FLEA-MARKET FINDS AND CHRISTMAS DÉCOR go together like a hand in a mitten— and the combination is just as warm and cozy. Pairing timeless secondhand pieces with traditional Christmas ornaments is a charming way to surround yourself with the comfort and joy of the season.
Melanie Butcher, a homemaker and vintage-style collector who showcases her treasures on Instagram (@vintagecharmhouse), looks forward to decorating for Christmas all year long and does her holiday shopping well in advance. Melanie lives in Kaysville, Utah, in a five-bedroom Victorian farmhouse with her husband, Tyler, their two children and a cat.
“I love decorating for Christmas because there are no rules. You can be as whimsical and fun as you want,” Melanie says. “I shop for Christmas year-round and place my new treasures in a box. Every year I say that I will take pictures and do everything the same way the next year, but when I acquire new treasures throughout the year, it requires new ways to incorporate them, and it causes me to rearrange things with different displays. When it’s time to decorate, it is always fun to go through and see what I collected during the year.”
As each ornament is unwrapped, Melanie also finds herself unwrapping nostalgic memories. “I have a lot of vintage collections, but vintage Christmas is my favorite; therefore, I have a lot of it,” she says. “I wouldn’t say it’s easy to transition from my everyday décor—it takes days— but as I am decorating, it brings back wonderful memories and it is worthwhile.”
DECKING THE HALLS, TRIMMING THE TREES
The vintage vibe of Melanie’s holiday home has the distinct charm of walking through the streets of small-town shops at Christmastime.
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