Elvis Presley Christmas: 15 Retro 1950s Decor Ideas That Look Way More Expensive Than They Are

Elvis Presley Christmas style is pure 1950s joy: shiny silver, cool blue, a little sparkle and a lot of heart. In October 1957 the King released Elvis’ Christmas Album, and it went on to become the best selling Christmas album of all time in the United States, with more than 20 million copies sold around the world. Mention his name in December and most of us can almost hear that velvet voice drifting from an old record player. The good news is that his retro holiday look is easy and cheap to copy. Foil garland, blue ornaments, old records, thrift store glass and a few cans of paint will take you most of the way. Every idea below is a simple DIY inspired by the King and his era, and every one looks far more expensive than it really is. Put on your favorite holiday music and let us go back to 1957..

An Elvis Presley Christmas Tree in Blue and Silver

Start your Elvis Presley Christmas with the color he is linked to forever: blue. A silver or white tree covered only in blue and silver balls looks instantly 1950s, and it photographs like a magazine page. Skip the mixed rainbow of ornaments and buy two big boxes of shatterproof balls in one or two shades of blue. Add a few black vinyl record ornaments (you will learn to make them in the next slide) and stack the gifts in turquoise and silver paper. The whole look is calm, cool and very glamorous. Could this be the year your tree goes blue?..

You will need: A white or silver artificial tree (or a green tree wrapped in silver garland), 40 to 60 shatterproof ornaments in two shades of blue, silver ball ornaments, ornament hooks, turquoise and silver gift wrap.

How to make it: 1. Fluff the branches well and add warm white lights first. 2. Hang the largest blue balls deep inside the tree to add depth. 3. Fill the outer tips with smaller blue and silver balls, spacing them evenly. 4. Wrap a few empty boxes in turquoise and silver paper and stack them under the tree for the finished look.

Vinyl Record Ornaments With Painted Snowflakes

Old scratched 45s that nobody plays anymore make the coolest ornaments for an Elvis Presley Christmas tree. Thrift stores often sell them for a quarter each, and the small size is perfect for hanging. The black shine looks amazing against silver branches, and a few painted white snowflakes turn each record into a tiny work of art. If you cannot find real records, black craft foam circles or painted cardboard coasters give the same look. These also make sweet gift toppers for the music lover in your family. How many old records are hiding in your closet?

You will need: Small vinyl records or black craft circles, white and pale blue paint pens, a snowflake stencil (optional), satin ribbon, a hot glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry each record and cover the center label with a paper circle if it has a brand name. 2. Draw a large snowflake with a white paint pen, then add little dots with the pale blue pen. 3. Let it dry for an hour. 4. Thread ribbon through the center hole, tie a bow and hang it on the tree.

The Retro Silver Tinsel Tree Look for Less

Vintage aluminum trees from the late 1950s now sell for hundreds of dollars, but you can fake this Elvis Presley Christmas look with a cheap tree and foil garland. Wrap a small white or green tree tightly with silver tinsel garland, branch by branch, until no green shows. The result shines just like the real thing, and you can add the classic all blue ornaments that collectors love. Put it next to a pastel wall or a mid century chair and it looks like a scene from an old family photo. Would you dare to go full silver this year?

You will need: A small artificial tree, 6 to 8 strands of silver foil tinsel garland, blue satin ball ornaments, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Start at the top and wrap tinsel garland tightly around each branch, holding the ends with floral wire. 2. Work down the tree until every branch is silver. 3. Hang blue satin balls only, about one per branch tip. 4. Use battery LED lights or no lights at all, since the foil shines on its own.

A Bottle Brush Tree Village on a Record Player

An old suitcase record player that no longer works can become the cutest Elvis Presley Christmas stage for a mini Christmas village. Lift the lid, set a sheet of felt over the turntable and fill it with bottle brush trees and little paper or wooden houses. It looks like a vintage window display and costs very little. If you love this idea, our bottle brush tree ideas show many more ways to use those tiny trees. Do you have an old player sitting in the attic?

You will need: A non working record player or a vintage style suitcase, white felt, 8 to 12 bottle brush trees in mixed sizes, small houses, fake snow, mini battery LED lights.

How to make it: 1. Cut white felt to fit over the turntable and tuck it in. 2. Place the tallest trees at the back and the smallest in front. 3. Add houses between the trees and sprinkle fake snow. 4. Tuck a strand of battery LED lights behind the trees and hide the battery pack inside the case.

