Christmas Decorating Ideas Outside With Sleds

Here are 10 themed ways to decorate your old sled for fun indoor and outdoor Christmas and winter decor.

One of the most fun ways to add some vintage flair to your outdoor decor is to decorate an old sled. Whether it's a family heirloom or a found treasure, many varieties of these old kids' toys can still be scored. Sometimes they may need a little refreshing {see my tip in"How To Refresh Vintage Sleds"}, but if you're not going to slide down any hills with them, they should still work well for wintertime home decor! Vintage sleds have great architecture and can be enjoyed in their naked state, or they can be a canvas to add your personal style to your home! To expand your old sled decorating ideas, here are 10 Ways to Decorate a Vintage Sled, each with a little different theme.

Today's inspiration is part of a Christmas Porches and Holiday Door Decor blog hop, hosted by Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home. If you're coming over from Katherine's Corner, welcome! It's so fun to see everyone's different styles on these hops! There are links to everyone's posts at the end; please visit them all and Pin away the ideas!

Instead of seeing my whole porch or my door decor, I'm going to give you ideas to decorate one of the favorite porch and entryway styling pieces: the classic vintage sled. One sled, or sleigh, as some call it, can be decorated in so many different ways!

10 Ways to Decorate a Vintage Sled

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Decorate an Old Sled by going Rustic

Sometimes decorating with nature itself is the most beautiful! Add rustic and natural elements to your winter sled with plenty of differing textures.

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For a Winter Sleigh Theme, Decorate with Snowflakes and Snowballs

A grouping of glittery snowflake ornaments along with a couple of yarny snowballs dangling can bring a little snow to your outdoor decor even if you don't have any! Hang styrofoam balls wrapped in yarn from braided yarn for snow-ball-fight decor style!

large snowflake decorations
glittery smaller snowflakes
styrofoam balls
yarn ( I used white, heathered gray, and aqua in the braid)

Add Old Fashioned Sled Decoration with Ice Skates

Want to know how to decorate a sled for Christmas? Match up what kids of old asked Santa for, an old runner sled and a pair of pretty skates! A thrift store pair of skates can easily be draped over the top of a vintage sled. Add some evergreen sprays, along with other textures peeking out of the top of the skates for texture. A simple knotted yarn scarf adds softness (to keep the sled warm of course;)

pair of old skates
evergreen picks
sparkly picks
knitted scarf

Decorate a Christmas Sled with a Wreath and Words

A smaller-sized evergreen wreath is a classic decoration for an old fashioned sled, or Christmas sleigh. For a little vintage touch, hang some bingo card bunting with words where the original rope handle used to be. I simply stenciled the letters and trimmed the bottoms of the cards. Black and white baker's twine adds to the red and black color scheme.

small-sized wreath (I absolutely love this one)
houndstooth ribbon
black and white twine (I like this thicker kind)
vintage bingo cards
stenciled letters

Red Berries and Plaid are Perfect for Christmas Sled Decor

The red and yellow design on this old runner sled makes it perfect for Christmas inspired decoration. A red berry garland that's draped down the length of the sled is as easy as it is beautiful. A classic plaid flannel ribbon knot at the top is the perfect colors. An old, handmade pair of mittens clipped onto rope becomes a vase for greens. Almost as cute as a Christmas present!

red berry garland
plaid flannel ribbon
pine sprays
yarn mittens

Decorate a Christmas Sled with a Little Jingle

Instead of the more common vintage country style of sled decorating, go glam with satin ribbons suspending oversized jingle bells. A black snowflake and a frosty green leafy garland add to the fresh, crisp look. Anything but usual!

large jingle bells
green satin ribbon
black snowflake
hop vine

Decorate a Vintage-Inspired Sled with Old Christmas Lights

Were you thinking a string of electrical lights plugged in? That would work, too, but creating a string garland with old bulbs is way more fun and unique! A graphic sign at the top would add charm, too; all vintage decor for an old sled (that's retired from it's original purpose).

classic light bulbs
black and white twine
cute vintage-inspired sign (picturing something like this)

Decorate an Old Sled with Plaid for Winter

Find a plaid scarf with your favorite colors and let it's color scheme determine the accents. This red and gray plaid is perfectly handsome with a galvanized snowflake and red berries. The red graphics on the sled makes this the perfect combo. Freshly clipped pine boughs from the yard finish it off nicely.

plaid scarf
galvanized snowflakes
red berry sprays
freshly clipped pine branches

For a Fun Christmas Sled Decoration Idea, Use Clothes!

Why should the snowman be the only well-dressed one in the yard? You can dress up your sled instead! A winter hat, mittens, and even a leg warmer can add whimsy to your old sled! Add some fresh cut greens, red berries and a fake snowflake. This is the "adult"version of a snowman (no rolling involved)!

Trapper's plaid hat
classic mitten liners
leg warmer
snowflake
cedar sprays
red berries

Decorate an Old Sled with Vintage Junk

If you're a junker to the core, like me, why not add some of your favorite vintage junky items to your sled? Your guests will know what they're getting into when they arrive on your porch! (or recreate the look with newly purchased "junk")

Vintage wheels
striped burlap ribbon
vintage nail apron
vintage clock face
fresh pine sprays
pinecones

Have your sled decorating horizons been expanded? I hope so! Did you have a favorite winter or Christmas sled? Maybe all these ideas have found you thinking about your old sled in a whole new way! If you don't own a vintage sled, maybe this will give you a good reason to do some treasure hunting for one (possibly more fun than your holiday to do list;) And if your old sled could use a refresh, make sure to check out "How to Refresh Vintage Sleds".

Have these essentials on hand when you're styling your sled (or decorating anything!):

bindwire

chenille stems

bark wire

rope

wire cutters

pruner

Don't have a sled of your own? Check out the selection HERE!

>>Dealer's Tip: If you sell vintage sleds, add some of these elements. You can charge a little more, and your sled will probably sell quicker than your neighbor's booth; yours is ready to be plunked on the porch!<<

Hope your mind is spinning with all the ideas in this 10 Ways to Decorate a Vintage Sled! Next up on this Christmas Porches and Holiday Door Decor hop is Heather at Beauty for Ashes. Heather is an amazing stylist; I can't wait to see what she's come up with! Get out and get decorating!

If you want more ideas and inspiration for your Vintage, become an Insider down below!

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