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Around the Home Seasonal, Holidays & Special Occasions

How to Decorate a Victorian Christmas Tree

While an early Victorian Christmas tree was decorated with dried fruits, flowers, little presents, ribbon and candles, later hand blown glass ornaments were introduced that would be handed down through the generations.

Can you even imagine lighting real candles ON your Christmas tree now?! Me either!

I am very excited today to be sharing my 2020 Victorian Christmas tree, along with over 20 other bloggers who are also sharing their own beautiful trees! Be sure to check out all the links below!

It is no secret that I am smitten with English homes. And, it was my love of the English countryside that inspired my Victorian Christmas tree!

I have always been drawn to the beautiful trees filled with colourful glass ornaments. No particular colour or theme. Just gorgeous bits and baubles that together create an elegant, festive Christmas tree.

I have to admit, I wanted to add so many more ornaments than I did. But, with COVID-19, was impossible to get all ornaments I wanted, as I am keeping my shopping trips to an absolute minimum. I will no doubt be adding more throughout the years to come.

All of the ornaments on the tree are glass, many handblown, and a few will be treasured heirlooms for my own daughters. But, I didn’t have to break the bank to start building my collection!

First, use what you already have

Before setting out to purchase any ornaments, I checked through our own stash of ornaments collected throughout the years.

We set up two trees, one in the family room that is adorned with ornaments that are sentimental and a mix of fun bits and bobs.

We have always had way more ornaments than would fit on that tree, so I was able to find about 25-30 glass ornaments of different sizes, colours and shapes that were perfect for our Victorian Christmas tree. A few we have had for so long the finish is starting to wear, giving them a lovely antique patina.

The angel tree topper has been with us for over 30 years and I couldn’t have imagined using anything else!

Where to buy glass Christmas Ornaments

Since we are keeping our outings to a minimum these days, I was very strategic when it came to shopping for ornaments.

Home decor stores are the perfect place to finding beautiful ornaments. Visiting HomeSense as soon as they opened meant no crowds!! I was in and out in no time! I scored 2 gorgeous sets of hand blown glass ornaments. One was a set of 16 for $24 and the other was a set of 4 for $9.

Local floral shops or garden centres are also great sources for beautiful ornaments. I purchased several individual glass ornaments at one local shop, each costing between $4 and $10. Again, I popped in at opening and had the place pretty much all to myself!

I also picked up a few little birds with clips attached cost just $2 each at the garden centre.

My husband surprised me with the 3 foot nutcracker! It came from the home improvement store at which he works.

Surprisingly, I found some adorable hand blown glass owl ornaments at Walmart online for just under $7 for a set of 4! Not precious, but certainly lovely and be used for many years. Many businesses are offering curbside pick up, and not just for groceries!

Antique stores or online sources like ebay and etsy are also excellent sources to find true vintage glass ornaments. I will definitely be shopping our local antique stores once the pandemic is over!

Natural elements to decorate a Victorian Christmas tree

As mentioned, early Victorian era Christmas trees were decorated with natural elements such as dried fruit, nuts, flowers and twigs.

A garland made with dried lemon or orange slices would be lovely! I show you how to dry citrus fruit in this post, were I used them to make a wreath.

Foraging some branches like red dogwood or hydrangeas that have dried on the bush would be lovely. In fact, I am toying with the idea of adding a few dried hydrangea to my tree!

All of these things would be beautiful on a Christmas tree today, and they inspired my use of feathers and faux branches sprinkled with glitter.

Christmas tree ribbon

When I think of a Victorian Christmas tree, I think of ribbon cascading down the tree. Nothing too styled, but rather gently tucked and twirling its’ way down the tree.

Victorian Christmas Tree

I let the ribbon float down in different lengths around the tree. The same ribbon is used on the mantel.

Wired ribbon is a must as it is easy to manipulate, tuck and shape into the perfect cascades.

Milk and cookies are ready for Santa beneath the tree! I had the perfect plate to stack some shortbread and a glass of coconut milk!

I continued the Victorian Christmas theme on the mantle with this beautiful faux embellished faux garland, and just a gathering of flameless candles to create a warm glow.

A simple wreath hangs above the fireplace embellished with a bow that matches the Christmas tree and mantel ribbon.

Twenty-twenty has been a challenging year. Looking around my neighbourhood I am pleasantly surprised by how many homes are already decked out for the holidays. Even homes that don’t usually have Christmas lights are all aglow!

I have no doubt folks are looking for a way to lift their spirits and I can’t think of a better way than decorating a beautiful tree strung with glowing twinkle lights and decorations that add sparkle and fun.

I am so happy that our home is all decked out for the holidays a couple of weeks earlier than usual. We are soaking up the joy it brings us and turning our attention to Christmas baking for family, and preparing little gift bags to leave for our neighbours!

While this year Christmas is no doubt going to be different for so many of us, believe in my heart better times are just on the horizon!

An, until then, I will enjoy soaking up every ounce of the holiday season and our beautiful Victorian Christmas tree!

Now it’s time to check out all the other Christmas trees! Starting with our host Michelle from Our Crafty Mom!

