Andy Williams Christmas: 15 Cozy Retro Decor Ideas From the Original Mr. Christmas

Andy Williams Christmas specials were a family ritual in millions of homes, and the snowy sets, matching sweaters and glowing trees still feel like the coziest version of the holidays. The singer recorded eight Christmas albums, and his holiday specials ran every year until 1974 and came back from 1982 into the 1990s, which is why he was known as Mr. Christmas (you can read his story on Wikipedia). If you grew up watching those shows with your parents or grandparents, you probably remember the warm colors, the big bulb lights and the feeling that everyone was home. These budget friendly DIY ideas bring that retro TV special magic into your own living room, porch and table, one easy project at a time..

The Andy Williams Christmas Special Living Room

Every Andy Williams Christmas special opened on a living room that looked like the best holiday you could imagine. You can copy that look with things you may already own. Start with a flocked or snowy tree, add big colorful bulb lights in LED versions, tie on red velvet bows and pile wrapped gifts underneath. A wooden record console or any old cabinet nearby adds that 1960s feel, and a plaid throw on a comfy chair makes the room look lived in and loved. Which corner of your home could become your own TV special set this year..

You will need: A real or faux tree, spray on flocking or fake snow, LED big bulb style lights, red velvet ribbon, a plaid throw and a few wrapped gift boxes.

How to make it: 1. Flock the tree outdoors with spray snow or tuck in fake snow by hand. 2. Wrap the LED bulb lights from the inside out. 3. Tie red velvet bows on every few branches and group gifts and a cozy chair close by.

Matching Family Sweaters on a Wooden Ladder

Matching sweaters were a big part of the classic family holiday special look, and they make a sweet display before the big photo day. Hang the whole family’s sweaters, from dad size to toddler size, on an old wooden ladder leaning against the wall. Tuck small pine sprigs between the hangers and the ladder turns into instant decor. When it is time for photos, everything is ready to grab. Who in your family would wear the matching sweater with the biggest smile?

You will need: An old wooden ladder, small wooden hangers, matching knit sweaters, fresh or faux pine sprigs and a little twine.

How to make it: 1. Clean and dry the ladder and lean it safely against a wall. 2. Hang each sweater on a hanger from biggest to smallest. 3. Tie pine sprigs between the hangers with twine.

Andy Williams Christmas Tree With Big Retro Bulbs

Nothing says Andy Williams Christmas like a tree glowing with big, colorful bulbs. Those old fashioned lights are back, and today you can buy them as cool running LED strings that look just like the originals. Mix red, green, blue, orange and yellow, then add shiny glass balls and a simple silver garland. Keep the rest of the room soft and dim in the evening so the tree becomes the star of the show. Did your grandparents have a tree just like this one?

You will need: A green tree, LED big bulb style light strings in mixed colors, glass ball ornaments and a silver bead or foil garland.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the LED bulb strings deep into the branches first. 2. Add glass balls in the gaps between the bulbs. 3. Drape the silver garland in loose swags from top to bottom.

Sheet Music Fan Ornaments

A singer’s holiday deserves music on the tree, and old sheet music makes some of the prettiest ornaments you can make for free. Fold a page into tight pleats like a paper fan, pinch the middle and glue the ends into a round rosette. Rolled cones are even easier and can hold a tiny sprig of greenery. Thrift stores often sell old song books for a dollar or two. Which old songs would you love to see on your tree?

You will need: Old sheet music pages or printed music paper, a glue stick or white craft glue, thin red velvet ribbon and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Fold a page back and forth in narrow pleats. 2. Fold the strip in half and glue the edges to form a round fan. 3. Glue on a ribbon loop for hanging.

Andy Williams Christmas Sheet Music Wreath

This Andy Williams Christmas wreath looks like it came from a fancy boutique, but it is really just paper, glue and a cardboard ring. Roll old music pages into cones, glue them in two layers around the ring and finish with a big red velvet bow. It is light enough to hang with a simple over the door hook. Make a smaller one for the powder room too. Where would your music wreath hang first?

You will need: A cardboard or foam wreath ring, about 40 sheets of old music paper, a glue gun (adult job) or strong craft glue and wide red velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Roll each page into a cone and glue the seam. 2. Glue the cones in a circle around the ring, points to the center, then add a second layer. 3. Tie a big red velvet bow and glue it at the bottom.

Caroler Lanterns on the Front Porch

Caroling was a favorite moment in the old holiday specials, and a porch full of glowing lanterns makes your home look ready for carolers to stop by. Fill simple black metal lanterns with battery fairy lights so they are safe to leave on all evening. Line them up the steps, add fresh pine garland to the railing and lay a red plaid blanket on a bench. Neighbors will notice it from the street. Would you welcome carolers on your porch this year?

You will need: Metal lanterns, battery fairy light strings with timers, pine garland, zip ties and a plaid blanket.

How to make it: 1. Coil a battery fairy light string inside each lantern and set the timer. 2. Place the lanterns on each step and beside the door. 3. Zip tie the garland along the railing and add the blanket.

A Retro TV Set Holiday Vignette

If you can find an old wooden console television at a thrift store or in a relative’s basement, it makes the perfect nod to the days when the whole family gathered for the holiday special. Use the top as a display table with a table runner, a small bottle brush tree, a ceramic style tree and a few wrapped gifts. Even a newer TV stand dressed this way gets the same cozy feel. What did your family watch together every December?

You will need: An old console TV or wooden cabinet, a table runner, a small bottle brush tree, a ceramic style tree and a few small wrapped boxes.

How to make it: 1. Dust and polish the wood. 2. Lay the runner across the top. 3. Group the trees and gifts in odd numbers, tallest at the back.

