Photography by Chris Lammert and Keelyn Costello

When my client approached me with the idea of hosting a 1940s-inspired Christmas party, I was thrilled to bring this timeless era to life. The 1940s were a time of elegance, simplicity, and warmth, which made it the perfect inspiration for both the party and the home décor. From vintage ornaments and classic holiday cocktails, to twinkling lights and nostalgic music, every detail was designed to transport guests back in time. Read on to see how we transformed my client’s home into a cozy yet glamorous holiday retreat, creating an unforgettable celebration filled with vintage charm and seasonal cheer.

P.S. Be sure to check out the video of the party in action at the end of this post!

Welcome

We welcomed guests by literally rolling out the red carpet! The view was enhanced by a vintage military jeep from the 40s and two gold drummer statues by the entrance to the home.

Transform your holiday celebration with timeless elegance using these 1940s-inspired Christmas party and home décor ideas from event designer Carolina of MINT Event Design in Austin, TX.

We also hired time-period actors to greet guests as they walked in with some 1940s charm, along with servers prepared to offer holiday ornament cocktails to get the party started.

Holiday Home Décor

We wanted to be sure the inside of the house where guests walked through to get to the main party area in the backyard was decked out in holiday cheer as well. We decorated with garlands of greenery, florals, ornaments, lights, and candles.

Cream and red roses added a 40s-inspired elegance to the garlands, floral arrangements, and giant Christmas tree we placed in front of the windows where it could be clearly seen from the back patio.

We also added tons of tinsel to the tree for some extra 40s flair, and some additional vintage decorations on the tabletops.

Even the adjacent outdoor spaces on the way to the celebration area were decorated. We wanted to make guests feel immersed in Christmas elegance on their entire way to the party!

Party Seating

We rented 40s-inspired tables, chairs, and lounge furniture and created several options for seating. Providing a variety of options allows for everyone to find a place to sit and gather that feels most comfortable to them, while also creating interest and dimension in the celebration space.

We added floral arrangements and garlands throughout the seating areas to tie them all together with the theme of the party and create a cohesive look throughout the celebration.

Candles and mini lamps were set up to provide a warm glow as the evening progressed.

Bar & Drinks

This celebration space had great areas for multiple bar setups. We decorated them with more greenery, florals, and shelves of candles.

We also added custom wooden drink stirrers, and some antique radios to give the 40s vibe. The bartenders served “Merry Little Cocktails” that matched the theme - “La Vie en Rose”, “Boogie Woogie Bourbon”, “G.I. Joe Collins”, and “Rosie’s Rendezvous”.

One of the bars was placed in front of the large windows to the home - the decorated Christmas tree providing an amazing festive backdrop to the scene.

We made sure to use vintage looking decanters to display the alcohol at the bars so that everything matched the 1940s aesthetic!

In order to add another dash of party glamour, we set up a champagne glass pyramid for later in the evening - perfect for a toast to the year past and the year ahead!

Entertainment

This celebration was going to involve lots of music and dancing, both by guests and by a dance team we hired to perform, so we set up a large white and gold dance floor and bandstand underneath swooping curtains. We added gold geometric furniture in front of the bandstand to add some glitz. The musician stands also featured black covers with a vintage starburst design on them, and wished guests a “Merry Christmas”. Guests were entertained by the dancers dressed in 40s style, and several amazing singers crooning 40s tunes throughout the evening.

On either side of the bandstand, we placed a couple of Christmas trees decked out in lights and tinsel.

Once it was dark out, we added light projections of snowflakes to create a more magical setting. At the end of the night, we had a full festive fireworks display!

Food & Desserts

At the back of the party area, we set up a long buffet table for the catered food, and covered it with a lush red tablecloth that went perfectly with the velvet chairs and the roses in our floral arrangements. Behind the table, a large Christmas tree light display in the backyard provided the perfect holiday backdrop. We also covered the patio fencing with lit greenery garlands.

In addition to the catered buffet, we decided to up the “wow” factor of this celebration by setting up a 40s-inspired “Merry Christmas” ice sculpture seafood bar!

For dessert, we set up a large round table full of treats, many of which were inspired by desserts of the time period. We added a large floral arrangement, candles, and gold Christmas tree decorations to the table as well.

Bringing a 1940s-inspired Christmas to life was a delightful journey into an era of timeless elegance and charm. By blending vintage touches with festive warmth, we created a celebration that felt both nostalgic and magical. I hope this inspires your own holiday gatherings to embrace the beauty of the past with the joy of the present season.

As promised, here is the video of the celebration!