Christmas tree graphic

Welcome To The Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Decor Blog Hop

Be sure to visit all the participating bloggers below for gorgeous holiday decorating ideas for your Christmas tree.  Christmas tree blog hopOur Crafty Mom // Sustain My Craft Habit // Red Cottage Chronicles // Celebrate and Decorate 

Christmas tree decor blog hop collage Jenron Designs //  2 Bees In A Pod // Virginia Sweet Pea // From House To Home Christmas Tree Collage Tribe of Burton // Across the Boulevard // Intelligent Domestications // Simply Beautiful By Angela Christmas Tree Decor Modern on Monticello // Redneck Rhapsody // Purple Hues and Me // My Pinterventures Christmas tree hop   Zucchini Sisters // One Thousand Oaks // Raggedy Bits // Southern Yankee DIY // Oh Fiddle Dee Dee Christmas tree hop My Sweet Home Living // Pretty DIY Home // Michelle James Designs // Daily DIY Life Christmas tree collage of four Happily Ever After, etc. // Kippi at Home // Simple Nature Decor // Design Morsels

I have no doubt you have found some inspiration today!

I sincerely appreciate you stopping by today and would love to have you come back often! Please consider subscribing to Red Cottage Chronicles. I will keep you up to date with an email whenever a new post goes live.

It could be fashion, a healthy lifestyle, flowers, a recipe, a stunning tablescape, or decor tips to make your house a home! Simply click here to subscribe. I never sell or share your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time!

Until next time…..

Red Cottage Chronicles

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23 Comments

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Comments

  1. Sara says

    November 23, 2020 at 8:08 am

    Your Victorian tree is just gorgeous! And great idea to hit HomeSense early; I always get stuck in the longest lineup!

    Reply
  2. Wanda | From House To Home says

    November 23, 2020 at 9:19 am

    I love your Victorian Christmas tree, Maureen! And you have some great tips for where to find all those beautiful ornaments.

    Reply
  3. Meegan says

    November 23, 2020 at 9:26 am

    The Victorian look never goes out of style and I just love it. You have so many beautiful pieces! Thanks for all of your tips and tricks for decorating a Christmas tree, Maureen.

    Reply
  4. Gail @Purple Hues and Me says

    November 23, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    Maureen, you’ve created such a lovely timeless tree that never goes out of style! It’s absolutely beautiful!

    Reply
  5. Paula@SweetPea says

    November 23, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    Your Victorian tree is gorgeous, Maureen! I love the decor style from that period of time. Enjoy every minute this holiday season admiring your beautiful tree.

    Reply
  6. Rebecca says

    November 23, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    Your tree is stunning, Maureen! You really nailed your theme with all of your hand picked glass ornaments. I love the ribbon streaming down the tree! The nutcracker your husband brought home was the perfect addition to your Victorian themed tree and mantel. Pinned 🙂

    Reply
  7. Maria says

    November 23, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    What a beautiful tree! love all the different color ornaments.

    Reply
  8. Leanna says

    November 23, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Your Victorian tree is so pretty, but the toy soldier steals the show. I have yet to discover anything new for my tree yet this year, and you have inspired me to keep looking.

    I also love the crown moulding and shiplap. Beautiful cozy room.

    Reply
  9. Chloe says

    November 24, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    Maureen, your tree is lovely! Last year I treated myself to some new glass ornaments that I can also see using for years and years in the future. I even bought a special tree last year to display them! Your colorful collection of ornaments are beautiful, and your mantel with the glowing candles is lovely, too! I am with you…staying home and close to home, I decided not to shop this year, but to use all things I had on hand! Wishing you a joyous holiday season! Enjoy your beautiful tree!

    Reply
  10. Michelle James says

    November 25, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    Maureen, I can’t say enough about your gorgeous Victorian tree. The second I saw it I was drawn to the beautiful colors that you chose. Also, I started a nutcracker collection for my daughter when she was little, so I fell in love with that too! Thank you so much for participating and sharing your talent with us. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Betsy @ Happily Ever After, Etc says

    November 29, 2020 at 2:11 am

    Maureen, I LOVE your tree! Of course, victorian is one of my absolute favorite styles so I can’t wait to see how your tree evolves over the years. You did such a good job with what was available this year, I love the little birds. It’s just so pretty.

    Also… I’m glad you didn’t put real candles on the tree. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen anytime but especially in 2020!

    Reply
  12. Michelle says

    November 29, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    This tree is so pretty with all of the lights and victorian oranments. The colors are beautiful.

    Reply
  13. andrea says

    November 29, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    I love that your husband surprised you with the nutcracker. That is so thoughtful. Your tree looks beautiful with all of the glass ornaments. I love a tree that’s also a collection.

    Reply
  14. ERLENE says

    November 30, 2020 at 3:38 am

    Beautiful. So interesting looking at trees with various ornaments. Also love that you’ve been using the same tree topper for 30 years.

    Reply
  15. Shirley Wood says

    November 30, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    Maureen, your tree is simply gorgeous and next to your mantle, it is magical. I love your Victorian theme and each of the beautiful and timeless glass ornaments. Just saying where you found each ornament is the memory we love creating at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to you! I LOVE the Nutcracker, such a sweet surprise!