Elvis Presley Christmas Blue Glass Ornament Bowl

This is the easiest Elvis Presley Christmas centerpiece of all, and it takes about two minutes. A footed glass bowl or a big trifle dish from the thrift store, piled high with blue, aqua and silver ornaments, looks like something from a fancy department store window. It works on a kitchen table, a coffee table or a sideboard, and you can change the colors anytime. Look for clear pressed glass with a pretty pattern because it catches the light so well. Is there a glass bowl in your cupboard waiting for its holiday moment?

You will need: A footed glass bowl, trifle dish or large vase, 20 to 30 ornaments in blue, aqua and silver, a little silver tinsel.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the bowl so the glass sparkles. 2. Put the largest ornaments in first, then fill the gaps with smaller ones. 3. Tuck in a few strands of silver tinsel. 4. Set the bowl on a mirror tray or a white cloth to double the shine.

Jukebox Inspired Gift Wrap

Think of the colors of an old diner jukebox: cherry red, turquoise, chrome and black and white checks. Use them for your Elvis Presley Christmas gift wrap and the pile under the tree suddenly tells a story. You can buy plain red and turquoise paper rolls cheaply and make the checkerboard yourself with black paper squares and a glue stick. Silver ribbon finishes the look like chrome trim. Kids love helping with the squares, and the finished gifts look like they came from a boutique. Which gift gets the checkerboard treatment first?

You will need: Plain red, turquoise and white wrapping paper, black paper squares, a glue stick, silver curling ribbon, tape and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Wrap some gifts in plain red or turquoise paper. 2. Wrap others in white paper and glue black squares in a checkerboard pattern. 3. Tie each gift with shiny silver ribbon and curl the ends. 4. Mix the colors when you stack them so the pile looks bright and playful.

A Retro Christmas Card Garland

Old Christmas cards are full of 1950s charm: glitter, pastel trees, cute snowmen and cheerful lettering. Instead of keeping them in a box, string them on an Elvis Presley Christmas garland across a mantel, a window or a doorway. Thrift shops and estate sales often have stacks of vintage cards for very little money, and you can mix in cards from your own family too. A garland like this makes visitors stop and read, and it brings back so many memories. Does someone in your family save every card they get?

You will need: Vintage or new retro style Christmas cards, mini clothespins, baker’s twine or thin ribbon, small adhesive hooks.

How to make it: 1. Stick an adhesive hook at each end of the space. 2. Tie baker’s twine between the hooks, leaving a gentle droop. 3. Clip the cards on with mini clothespins, mixing sizes and colors. 4. Add a small silver ornament between every few cards for extra sparkle.

A Blue Velvet Bow Wreath

Velvet bows were everywhere in 1950s holiday decorating, and a few deep blue bows on a simple green wreath look rich and elegant. Buy a plain wreath and one roll of velvet ribbon, then tie five or six bows and wire them on. The blue is a little unexpected on a front door, and that is why people notice it. Add a couple of silver ornaments in the gaps and you are done in under half an hour. It is a perfect welcome for an Elvis Presley Christmas party. Will your door be the bluest on the street?

You will need: A plain green wreath, 3 to 4 yards of royal blue velvet ribbon, floral wire, small silver ornaments, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Cut the ribbon into 5 or 6 pieces about 20 inches long. 2. Tie each piece into a full bow and trim the tails on an angle. 3. Wire the bows evenly around the wreath. 4. Fill the spaces between bows with small silver ornaments and hang it on the door.

A 1950s Ceramic Style Tree Painted on a Jar

Ceramic Christmas trees with little colored bulbs were in almost every 1950s home, and today the originals cost a lot. Here is a clever way to get the same look on a budget: paint a glass jar green, then add tiny colorful dots for the bulbs. Put a battery LED tea light inside and the painted dots glow softly. It is a lovely project for a cozy evening at the kitchen table, and you can make one for every windowsill. Who in your family had a ceramic tree when you were young?

You will need: A tall glass jar, green glass paint or chalk paint, paint pens in red, yellow, blue and white, a small brush, a battery LED tea light.

How to make it: 1. Draw a simple tree shape on the jar with a marker. 2. Fill the tree with green paint and let it dry, then add a second coat. 3. Dot little bulbs all over the tree with the paint pens. 4. Place a battery LED tea light inside so the tree glows at night.

Elvis Presley Christmas Sequin Star Topper

Every Elvis Presley Christmas tree deserves a star with a bit of show business shine. You can make your own sparkly topper from a cardboard star covered in silver sequins or glitter, and it will look as good as a store bought one. Sequins catch every light in the room, just like the stage costumes the King wore later in his career. Make the star a little bigger than you think you need, because toppers always look smaller from across the room. Are you a star person or an angel person?

