Retro Christmas Decor - Mid-Century Memories

If you remember when a silver aluminum Christmas tree with pink or blue lights was the height of holiday chic …. if the sound of Alvin and the Chipmunks singing “Please Christmas Don’t Be Late” still gives you a shiver of anticipation …. if you can actually recall listening to your father explain that the bubble lights had to have time to heat up before they’d start bubbling …. then the answer just might be yes.

For Babyboomers, mid century modern is more than a decorating style; it’s the childhood of a whole generation. Tinsel trees, bubble lights, and The Chipmunks are just as much a part of the collective memory of over-50s as linoleum floors, black and white TV, and the joy of a fresh batch of Jiffy Pop straight from the aluminum bubble.

But over-fifties aren’t the only ones who appreciate classic fifties style. Mid-century modern is quickly becoming one of the most popular new styles in interior decor, and lots of 20- and 30-somethings are embracing it with enthusiasm. In a way that few who grew up with them can completely comprehend, plastic furniture and bean bag chairs have become trendy once again.

If you’d like to recapture the fun of the fifties and sixties in your Retro Christmas holiday decorating, here are some tips to make it happen:

Think fun, not fussy
Retro Christmas decoration is based on the modern look that was so much vogue during the post-war period. Sleek lines and exciting new space-age materials (like plastic) were all the rage, and tradition was giving way to innovation. Fussy details were out and slick aerodynamic design was in, for everything from cars to Christmas tree balls.

Use bright colors and bold designs
Vibrant, intense Christmas colors and bold, cartoonishly simply graphic designs are the hallmarks of mid-century modern decorating. That translates beautifully to Christmas decor, and retro-themed holiday fabric for Christmas table linens and reproduction period ornaments are relatively easy to find.

Don’t forget the characters
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and of course Santa and his elves were all extremely popular characters during the Christmas seasons of the fifties and sixties. Whether molded into candles, stamped from plastic and hung on the tree, or transformed into a plug-in, light-up display for the front yard, cute, cartoony Christmas characters definitely add a dash of retro fun and flair.

Electrify it!
Though stores and public places had been using strings of lights as Christmas decorations since the late 1800s, electrically lighted decorations didn’t become standard for average homeowners until the post-war period. But when electric decorations hit, they hit in a big way! Manufactured in every size and shape from a glowing tabletop Santa to a life-sized Nativity scene for the lawn, electric-powered decorations were a landmark in mid-century holiday decor.

For a truly retro feel, pack away the twinkling mini lights and trim your tree with bubble lights or large multi-color lights. New versions of these 1950s standards are available everywhere, and they’re a vast improvement over the originals, which could get alarmingly hot in a surprisingly short time.