These 24 flea-market aficionados will stop Santa in his tracks with their collected and creative homes.
Take a look at our fourth annual Santa Stoppers gallery that originally appeared in our 2023 holiday issue of Flea Market Decor. We still find the gallery inspiring and thought it’s just in time to get your wheels turning about your own holiday decor this year!
Katie Baker of @baker_nest incorporates lots of seasonal décor that can be left up all winter long, like the 1800s wooden sled from Germany and the set of antique skis.
Ambyr Domonell of @livingcountrycottage uses her vintage filing cabinet as a base for all her seasonal styling. She mixes her thrifted and vintage pieces with new finds, but her favorites are the family treasures passed along to her through the years.
Dawn Contreras of @earlydawn22 is not only a popular vintage market vendor in Southern California, with a true signature style, but she is a connoisseur of bold color and unique vignettes.
Toni Mogensen of @toni-marianna is known for her keen eye for thrifting, creative DIY projects, gorgeous florals and stunning tablescapes in her California cottage.
Nicole Valenta of @vintage_valenta added fresh greens and bits of vintage crocheted trim to the mirror, turned a tiny whisk broom into a miniature swag, and the metal “25” numbers were cut by her husband. She left them outside for a year to achieve the natural rust.
Trish Kachel of @apothecary_design shares that “vintage pieces not only look great in most interiors; they always tell a story.” Her vintage table was a surprise birthday gift from her husband; she found the cross wall hanging with her daughters on a day trip and the green-and-white stool at a friend’s barn sale. A perfect trio plus greens for chic holiday vibes.
Tara Maxwell of @archerhillcottageaz grew up in northern California on just over 60 acres of pine trees. It was magical for her, so she incorporates pieces into her décor that invoke fond memories and that feeling of the mountain home she treasures.
Jeanette Simme of @lifehasrepurpose has a business by the same name as well as a booth inside Blue Barns Shop in Northridge, Ohio. She has a deep love of vintage, especially Christmas: “There’s nothing that so instantly sends you down memory lane as glimpses of Christmases past. We honor them by making them a part of our own lives and passing them along to future generations, so the magic continues.”
Jen Doudt of @vintageheartandhome has long been in love with vintage Christmas. “I have so many amazing memories with my granny as a little girl, and that gave me a deep love for antiques and vintage treasures. I always tell people my style is ‘anything your granny would love,’” says Jen.
Risa Barkman of @spruceridgevintage goes all out at Christmas time. “Over the past few years, I have switched my Christmas focus from snowmen and Santas to the true meaning of Christmas, so my collection of Nativity scenes has grown. Our mantel in our family room is a focal point, so it’s a good spot to display a Nativity, and Jesus gets centerstage,” says Risa.
Jennifer Adamson of @sharedbelongings groups similar items, like these vintage Santas, to draw attention to her collection, while saving space for more holiday décor. To make the look more pleasing to the eye, she elevated objects with books and scrunched socks, then filled in any gaps with the greenery.
Molly O’Bryan of @thewonderfulwhimsicaloz scored her amazing blue scale at a favorite shop near her Missouri home and changes up the décor she places on it every week! For the holidays she placed a pepper cactus plant in a festive tin bucket. Her scale even comes with her to the family cabin each summer.
Suzanne Gaudett of @theupcyclingjunkies uses her favorite vintage cubby shelf to display her seasonal wares. Using her jadeite collection, pops of red and some vintage Santa mugs, she created a memorable holiday vignette.
Jana Graf of @thevintagejoy reminds us that some of the best deals for vintage Christmas items come after Christmas. She found three nostalgic Santas post season at a local antiques store but passed on them at first. However, after a wakeful night, she ran back the next day and scooped up all three.
Brandy Bagent of @the_purple_ottoman has been a vintage market vendor for years and has an Etsy shop by the same name. She specializes in vintage Christmas, vintage thermoses and is always on the hunt for anything in green.
tracey Hiebert of @tracey_hiebert found this dollhouse at a thrift store for $6. She added a bottlebrush wreath and lights and displayed it on her mantel. To finish off her vignette, she used her collection of vintage postcards, glued colored glitter around the edges and to small clothespins and hung the postcards with vintage tinsel.
Alayna Peters of @goodandnice has fun with her vintage gumball machine and changes it out seasonally. For Christmas she adds the mismatched ornaments and loves to cluster Shiny Brite vintage ornaments on every surface to add shine and color. The card holder is an old chip display from a storefront, which she also swaps out seasonally.
Lisa Horton of @lisahorton1108 relishes pastel colors and kitschy cute. Her simple and sweet made-in-Japan musical angels, tiny angel tree toppers and retro deer make up this heartwarming Christmas mantel. Vintage glass tree toppers and Shiny Brite ornaments add a touch of sparkle while the handmade angel-card garland pulls together her vintage theme.
Alyssa Long of @lifesfrostings has a beautiful ethereal style. As a florist, she loves including flowers in her décor throughout the year, and Christmas is no exception. Along with mixing fun textures and colors with ornaments and garlands, she added a touch of dried flowers, making her tree unique and magical.
Megan Morrison of @meganmorrisonmoxie shares that vintage Christmas is her absolute collecting passion. She loves to add oodles of layers to create a magical holiday world, so much so, that her friends call her an elf!
Lynn Langford of @athomeinthewildwood has a blog of the same name and shares home décor and DIY tips with her audience. Lynn’s creativity shines through here, as she framed a piece of vintage wrapping paper to add to her hot cocoa station for the perfect finishing touch.
Shay Vernon of @2561farmhouse loves recreating the warmth of her grandmother’s home for the holidays. Using a breadbox, she added a metal chocolate mold, vintage salt and pepper shakers, a sweet price tag and a few baking tools for the most charming vignette.
Kelly McMaster of @cottagefleabythesea did not have room for a life-sized tree in her 400-square-foot beach cottage, so she used mini trees to create a small forest to surround the Underwood typewriter and vintage toy telephone on her desk.
Feeling the flea market holiday vibes yet? Don’t miss this year’s upcoming holiday special issue! You’ll be able to order your copy here. Meanwhile, you can peruse the 2021 Santa Stopper gallery and Presenting Our Third Annual Santa Stopper Gallery. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates and flea market inspiration.