• Swap out Christmas lights for lanterns. Christmas lights were invented in the late 1800s, so of course, traditional holiday décor didn’t include string lights. But using lanterns and smaller candles also gives you the ability to customize your décor, whether you prefer gold or silver lanterns—or for that matter, short, tall, fat or skinny ones.
• Trade intricate ornaments for more intimate designs. Sure, everyone loves to pick out new ornaments to refresh the tree. But old-timey decorations completely reinvent the look of the tree. While Claudia used small houses and birds, additional old-fashioned decorations include strings of popcorn and candy canes—more natural materials that remind us of the season.