Have Yourself a Flea Market Christmas

Written by Sarah Jane Stone

Photograhy by Dave Bryce

Styled by Emily Kelley

The unexpected and the rusty add charm and character to this Pennsylvania flea market Christmas home.

Some pairings just make sense. Brown paper packages and string, the holiday season and parties, flea market style and Christmas décor.

Instagrammer Emily Kelley, the voice behind Dirt Road Revival, is the perfect example of how seamlessly her brand of farmhouse style ties into the festive season. “If it’s rusty, junky or dusty, I’m probably going to love it,” says Emily, who exudes the same level of festive energy as her home.

neutral living room decorated for Christmas with holiday throw and natural garland — In the corner of the living room is an old cabinet homeowner Emily Kelley upcycled to store children’s toys. At Christmastime, she uses it to display her Christmas stockings.

Infusing Holiday Joy

With a base of antique and handmade furniture, vintage accents and clever DIY elements, Emily’s holiday décor is an edited layer atop an already charming base. While her home is already a haven of rustic farmhouse style, the process of transforming the interior into a farmhouse-meets-festive wonderland is a days-long process. “I like to take my time. I try things, move them around, step back and try again,” Emily says.

One example of Emily’s flea market Christmas style is her dining room hutch, which was a custom build. Emily’s collection of canisters and wooden crates stays in place while a sprinkle of Christmas magic in the form of a garland and Santa mugs creates a festive holiday scene.

upcycled crib with jingle bell garland for flea market Christmas decor — Embracing her skill for seeing beauty in the unexpected, Emily deconstructed and hung the crib mattress she used for her children. Like an unconventional wreath, it serves as a base for rotating seasonal displays on their back porch.

Deck All the Halls

Decorating the kitchen may not be high on everyone’s holiday to-do list, but according to Emily, the effort is worth the reward. To make the space holiday ready, she starts with the island. Once the base of a Hoosier cabinet, the green enamel top is an ideal surface for everything from cookie decorating to getting her kids involved in prep work. “Sometimes I’ll move things to the dining table if I really need more space,” Emily says. “But really, it’s just fun to be surrounded by Christmas.”

Emily decorates generously with bottlebrush trees. A personal favorite, their use throughout her home creates consistency.

The antique cash register that sits on the island was a gift from Emily’s husband. Weighing in at over 100 pounds, it isn’t always feasible to move when messier projects like rolling out dough are on the docket. Emily’s solution? Clear plastic wrap to protect the piece.

vintage red plaid thermos and white bottlebrush trees in home with flea market finds for Christmas — On the back porch, Emily decorates even her outdoor potting bench for the holidays, with a wreath, small pine tree and a vintage sled.

Running with Favorite Details for a Flea Market Christmas

Reindeer and candy canes and snowmen, oh my! With so many icons of the season, it can be overwhelming to create a consistent theme. Emily decided to take a favorite element and run. “If I see any spot that looks a little bare, a little boring, I add a bottlebrush tree,” she says. The pint-sized pines pop up throughout her home, nestled between canisters on shelves, adding height to an arrangement of vintage items and even on the primary bedroom dresser. The result is a shimmery thread of consistency that connects her eclectic treasures.

With a base of antique and handmade furniture, vintage accents and clever DIY elements, Emily’s holiday décor is an edited layer atop an already charming base.

This is not unlike her approach to non-holiday design. Emily’s talent lies not just in finding beauty in the unexpected, but in creating a cohesive and connected space.

flea market Christmas with vintage potting materials and vintage sled — On the back porch, Emily decorates even her outdoor potting bench for the holidays, with a wreath, small pine tree and a vintage sled.

vintage apothecary cabinet and vintage clocks in flea market home decorated for Christmas — Clocks, working or not, have a special hold on Emily. She creates vignettes throughout the house and displays clock faces on their own, as well. Their patina adds charm to every space.

flea market collection of vintage canisters on display in Pennsylvannia home — The home’s living room is exceptionally long and narrow. To create a cozy space for her family, Emily uses furniture to break the room up into zones, like this entry space.

hutch with Santa mugs and bottlebrush trees — Decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to mean putting away everyday favorites. Here, Emily creates a seasonal connection by layering small touches among some of her usual farmhouse décor.

antique snowshoes hung above fireplace and next to Christmas tree with simple ornaments — This antique fireplace mantel is the crème de la crème of junk finds. Over 100 years old and in near perfect condition, Emily uses her prized find as a faux fireplace.

hand painted antiques sign in front of glass front cabinet with vintage kitchen scales — As much as Emily loves sourcing antiques and vintage finds, she also likes making things. Many of the signs around the house are hand painted, like this Antique Cottage sign in her dining room. It sits in front of a white hutch that Emily filled with Santa decorations.

tall wooden shelf upcycled from hardware store with Santa cutout in front and Santa mugs inside — Emily had long been searching for a cubby display but all too often they were too pricey, too worn or too far away. Persistence paid off and she finally found this piece, which was originally in a mom-and-pop hardware store. The reproduction Santa sign gives it an especially festive presence.

hutche with antique kitchen scale, rolling pine and Santa mugs — The hutch in the kitchen is a handmade piece by Emily’s husband. Emily decorates it at Christmas with a green garland, and intersperses Christmas touches into her everyday kitchen decorations.

antique cash register on kitchen island of flea market Christmas home — Emily’s ability to see the beauty in the unexpected is apparent in her island. It features a Hoosier base and enamel top that had numerous layers of red paint covering the original mint green enamel. She carefully stripped it away and brought the piece back to its former glory.

bronze kettles and collection of wooden cutting boards with handle in wire basket

dining room with repurposed pew and other flea market finds decorated for Christmas with bowl of bells and wreath — In the dining room, layers of texture create a warm and inviting space. Wood furnishings, a soft rug, natural elements and vintage accents like tins and brass candlesticks work together to create a muted yet festive tone.

bedroom with red and white throw pillows, wreath on decorative ladder and small potted tree — Bits of evergreen and touches of red bring the holiday spirit to the couple’s bedroom—without taking up any additional space.

red and white towel and small wreath and potted tree in bathroom — Even the bathroom has room for a little holiday fun. Eucalyptus and a Christmas candle bring in the scents of the season.

eucalpytus in shower of Pennyslvannia home — No room for a tree? No problem. Emily found a beautifully shaped large branch and enlisted her husband’s help in hanging it over their dresser. A mix of new and vintage ornaments hangs from the bough, bringing festive flair to the couple’s bedroom.

vintage Shiny Brite ornaments hanging from branch mounted from the ceiling in holiday bedroom

If you loved this flea market Christmas home, you may also love A Classic Holiday Home with Red, White and Gingerbread. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!