This Home’s Vintage Holiday Decor Is the Most Charmingly Festive I’ve Ever Seen

Adrienne Breaux
·8 min read
Woman and her dog on the sofa in their living room that's been generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees. Dog is on chair in foreground
Small white tabletop tinsel Christmas tree in corner of room with sparkly beaded curtains
Corner of room with lots of sparkly and vintage Christmas decorations and a small piano
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
closeup on shelf full of vintage porcelain lady heads and christmas decor
Vintage storage hutch in corner of Christmas-decorated room
small corner table decorated in pastel and sparkly vintage style christmas decorations
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
Fireplace area generously decorated with sparkly tinsel and other Christmas decorations
Living room with view into dining room, all generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
Shelves with vintage look barware and glasses, etc with tinsel decorations around it
White sparkly dining room looking into living room. Both rooms are generously decorated with tinsel and vintage Christmas decor
small shelves decorated with vintage and vintage-look Christmas decorations with tinsel wall in the background
Yellow and white kitchen with vintage appliances and decor
Beige bedroom with lots of vintage decor and pink/peach and brass elements
Beige bedroom with lots of vintage decor and pink/peach and brass elements
Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees
woman about to play a record on her small turntable in room full of vintage furniture and decor
floor plan of house in San Diego
Thank you, Shannon! Credit: Courtesy of Shannon Kelly Credit: Courtesy of Shannon Kelly

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Historic Home

LOCATION: La Mesa, San Diego, California

STYLE: Glam, Maximalist, Vintage

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 940

Shannon Kelly had been house hunting for a few months when she came across an online listing with no photos for a two-bedroom, 940-square-foot cottage built in 1939. Being over 85 years old, the cottage (as well as a travel trailer in the backyard also purchased in the sale) would need “a lot of repairs and cosmetic improvements.”

Woman and her dog on the sofa in their living room that's been generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees

“There were oak floors hiding under smelly, stained carpeting, original plaster walls with mismatched, peeling paint, and old damaged vinyl flooring that was lifting,” Shannon describes, admitting that she had to invest in repairing the “unfun” essentials first when she moved in 17 years ago, like a new roof and electrical updates.

Fireplace area generously decorated with sparkly tinsel and other Christmas decorations with dog in sweater standing in front

“Once the house was livable, I could begin the stuff I was looking forward to. I started by doing the first thing I’ve always done when moving in to a new place. I hung my 1920s Murano glass chandelier in the dining nook. It was my biggest splurge in my first apartment.”

closeup on sparkly tinsel xmas tree ornament

“As a renter, when I had to move, I would always hang my chandelier the minute I got the key to a new place. As a first-time homeowner, hanging it in my dining room was what made my new old house feel like my home.”

Sparkly tinsel and beaded dining room decorated for Christmas

“After that, I painted the interior, had the kitchen and bathroom floors replaced with a more vintage-looking ceramic tile, added subway tiles to the wall in the bathroom, added baseboards, removed the old carpeting, and restored the original oak floors in the rest of the house,” she continues.

Yellow and white kitchen with vintage appliances and decor

But while she did refresh the space, she made sure to keep plenty of “the vintage vibe that I loved when I bought it. It’s a fun mix of vintage pieces from a few different decades (mainly 1940s-1960s). It’s decorated in a soft color palette with a touch of glitz and glam. I love antiquing, and I’ve collected a variety of vintage treasures over the years,” Shannon writes.

mirror on tinsel-covered wall reflecting cute dog on sofa

And for over two decades, on the week before Thanksgiving, Shannon has been transforming her home into an incredibly sparkly and festive wonderland! “For the past 20+ years I’ve been tinseling my walls for the holidays,” Shannon explains.

Corner of living room with pastel and sparkly vintage Christmas decorations

“I punch holes in the top of foil fringe tinsel panels and hang them on 3M Command hooks on every wall in my living room and dining nook. Then I hang foil garland and fairy lights on those same hooks,” she continues. The result? One of the cheeriest, sparkliest, most festive holiday home transformations I’ve ever seen.

Resources

Yellow and white kitchen with vintage appliances and decor

PAINT & COLORS

  • Silver tinsel covering in living room and dining nook — Amazon

  • Bedroom and Living Room Paint — Manufacturer Frazee “Sandy Lane,” but it’s covered in tinsel and Frazee is no more. But you can still get the paint.

  • Kitchen Paint — Frazee “Buttered Toast”

  • Vanity/Reading Room Paint — Frazee “Whispering Birch”

Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees

LIVING ROOM

  • All pieces are vintage except:

  • Oxendine mirrored glass gold end table — Wayfair

  • Round velvet pin tuck pillows — Urban Outfitters

  • Beaded curtains in the windows — Shop Wild Things

  • Ornament storage — The Container Store

  • Christmas decor and garland storage — The Container Store

  • Base for Christmas tree platform — Amazon

  • Wireless remotes for lights — Home Depot

Window with clear/silver sparkly beaded curtain over lace curtains

DINING ROOM

Yellow and white kitchen with vintage appliances and decor

KITCHEN

  • Refrigerator — Chambers (Not called Chambers anymore though.)

