Jimmy Stewart Christmas: 14 Cozy 1940s Small Town Decor Ideas From a Classic Holiday Film
A Jimmy Stewart Christmas feels like snow on a quiet small town street, a tree dripping with silver tinsel and a family gathered close on Christmas Eve. For millions of people, the season does not truly begin until they watch his famous 1946 holiday film one more time. That movie gave us a whole look: old glass ornaments, silver bells, paper chains, plaid wool blankets and little houses dusted with snow. The good news is that this warm 1940s style is easy and cheap to copy at home, with thrift store finds, paper, twine and a few fresh greens. Below are 14 cozy ideas that bring that classic small town feeling into your own living room, from a tinsel tree to paper angels. Make a cup of cocoa and start with the one that makes you smile..
A Jimmy Stewart Christmas Living Room
A Jimmy Stewart Christmas starts with the man himself. James Stewart was born in 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and served as a bomber pilot in World War II before coming home to Hollywood. His first film after the war was the 1946 holiday classic directed by Frank Capra. As his Wikipedia biography explains, it disappointed at the box office, then became a beloved classic once its copyright expired in the early 1970s and it played on TV every December. This living room is the look we are chasing: tinsel, glass ornaments, a silver bell and simple wrapped gifts. Ready to bring it home..
You will need: A fresh or artificial tree, silver tinsel strands, old style glass ornaments, one large silver bell, red and green wrapping paper and twine.
How to make it: 1. Hang your ornaments first, mixing red, green and silver. 2. Drape tinsel strands one at a time so they fall straight down. 3. Hang the big silver bell front and center and wrap gifts in plain red and green paper.
Jimmy Stewart Christmas Paper Angel Ornaments
An angel who is still waiting to earn his wings is at the heart of the film, which makes paper angels the perfect Jimmy Stewart Christmas craft. These are made from old book pages folded like a fan, with a wooden bead for the head. They cost almost nothing, and kids can help with the folding while you handle the glue. Hang a little jingle bell next to each one as a sweet nod to the famous ending. How many will you make for your tree?
You will need: Old book pages or sheet music copies, wooden beads about 1 inch wide, jute twine, small silver jingle bells, glue dots or tacky glue and scissors.
How to make it: 1. Fan fold one page for the body and half a page for the wings. 2. Pinch the body at the top and glue the wings across it. 3. Glue the bead on as a head, thread twine through the bead hole and tie on a small bell.
Silver Bells Tied on a Red Velvet Ribbon
Bells ring all through the film, so a bundle of silver bells on the door is an easy way to welcome guests with a little holiday music. Thrift stores often have old metal bells for a dollar or two, and a quick polish brings back the shine. Tie three together with a wide red velvet ribbon and tuck in a few sprigs of fresh pine. Every time the door opens, you will hear a cheerful jingle. Who will be the first guest to ring them?
You will need: Three metal bells in different sizes, wide red velvet ribbon, a few pine sprigs, florist wire and an over the door hook.
How to make it: 1. Thread the bells onto florist wire at slightly different lengths. 2. Wire the pine sprigs behind them. 3. Tie a big velvet bow over the top and hang it from the hook.
Jimmy Stewart Christmas Rose Petal Ornaments
Fans of the movie remember a tiny moment with a little girl and a few flower petals tucked in a pocket. These rose petal ornaments are a gentle Jimmy Stewart Christmas tribute that only true fans will understand. Dry roses from a birthday or anniversary bouquet, pull off the petals and drop them into clear ornaments. Tie the tops with cream silk ribbon. They look lovely on a tree or piled in a bowl. Whose flowers would you save this way?
You will need: Clear plastic or glass fillable ornaments, dried rose petals, thin cream ribbon and a lace doily for display.
How to make it: 1. Hang roses upside down for one to two weeks until dry. 2. Gently pull off the petals and drop them into each ornament. 3. Replace the caps and tie a ribbon bow on top.
Lasso the Moon Rope Wreath
One of the most romantic lines in the film is a promise to lasso the moon for the girl he loves. This rope wreath turns that sweet idea into wall decor. Wrap a foam ring in natural jute rope, then hang a gold paper moon and a few silver stars inside on thin thread. A small rope loop around the moon finishes the joke. It looks wonderful on a dark wall or over a bed. Who would you lasso the moon for?
You will need: A 12 inch foam or wire wreath ring, natural jute rope, hot glue (adult job), gold and silver cardstock, thin thread and a few fir sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Glue the rope end to the ring and wrap it tightly all the way around. 2. Cut a crescent moon and small stars from cardstock and hang them inside on thread. 3. Tie a tiny rope loop around the moon and tuck fir sprigs at the bottom.
A Jimmy Stewart Christmas Cardboard Small Town
The made up small town in the film is the real star, and you can build your own Jimmy Stewart Christmas version from cereal boxes. Cut simple house shapes, add a church steeple, a little bank with columns and a row of shops, then paint them in soft red, cream, green and blue. Set them on a long table on a bed of fake snow with tiny bottle brush trees, and slip battery LED fairy lights behind the windows. Which building will you make first?
You will need: Empty cereal and cracker boxes, craft knife (adult job), white glue, acrylic paint, fake snow, mini bottle brush trees and battery LED fairy lights.
How to make it: 1. Draw house fronts, backs and sides on the cardboard and cut them out. 2. Glue them into boxes, cut out the windows and paint. 3. Line them up on fake snow and tuck the LED lights inside.
Snowy Bridge Scene Under a Glass Cloche
A snowy bridge on Christmas Eve is one of the most famous scenes in movie history. This little world under glass captures that winter night in a happy way. A small mirror becomes a frozen river, craft sticks become the bridge, and bottle brush trees and fake snow do the rest. Set it on a side table where everyone can peek inside. It is a calm, pretty piece that stays out all winter. Where in your home would it shine?