You will need: Thick cardboard, a star template, silver sequins or fine glitter, white craft glue, a paper cone or a cardboard tube for the base, a hot glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Trace and cut two matching stars from cardboard. 2. Brush glue on one side and press on sequins in rows, then repeat on the second star. 3. Hot glue a small paper cone between the two stars at the bottom. 4. Slide the cone over the top branch of the tree.

Elvis Presley Christmas Candy Canisters

Retro kitchen canisters in pastel aqua and pink are easy to find at thrift stores, and they add instant Elvis Presley Christmas charm to a kitchen counter. Fill them with peppermints, candy canes and wrapped candies so guests can help themselves. If you only find plain metal tins, a coat of spray paint in a soft 1950s color makes them look vintage in minutes. Line them up from tallest to smallest for that classic kitchen look. Which room in your home needs a little sweet retro color?

You will need: Three metal or glass canisters, spray paint in aqua or pink (outdoors, adult only), peppermints, candy canes, wrapped candy, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Clean the canisters and spray paint any plain tins outdoors, then let them dry fully. 2. Fill each canister with a different candy. 3. Tie a small ribbon bow around each lid. 4. Arrange them on the counter from tallest to shortest.

An Elvis Presley Christmas Diner Style Hot Cocoa Bar

A 1950s diner had red seats, shiny chrome and a counter where everyone felt welcome. Bring that Elvis Presley Christmas feeling home with a hot cocoa bar on a kitchen cart or a small table. Set out white diner mugs, glass jars of marshmallows, peppermint sticks and striped straws, and let everyone build their own drink. A red and white checkered cloth pulls the look together for just a few dollars. It is the kind of corner that makes a family holiday movie night feel special. What is your favorite hot cocoa topping?

You will need: A kitchen cart or small table, a red and white checkered cloth, white mugs, glass jars, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, striped paper straws, a thermos or slow cooker for the cocoa.

How to make it: 1. Cover the cart with the checkered cloth. 2. Line up the mugs on one side and the jars of toppings on the other. 3. Keep the warm cocoa in a thermos or a slow cooker on low, out of reach of small children. 4. Add a little chalkboard card listing the toppings.

A Shiny Vintage Ornament Wreath

An ornament wreath is one of those projects that looks very expensive but is really just a pile of cheap balls and some patience. Mix shiny ornaments in different sizes and the 1950s colors of the era: silver, aqua, soft pink and blue. Glue them onto a wire or foam ring until no gaps show, and you have a showstopper for a door or a mirror. Use shatterproof balls if you have kids or pets. Once you make one, friends will ask you to make theirs too. Ready to raid the ornament aisle?

You will need: A foam or wire wreath ring, 60 to 80 shatterproof ornaments in mixed sizes, a hot glue gun and glue sticks (adult help), ribbon for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Remove the ornament caps, add hot glue inside the neck and put the caps back so they do not fall off. 2. Glue the largest ornaments around the ring first. 3. Fill the gaps with medium and then small ornaments. 4. Tie a ribbon loop at the top and hang.

Mid Century Atomic Star Ornaments From Wire

The starburst shape was everywhere in the 1950s, on clocks, dishes and wallpaper. You can make your own atomic star ornaments from craft wire and a few beads, and they look like pricey designer pieces on an Elvis Presley Christmas tree. Cut short lengths of gold or silver wire, bundle them at the center and spread them out like rays. Add a bead to the end of each ray for a playful finish. They are light, they do not break, and they look great on a tree or hanging in a window. Will you make gold stars, silver stars or both?

You will need: Gold or silver craft wire (18 or 20 gauge), wire cutters, round nose pliers, small beads, thin ribbon or fishing line.

How to make it: 1. Cut 6 to 8 pieces of wire, each about 4 inches long. 2. Cross them at the center and wrap a short piece of wire around the middle to hold them. 3. Spread the rays out evenly and slide a bead onto each end, curling the tip to lock it. 4. Add a loop of ribbon and hang.

Elvis Presley Christmas Tree Skirt From a Vintage Tablecloth

Printed 1950s tablecloths with cherries, stripes and flowers are easy to find at thrift stores and estate sales, and they make the most charming tree skirts. Your Elvis Presley Christmas tree will look finished in minutes, and there is no sewing if you do not want any. Simply cut a slit to the center, tuck the cloth around the tree stand and fold the edges so the pattern shows. After the holidays you can even wash it and use it on the table again. Isn’t it nice when decor does two jobs?

You will need: A vintage or vintage style printed tablecloth, scissors, iron on hem tape or safety pins, an iron (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Fold the tablecloth in quarters and cut a small circle at the center for the trunk. 2. Cut a straight slit from one edge to the center. 3. Fold the cut edges under and press them with hem tape, or simply pin them. 4. Wrap the skirt around the stand and arrange the folds so the print shows.