Beige bedroom with lots of vintage decor and pink/peach and brass elements

BEDROOM

  • All pieces — Vintage

Living room generously decorated with colorful sparkly Christmas decor, tinsel, and trees

VANITY ROOM/SECOND BEDROOM

Thank you, Shannon!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form

Further Reading

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Living Room Seating at Burrow to Determine the Best for Every Space and Need

I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

Latest Stories

  • Scotiabank predicts 'exceptional year for investors' in 2025, lists top stock picks

    Central bank easing from North America, to Europe, and Asia will be the most important theme next year, analysts say.

  • TFSA: 4 Canadian Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever

    These Canadian stocks are top notch for investors wanting to gain access to a diversified portfolio for the long run. The post TFSA: 4 Canadian Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • These 2 TSX Stocks Are Set to Soar in 2025 and Beyond

    These two top TSX stocks from the tech sector have the high potential to deliver strong returns in the coming years. The post These 2 TSX Stocks Are Set to Soar in 2025 and Beyond appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • This is America’s ‘fatal flaw’ as the U.S. bubble gets ready to pop, market expert warns

    “When flying in such thin air, it doesn’t take much to stall the engines. All the classic signs of extreme prices, valuations, and sentiment suggest the end is near.”

  • A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now?

    Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people's bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check.

  • Why BlackBerry Could Be the Best Stock to Buy in December

    BlackBerry stock is rallying big in December as the company reports better-than-expected earnings. The future looks bright. The post Why BlackBerry Could Be the Best Stock to Buy in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Why BlackBerry Ltd. (BB) Skyrocketed?

    We recently published a list of 10 Biggest Gainers of Last Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where BlackBerry Ltd. (NYSE:BB) stands against other biggest gainers of last week. Investors gobbled up shares of predominantly technology companies last week, following announcements of multi-billion dollars of investments, quantum technology backing, […]

  • Billionaire Steve Ballmer has more than 80% of his portfolio in Microsoft stock and advises everyday investors to ‘keep it simple’

    "Microsoft’s outperformed just about every other asset I could have owned. It’s a little hard to say that it hasn’t worked out."

  • What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry

    BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels.

  • A secretary turned $180 into $7.2 million by holding her employer's stock for 75 years

    Grace Groner, a secretary at Abbott for over 40 years, built a huge fortune by holding her shares and reinvesting the dividends.

  • Rebalancing Your Portfolio for 2025? 3 Growth Stocks to Consider

    Here are three of the best growth stocks Canada has to offer and why these gems may be worth buying before we head into a new year. The post Rebalancing Your Portfolio for 2025? 3 Growth Stocks to Consider appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Buffett's $560M Holiday Stock Spree: Bold Moves on OXY and SIRI

    The Oracle of Omaha seizes market dips, betting big on energy and media in a volatile December.

  • How Should a Beginner Invest in Stocks? Start With This Index Fund

    Are you looking to start investing in Canada? Learn why holding an S&P 500 index fund is the best strategy for most Canadian investors. The post How Should a Beginner Invest in Stocks? Start With This Index Fund appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Why Musk Is Wrong About the Fed Being ‘Absurdly Overstaffed’

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is set to lead a new government efficiency initiative under President-elect Trump, is criticizing the Federal Reserve as being “absurdly overstaffed.” The Fed system’s total employee headcount was nearly 24,000 at the end of 2023. Unlike expenses at federal agencies such as the State Department, none of the Fed’s spending comes out of taxes paid by Americans.

  • Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker

    TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels.

  • Why Archer Aviation (ACHR) Skyrocketed?

    We recently published a list of 10 Biggest Gainers of Last Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR) stands against other biggest gainers of last week. Investors gobbled up shares of predominantly technology companies last week, following announcements of multi-billion dollars of investments, quantum technology […]

  • Why Rigetti Computing (RGTI) Skyrocketed?

    We recently published a list of 10 Biggest Gainers of Last Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) stands against other biggest gainers of last week. Investors gobbled up shares of predominantly technology companies last week, following announcements of multi-billion dollars of investments, quantum technology […]

  • Best Dividend Stocks To Consider In December 2024

    As global markets grapple with cautious Fed commentary and looming political uncertainties, investors are navigating a complex landscape marked by fluctuating indices and economic data. Amidst these challenges, dividend stocks can offer a measure of stability through regular income streams, making them an attractive consideration for those looking to weather market volatility.

  • Why SoundHound AI (SOUN) Skyrocketed?

    We recently published a list of 10 Biggest Gainers of Last Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN) stands against other biggest gainers of last week. Investors gobbled up shares of predominantly technology companies last week, following announcements of multi-billion dollars of investments, quantum technology […]

  • 2 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years

    Investors could see strong returns by holding these two monster stocks over the next decade. The post 2 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.