Andy Williams Christmas Snowy Window Scene

The Andy Williams Christmas specials loved a snowy set, and you can build one right in your window. Hang a fresh green wreath with a red velvet bow on the outside or inside of the glass, brush fake snow along the frame and line the sill with a tiny village of white paper houses. Tuck battery fairy lights behind the houses and the whole window glows at night. Passersby will feel like they are walking past a holiday card. How big would your paper village grow?

You will need: A small wreath, red velvet ribbon, white cardstock, a craft knife (adult job), glue, fake snow and battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Cut simple house shapes and windows from white cardstock and fold them into little houses. 2. Line them up on the sill with fake snow. 3. Hang the wreath and slip the fairy lights behind the village.

A Jingle Bell Door Hanger

A bunch of big jingle bells on the front door says welcome every time someone comes in, and it takes about ten minutes to make. Thread large brass bells onto ribbons of different lengths so they cascade, then top the bunch with a pine sprig and a red velvet bow. Hang it on the inside of the door if little hands like to play with it. The cheerful sound will make everyone smile. Who in your home would ring it the most?

You will need: Six to nine large jingle bells, red velvet ribbon, a small pine sprig, floral wire and an over the door hook.

How to make it: 1. Thread each bell onto its own ribbon and knot it. 2. Tie the ribbons together at the top at different lengths. 3. Wire on the pine sprig, add a bow and hang it on the hook.

Red Velvet Bows on Everything

One of the easiest ways to get that classic holiday special look is simple: red velvet bows on everything. Tie them on dining chair backs, staircase garland, mirror frames, lamps, cabinet knobs and even the dog bed. Buy a big roll of velvet ribbon and make all the bows at once while you watch a holiday movie. The repeated red ties the whole room together and makes even plain furniture look festive. How many bows do you think your home needs?

You will need: A large roll of red velvet ribbon, sharp scissors, thin floral wire and a few clear hooks.

How to make it: 1. Cut the ribbon into equal lengths. 2. Tie each one into a bow and cut the tails on a slant. 3. Wire or tie the bows to chairs, garland, frames and lamps.

Andy Williams Christmas Plaid Family Table

An Andy Williams Christmas dinner would be all about family, so set a table that feels warm and welcoming. Start with a red and green tartan tablecloth, plain white plates and red cloth napkins tied with twine and a sprig of pine. Run a low centerpiece of greenery and red berries down the middle and weave in battery fairy lights so everyone can still see each other. For more table ideas, see our cozy Christmas table ideas on a budget. Who always sits at the head of your holiday table?

You will need: A tartan tablecloth, white plates, red cloth napkins, twine, pine sprigs, faux red berries and a battery fairy light string.

How to make it: 1. Lay the tablecloth and set the white plates. 2. Tie each napkin with twine and a pine sprig. 3. Run greenery and berries down the middle and tuck in the fairy lights.

Painted Wooden Caroler Figures

Little wooden carolers are a sweet way to bring the singing spirit of the holidays to your mantel. Plain wooden peg dolls cost very little at craft stores, and with a few colors of paint they turn into a cheerful choir. Paint red and green coats, add tiny scarves cut from felt and glue on small paper songbooks. Line them up in front of a pine garland and they look like they are about to sing. Would your choir have three singers or ten?

You will need: Wooden peg dolls, acrylic paints in red, green, black, white and skin tones, small brushes, felt scraps, white paper and craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the coats and top hats and let them dry. 2. Add simple faces with a fine brush or dots. 3. Glue on felt scarves and tiny folded paper songbooks.

A Snowy Garland Staircase Fit for a TV Special

The big holiday specials often ended with the whole family on a decorated staircase, and you can dress yours the same way. Wrap the banister in a thick snowy garland, tie big red velvet bows at every post and tuck shiny red ornaments into the greenery. Even a short set of stairs looks grand with this treatment. Use clear zip ties or soft ribbon so you never scratch the wood. Who would come down your stairs first for the family photo?

You will need: Flocked pine garland, red velvet ribbon, shatterproof red ornaments, clear zip ties and floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Wrap or swag the garland along the railing and secure it with zip ties. 2. Tie a bow at each post. 3. Wire small clusters of ornaments into the garland between the bows.

Felt Snowflake Stockings for the Whole Family

Matching stockings make any family feel like the stars of their own holiday show. Cut simple stocking shapes from red felt, add white felt snowflakes and finish each one with a soft white cuff. You can add names with white felt letters later if you like. Hang them in a row from a shelf, a mantel or a wooden rail with sturdy hooks. They look lovely in photos and last for years. How many stockings will hang in your row this year?

You will need: Red and white felt, a stocking template, fabric glue or a needle and thread, scissors and stocking hooks.

How to make it: 1. Trace and cut two stocking shapes per person and glue or stitch the edges. 2. Cut white felt snowflakes and glue them on. 3. Add a white felt cuff and a small loop for hanging.

Andy Williams Christmas Countdown Calendar

Finish your Andy Williams Christmas home with a countdown that celebrates the most wonderful time of the year, the song that helped make him Mr. Christmas. Hang 24 little kraft boxes and envelopes from a branch with red and white twine and add a few music note stickers for fun. Fill them with small treats, notes or a holiday song to play together each night. It is a lovely way to make December feel special for the whole family. What would you hide in the very first box?

You will need: A long branch or wooden dowel, 24 small kraft boxes and envelopes, red and white twine, music note stickers and small treats or notes.

How to make it: 1. Fill and close each box or envelope. 2. Tie twine of different lengths to each one. 3. Hang them along the branch and hang the branch on the wall with two hooks.