    Reply
  16. Beverly says

    December 1, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    What a gorgeous tree! I adore the glass ornaments. It’s all very warm and inviting! The Victorian theme is lovely.

    Reply

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Red Cottage Chronicles

Oh, hi there!

Well, hello! I am Maureen, and welcome to our little Red Cottage. Married to my high school sweetheart, I am a passionate baker, accidental DIY'er and love all things home! Read More…

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Introducing our new little bean!! Falcon Lake’s Introducing our new little bean!! Falcon Lake’s Jingle Bell Rock!! Otherwise known as Dasher!!! Can you tell we love Christmas!! He will join the family in about 3 weeks!! So excited!! #goldenpuppys #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppylove
A very Merry Christmas to all! When the snow start A very Merry Christmas to all! When the snow started to fall last night this girl was a very happy camper!! #whitechristmas #letitsnowletitsnowletitsnow #snowmakesmehappy #perfectday
My sweet boy is out like a light after spending a My sweet boy is out like a light after spending a spa day @fetchme.later  He always comes home looking fabulous and happy to be all fluffed and buffed!! #adogslife🐾❤️ #sleepinglikeadog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #goldenlove #lovemygoldenretriever #letsleepongdogslie #christmasready🎄
A sparkly Christmas tree makes me happy!! And, fro A sparkly Christmas tree makes me happy!! And, from what I am seeing not only on social media but also right here in our neighborhood #, folks are decking their halls early this year! Twenty-twenty has been quite a year, and anyway I think people are looking for a way to add a little joy into their lives! Today on the blog I am sharing this, my Victorian inspired Christmas tree, plus links to 27 other inspirational trees!! Link in my bio! And, if decorating for the holidays is too soon for you or you don’t decorate at all, that’s okay, but I encourage you to find a little thing to light up your day!! #christmasdecor #victorianchristmastree #holidaydecor #sparklythings #christmastreedecorating #victorianmagazine #hgtvcanada #dowhatmakesyouhappy #christmasinniagara #styleathomemagazine #canadianlivingmagazine #englishcountrystyle
The living room Christmas mantel is almost finishe The living room Christmas mantel is almost finished!! Instead of buying new garland I used inexpensive garland I have had for several years and embellished it with faux green stems bought during a 2 for 1 sale, and beautiful silk garden roses I already had!  Best part, I can reuse all the elements and create something new next year!  #christmasmantle #fauxgarland #victorianmagazine #repurposedchristmas #handmadechristmasdecorations #christmasdecor #countrylivinguk #nutcracker #pinkchristmasdecor
Our Thanksgiving may be behind us here in Canada, Our Thanksgiving may be behind us here in Canada, I am joining my American friends in sharing some inspiration for Thanksgiving table decor! I am leaning towards the simple things these days and this table reflects that! See the entire post through the link in my profile! #thanksgiving #tabledecorideas #autumntable #easycenterpiece #inspiredbynature #simplelife #homedecor #styledtablesaturday #styledtable #thanksgiving2020
Love autumn in Niagara! #autumncolours #notl #chan Love autumn in Niagara! #autumncolours #notl #changingleaves #niagaraescarpment #niagaraparkway #secretpaths #walkinginthewoods #leafcoveredpathways #redcottagechronicles
Having an outdoor socially distanced birthday cele Having an outdoor socially distanced birthday celebration with my “bubble”! @samantha__38 used my Cricut Explore 2 to make me a fan to “blow out” my candles!! #happybirthdaytome #fabulousat55 #birthdayfun #cricutmade #cricutexploreair2 #cricutcreated #genius #covidbirthday2020 #daughters #cricutcrafts
Decisions. Decisions!! #oneroomchallenge #bedroomr Decisions. Decisions!! #oneroomchallenge #bedroomrefresh #warmgray #benjaminmoore #graypaintcolor #upholsteredbed
Long Sunday morning strolls are so relaxing! Doesn Long Sunday morning strolls are so relaxing! Doesn’t get much better than autumn in #niagara
With 2020 being the most ridiculous year ever it i With 2020 being the most ridiculous year ever it is easy to feel defeated, sad, fed-up, and overwhelmed. I try to find a way to elevate the every day, and y’all know how much I love my fresh flowers!  These gorgeous hydrangeas cut from my garden this morning will bring a smile to face for days to come. And, remind me how blessed I am to have a safe spot to land when the world outside seems too much to handle. #hydrangeasmakemehappy #home #cozy #autumndiningroom grooom #freshflowers #flowermagazine #frommygarden #elevatetheeverday #bigflowerarrangement #simplebouquets #falltabledecor #falltabledecor
Went on our annual trek to go apple picking at @wi Went on our annual trek to go apple picking at @windwoodfarms  It has been a tradition for the last 8 years! That means apple recipes in the blog this week! #applecake #applepickingseason #autumntraditions #applerecipes #niagaraapples #appledesserts #freshpickedapples #bakingfromscratch #autumndesserts #beamsvillebench #passionatebaker #oldfashionedrecipe
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