Holiday decor: Retro motifs bring home sparkle, style

Midcentury and 1970s to 1980s motifs are strong players on the home-decor stage, and that includes holiday decor, too. These retro styles have a different kind of energy than traditional, nostalgic, holiday decor does.

No deep and evocative snowy forests here; no minimalist yet rustic urban farmhouses or fairy lights.

Instead, you'll find more of a sparkly, giddy vibe. This look is all about the holiday party; Santa's riding a rocket instead of a sleigh, and the family tree might be tinsel instead of pine.

There are reproductions of vintage ornaments -- lots of geometric, teardrop and onion shapes -- as well as stars, sputniks, dancing elves and even the occasional dancing Christmas tree.

In the '70s-inspired collections, there are trees, figures and ornaments encrusted with mirrored mosaics, like disco balls.

Vero Beach, Florida- based graphic artist Katie Idlewild designs a set of holiday cards with imagery and typography inspired by midcentury modern design.IdlewildCo via AP

The Lil Umbrella studio in Concord, California, has wrapping paper printed with retro ornaments in a very midcentury palette of aqua, red, white and gold. The studio's owner, Susie Ostrowski, said she wanted to create holiday wrap that's whimsical and fun.

"I love retro-inspired illustration because it's such a great way to do that with style and personality, and it brings out a little feeling of nostalgia, too," she said. (etsy.com/shop/TheLilUmbrella)

Artist Robin Soltis and her husband, Alvin, run Scotch & Cream, a Los Angeles studio they bill as "all things modern, beautiful, nostalgic, familiar and comforting."

"We're both in love with midcentury modern style," she said, "so we create most of our products with that aesthetic in mind."

Soltis laser-cuts ornaments out of solid wood so they've got an interesting tactile quality.

Sputnik shapes are emblematic of the space race-obsessed 1950s and 1960s, and these ornaments from CB2 add starry sparkle.CB2 via AP

"Our wood ornaments are a fun throwback to the vintage baubles from midcentury Christmastime," she said. "We hand-stain each piece of wood a dark, warm shade that reminds us of the quality materials that were used to make furniture during that period."

There are four designs, and they can be hung as decorations or used as gift tags. (etsy.com/shop/ScotchandCream)

Graphic designer Landon Pelt of Dallas does cartoon-style illustrations of '60s-era holiday scenes.

"I've been a midcentury modern cartoon enthusiast since my childhood in Southern California," Pelt said. "So when I started drawing, I naturally discovered a 1960s minimalist undertone combined with Palm Springs-style architecture in my artwork."

The scenes depict kicky, Jetsons-era holiday soirees in cool midcentury abodes. Pelt said he leaves out facial features on his cartoon revelers "so that no matter what you look like, you can see yourself attending the chic cocktail parties thrown by my kitschy little friends."

A vintage-style wrapping paper printed with retro style ornaments in a midcentury palette of aqua, red, white and gold is shown. Susie Ostrowski of The Little Umbrella Shop in Concord, California, said she wanted to create a holiday wrap that was whimsical and fun.Lucie Carpentier ~ White Hart Design Co./Lil Umbrellas Shop via AP

Illustrations can be ordered on throw pillows, canvas or poster prints. (strangelittleonion.com)

If you're interested in some of the history behind this style of holiday decor, have a look at Sarah Archer's book, "Midcentury Christmas" (Countryman Press, 2016). It offers up vintage ads, articles and background on midcentury designers, as well as some of the era's popular imagery.

At the Swiss design firm Vitra, you can find midcentury designer Alexander Girard's holiday ornaments -- playful shapes such as a mouse, sun and heart crafted in gold metal. (vitra.com)

Or make an eye-catching display with Grandin Road's 12-inch gold starburst ornaments; they come in a set of three. (www.grandinroad.com)

CB2 has several nice options for a retro holiday theme: There are trees and figures festooned with mirrored mosaics, as well as disco ball ornaments. A wreath made of white and gold metal dots makes a frothy, festive accessory for the mantel or front door. Create an atomic constellation using sputnik-shaped gold and silver ornaments made from glass. Or opt for a 3-D mobile effect with a set of gold-toned wire ornaments in retro shapes. (www.cb2.com)