Give Your Christmas Tree A More Retro Look Inspired By This 1950s Trend

When you think of a cozy vintage Christmas scene, there's a good chance you will come up with some incandescent, colorful bulb lights, a charming model choo-choo, and — every cat owner's nightmare, tinsel. Along with many other nostalgic Christmas trends that are coming back this year, this glittery decoration is an affordable, easy way to brighten up your Christmas tree. Although it wasn't popularized in America until the 1950s and '60s, tinsel was first invented in Nuremberg, Germany, around 1610. At that time, it was also made from real silver — not the PVC (plastic) imitation used today. Originally designed to catch the light of candles on the Christmas tree, today's tinsel has a similar effect — though LED lights have replaced real fire, and plastic has made silver and the other popular (and poisonous) alternative, lead, obsolete. 

Although the trend began with strings of tinsel placed over the branches of Christmas trees, the '50s and '60s embraced the glitz and glam of the season, and the tinsel tree was born. Far from the misleading representation set forth by the classic Charlie Brown Christmas Special, these trees — most often made from aluminum — featured sparkling branches with tinsel needles. And if you really wanted to make a statement, a spinning tinsel tree would be the one for you. Whether you prefer your Christmas tree to evoke 1950s Christmas nostalgia or just reflect it, the tinsel trend has a long history to draw inspiration from today.

In many modern homes, these gaudy trees might feel out of place and gauche. But fear not: bringing in select elements of classic Christmas trends (including tinsel) can help blend the style with your own while still embracing the nostalgia and coziness of days of yore. When using tinsel on your evergreen tree, it's best to start light. Hang a string at a time, and be sure to do so evenly around the exterior of the tree. You can always add more, but trying to remove it is a quick way to end up with a yuletide headache. One vintage tinsel trend variation essentially covered the entire tree with glistening strands. If you want this particularly glitzy look, just make sure that your tinsel is hanging straight and doesn't look like you chucked handfuls at the tree after too many glasses of eggnog. 

Most tinsel comes in silver or gold (though you can find colorful options as well), which can either be used separately or mixed together, depending on the rest of your decor. When it comes to tinsel trees, the options are almost endless. You can find both modern and antique models of all sizes, shapes, and colors. However, be sure to test vintage tree decorations for lead, and avoid using any sort of electric lighting with aluminum trees, as they are conductive and highly dangerous. 

If you have pets — or even small children — tinsel is definitely something to be wary of. Even though the material itself is no longer as dangerous or as toxic as it once was, the issue lies in its ability to create a foreign body obstruction in the intestines, leading to costly surgeries or even death. Since the strings are both lightweight and quite long, they also pose a choking hazard. If you have animals in your home but still want the glamorous effect of tinsel, some other options are safer (and also easier to clean up in the new year). Tinsel garland is one, such as this Holiday Time Tinsel Christmas Garland from Walmart, which can be easily wrapped around the tree and doesn't have the length or looseness of an individual piece of tinsel. 

Although modern tinsel is safer than it used to be, many people are put off by its negative impact on the environment. Should you want to embrace a vintage feel with eco-friendly DIY Christmas ornaments, you may prefer something like dried fruit ornaments, popcorn garlands, or, for a similarly metallic effect, embossed metal ornaments (which you can even make from recycled materials). There are also many ways to decorate your Christmas tree without ornaments for a timeless look.