The word tinsel comes from an Old French word “estincele”, which means sparkle. When I was a kid, we hung tinsel on our Christmas tree … one strand at a time! Tinsel covered trees bring back so many memories and I love that they are making a big comeback! I’m so excited to share some of the most jaw dropping tinsel trees from here to the North Pole.
This post has been updated with even more amazing tinsel covered tree inspiration!
This post contains an affiliate link which means if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Buy Old-Fashioned Looking Tinsel Here
Tinsel dates back to 1610 Nuremberg, Germany where it was made using REAL SILVER that was pounded into very thin strands. It reflected the candlelight (yes, they used real candles on their trees back in the day!) Needless to say, it was EXPENSIVE not to mention that it would turn black and break when exposed to heat from the candles.
Over the years, other materials like lead were used to make tinsel but today, it’s made from PVC (plastic) coated in a metallic finish. Plastic tinsel does not hang as well as tinsel made from heavy metals such as silver and lead but life is a trade off after all (new tinsel is affordable and we won’t die from lead poisoning)!
Vintage Holiday does it again with this Christmas tree is covered in antique metal tinsel and hundreds of Shiny Brite ornaments as well as this tabletop tree covered in antique lead tinsel. I love it paired with big, colorful bulb lights!
He takes vintage Christmas to the max with his collections of Putz houses, bottle brush trees, Christmas cards strung on garland, and blow molds!
Vintage Holiday may have outdone his tree from last year with this spectacular flocked tinsel tree!
He says, “My living room tree is finished and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! I tinted my own flock again this year and I went with a light lilac-y shade. I’m always inspired by vintage photographs from the 1940s of trees completely covered in tinsel. So, I decided to use gobs this year to make the tree look as though it is dripping in icicles. I think she is glorious!”
Is that a tree hiding under all that tinsel? This tinsel covered tree from Lune 1860 is an absolute show stopper.
Here are their tips for removing tinsel: “Let the tree dry out completely, use a hard bristle brush and comb it all out. Save tinsel and use it over and over and over again.”
Sean of Sean Anderson Design tree is dripping in tinsel!
Erika of While Florian Sleeps draped tinsel over a fully decorated tree, that includes lots of vintage ornaments, for a lush look.
“To me, Christmas is a time for nostalgia and magic. Some of these ornaments date back to the 1940’s which is incredible!!! Each is so unique and holds many memories of Christmases past,” says Erika.
Says Natalie Paramore about her tinsel tree …
“1,200 warm lights
16,000 strands of tinsel
Not a single ornament
Willow, you’re perfect
Willow is the name of our tree that she had when we got her. This year I was feeling something different for our tree. As we pulled down all the boxes from the attic full of decor and ornaments, I just wasn’t feeling inspired. Most of the ornaments have been gifted to us or passed down. And while they are very sentimental and I’ll never get rid of them, this year, I just needed something different. So, the boxes went back to the attic. Tinsel and lights galore were purchased and here we are. Couldn’t love it more.”
Dana of Adored House says, “I wasn’t going to do it, but I did it – I tried my hand at a tinsel tree! I’m already slightly regretting it, but there’s no turning back now! It sure is pretty though.”
I love Dana’s color palette of silver, gold and green on her beautiful tinsel tree.
Marcela Sampson’s tinsel covered tree is the perfect hiding place for her toddler! What fun Christmas memories this kid is going to have!
Richard Keith Langham deserves an award for decking out this enormous tinsel covered tree!
Our Connecticut Home has her own creative take on a tinsel tree … minus the tinsel!
She says, “the tinsel look seems to resonate with a lot of people! It’s just small silver ball garland cut into pieces!”
Designer J.P. Horton shares his grandparents 1948 tinsel covered Christmas tree.
Let’s all channel our inner Cary Grant and Loretta Young in the Bishop’s Wife and create the most epic tinsel tree of all time!
Are you team tinsel or does the thought of hanging strand after strand of tinsel on each and every branch send you into Christmas cookie eating frenzy to self soothe?
A few years ago, my friend gave me some antique lead tinsel and it’s stunning! I don’t have enough to cover an entire tree but a girl can dream.
I always find vintage tinsel at the thrift store (not the antique, lead kind unfortunately) but if you can’t find any locally, you can find affiliate boxes of new tinsel here.
Love vintage Christmas?
Vintage Christmas Home Tour Here
More Vintage Christmas Decorating Inspiration Here
Sign up to get Kelly Elko's latest posts delivered right to your inbox
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
I’m old enough to remember putting tinsel on our tree one at a time! It’s fun to look at the photos, The trees are so pretty, however, my tinsel days will remain fond memories. This year I’ve noticed many people are craving simplicity. I’m going in for knee surgery tomorrow so I limited my decorating to greens, small trees, candles and fairy lights. This way I won’t feel pressure at the end of the month to put things away, lol. So I left all my beloved decorations in the trunk. There’s always next year. Thanks for sharing all the eye candy. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Good luck with your surgery Debbie! 💜
Thank you so much❤️
You’re welcome!
I’ve definitely went much simpler for Christmas too this year Debbie! I have so many bins in my basement that need to be purged!
And hope you have a speedy recovery Debbie!
Thank you❤️ I should be a new woman soon!
The trees are lovely BUT highly dangerous for pets and small children. Flocked trees are also a no no for pets. Cats especially will eat the tinsel, and it can lodge in their digestive tracts- I know of cases where the tinsel had to be pulled from the poor cat’s rectum, one strand at a time. Flocking can be toxic as well.
Definitely need to be careful if people have pets or kids!
Wow, these are all incredible!! Thank you for sharing and I always love when you share history with us. I love learning new things!
It’s fun to learn a little something about something vintage!
Tree’s dripping with tinsel are so pretty and I am glad it’s back. It makes a tree so dreamy and glamorous. When I was young my brother would make me so made, he’d just throw globs of it on our tree, I of course would pick them up and do it right, memories lol!!!
Boys!!
Oh, I absolutely LOVE tinsel on a big fat chubby Christmas Tree! I don’t use it cuz husband doesn’t like it but I am drooling over the first tree you show! Thanks for the memories. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Penny!
Hey Kelly! Great posts! Can you tell me where your houses in the snow are located? I’d love to feature them! @digs_and_dwellings
Do you tinsel first or last? I did not grow up celebrating Christmas but I want a tinsel tree this year!
Last. From what I remember from my childhood anyways-and I’m only 56. And if you have pets, don’t even bother. That’s why I don’t, but I love the look!
Tinsel is definitely hazardous for our precious pets Mary!
Years ago I had some tinsel that was about 7 foot long and was like a sheet you fastened around the top of the tree, and draped around it. I do know what happened to it. I have never found anymore like it. I loved it because it was so easy and looked so pretty. If anyone has some like it and wants to sell it contact me please.
Wow that sounds amazing Shirli! I’ve never seen any kind of tinsel like that!
These are all so amazing, wow!
Oooo…I love this post! Every tree is gorgeous! We went back to tinsel a few years ago and love it!
Tinsel is so magical Mandy! Your tree must be lovely!
They are beautiful, I did wonder why they quit using it. As a little girl we used it every Christmas and saved it for the next and when we ran out, just bought another box. Thanks for bringing back all those wonderful memories.
It was so fun to decorate with tinsel as a kid!
I love tinsel trees I put tinsel on my trees every year it’s a childhood memory for me it’s kind of a pain to get it off the fake trees but I do it anyway all those trees are so beautiful it it’s just a childhood memory for me
Tinsel definitely brings back childhood memories for me too Ann!