum Gift Shops
On your travels: it may not be Christmas time, but look for something that will remind you of that trip. It might not even be an ornament – but perhaps it could be used as one anyway!
Those glass trees were an after-Christmas find about ten years ago, and they never get old!
Crystal ornaments from a trip to Ireland, birds, and glass icicles that are older than my marriage.
I love hosting during the holidays! I feel like I am inviting our guests into a very intimate space filled with memories of our happiest and most connected times. And honestly I could talk for hours about my collections – not because of the stuff, but because of the joyful memories they represent.
Birds nesting on the branch chandelier.
Allow Your Collection to Tell Your Story
Remember: the best décor collections aren’t perfect—they’re personal.
Let your collection express:
Your family traditions
Your evolving style
Your travels
Your hobbies and favorite memories
A meaningful Christmas collection isn’t built in a day… it builds a life with you.
at the close…
For me, decorating for Christmas has become one of the most sentimental and creative times of my year. I love looking for new ways to use pieces I have had for decades. But more than that, I treasure the time spent with my family and the memories shared as we trim the tree and deck the halls.
If you are just starting your own collection, or perhaps you are starting over, I hope these tips are helpful. Remember collecting is a journey, a long and gratifying one. And there are no real rules. Do what you love and what brings joy to you and those around you.
Merry Christmas!
Angela
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