You will need: A glass cloche with a wooden base, a small round mirror, craft sticks, wood glue, fake snow, mini bottle brush trees and a few fir sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Glue the mirror to the base for the river. 2. Glue craft sticks side by side over a curved paper form to make the bridge, then let it dry. 3. Add snow and trees around it and cover with the cloche.
Vintage Suitcase Full of Wrapped Gifts
In the film, a young man dreams of seeing the world and buys a big suitcase for the trip. An old suitcase under the tree is a sweet nod to that dream, and it is a great way to show off gifts. Look for a brown leather or tweed case at a thrift store or flea market. Fill it with presents in plain kraft paper and red plaid ribbon, plus pine cones and greens. Do you have an old family suitcase hiding in the attic?
You will need: A vintage suitcase, kraft paper, red plaid ribbon, pine cones, fresh or faux fir sprigs and a soft cloth to clean the leather.
How to make it: 1. Wipe the suitcase clean and let it air out. 2. Wrap gifts in kraft paper and tie them with plaid ribbon. 3. Line the case with greens, tuck in the gifts and scatter pine cones on top.
Jimmy Stewart Christmas Black and White Photo Garland
The 1946 classic was filmed in black and white, so a garland of old snapshots makes a perfect Jimmy Stewart Christmas mantel. Dig out family pictures of old houses, first cars and snowy streets, or print favorite photos in black and white at the drugstore. Clip them with tiny wooden clothespins on red twine under a fresh fir garland. It turns into a story wall that guests love to read. Which old family photo would you hang first?
You will need: Black and white photo prints, red and white twine, mini wooden clothespins, a fir garland and small removable hooks.
How to make it: 1. Print or copy photos about 3 by 4 inches. 2. Hang the twine across the mantel with removable hooks. 3. Clip the photos along it and drape the fir garland above.
Popcorn and Cranberry Garland for Movie Night
A popcorn and cranberry garland is pure old fashioned Christmas, and families in the 1940s strung them by hand every year. Make it a movie night tradition: pop a big bowl, put the classic film on and string garland while you watch. Use day old popcorn because it breaks less, and alternate a few pieces with a bright red cranberry. The birds will love it on an outdoor tree after the holidays. Who in your family will eat more popcorn than they string?
You will need: Plain air popped popcorn, fresh cranberries, a long needle, strong cotton thread and a bowl.
How to make it: 1. Pop the corn a day ahead and let it sit out. 2. Thread the needle with about 6 feet of thread and knot the end. 3. String 4 or 5 pieces of popcorn, then a cranberry, and repeat until full.
Fresh Wreath on a Paned Front Door
Small town houses in old movies always have a fresh wreath on a wooden door with little glass panes. You can make one from a plain store wreath for a few dollars by adding red berries, pine cones and a big velvet bow. Deep green, red or cream doors look especially classic. Hang the wreath with a ribbon from the top of the door for that true vintage look. Would your front door look good in deep green?
You will need: A plain fir wreath, faux red berry picks, pine cones, florist wire, wide red velvet ribbon and an over the door hanger.
How to make it: 1. Wire the pine cones and berry picks around the wreath in small clusters. 2. Make a big bow with long tails. 3. Hang the wreath from a long ribbon looped over the top of the door.
Jimmy Stewart Christmas Stair Garland
A big old staircase decked in greens is one of the warmest Jimmy Stewart Christmas looks, and it is easier than it seems. Wrap a thick fir garland around the banister, then add red velvet bows every few feet and a few silver bells that jingle when someone walks by. Finish the newel post with a big bow and a cluster of old glass ornaments. Use soft ties so the wood stays unmarked. Who in your house will be first to run down these stairs on Christmas morning?
You will need: A long fir garland, red velvet ribbon, small silver bells, shatterproof ornaments, soft zip ties or ribbon ties and florist wire.
How to make it: 1. Tie the garland to the top and bottom of the banister and wrap it loosely in between. 2. Wire a bow every 2 to 3 feet. 3. Add bells and ornaments and finish the post with the biggest bow.
Frosted Window Snowflakes With Stencils
Old houses in holiday films always seem to have frosty windows that look out on a snowy street. You can fake that look in minutes with paper snowflake stencils and a can of window spray snow. Tape a stencil to the glass, spray lightly and peel it off for a crisp flake. Mix big and small ones in each pane. It wipes off with glass cleaner in January. Which window will you frost first?
You will need: Paper snowflakes or plastic stencils, window spray snow, painter tape, newspaper and glass cleaner for later.
How to make it: 1. Clean and dry the window. 2. Tape the stencil in place and cover the area around it with newspaper. 3. Spray lightly from about 8 inches away, then lift the stencil straight off.
Plaid Wool Throw and Pillows on an Old Armchair
Nothing says cozy 1940s Christmas like red and green plaid wool. Toss a plaid throw over an old wooden armchair, add two matching pillows and set a little table beside it with a cocoa mug and a stack of old books. Thrift stores are full of wool blankets, and you can sew simple pillow covers from one. For more nostalgic ideas, see our Christmas Story House decor. Where is your favorite reading spot this winter?
You will need: A plaid wool blanket, two pillow forms, a second plaid blanket or fabric for covers, a sewing machine or fabric glue, and a small side table.
How to make it: 1. Cut two squares for each pillow, about 1 inch bigger than the form. 2. Sew or glue three sides, slip in the form and close the last side. 3. Drape the throw over the chair arm and add the pillows.
