The Thrifted Tree Whisperer

If your holiday décor dreams include nostalgia, whimsy, and a little sustainable magic, meet the creator making Christmas deeply personal again. Vancouver thrifter and ornament curator Hailey Porter has become a quiet holiday sensation thanks to her hand-picked, pre-loved ornament bundles—story-driven collections she builds from secondhand treasures sourced year-round. What started as her own thrifted Christmas tree quickly turned into a creative calling, and now Hailey’s curated sets are helping people decorate more affordably, more meaningfully, and more sustainably.

We caught up with Hailey to chat inspiration, nostalgia, heirloom-worthy décor, and why secondhand ornaments might just be the most heartwarming trend of the season. —Noa Nichol

You’re known for your incredible eye as a thrifter—what first inspired you to start curating holiday ornament bundles instead of just decorating your own tree?

Decorating my own tree was what first inspired me; and others I suppose. I shared pictures of my thrift-decorated tree over the holidays and wanted to showcase how beautiful the use of pre-loved ornaments could be. I had many people reach out to ask if I could help find similar items for them. A lightbulb went on in my mind and I thought: “I enjoy doing this… maybe I can do it for others as well”. Once I started and realized how much of a creative release it was for me, I was hooked.

When you’re hunting for ornaments, what makes a piece a “Hailey must-have”? Are you looking for certain eras, colours, materials, or just that special little spark?

A must-have in my eyes is an item that sparks my imagination or an emotion. I fall for pieces that feel nostalgic. I’m a child of the nineties, and I love to source ornaments that I recall seeing on trees from that era. I am a sucker for handmade folk-y decorations and artisan pieces. I also like finding items that were not originally intended to be tree decorations, like a trinket or miniature, and adding a ribbon to them to create a one-of-a-kind ornament.

Can you walk us through how you build a bundle from scratch? Do you start with a theme (like colour, decade, or vibe), or do you let the best thrift finds lead the way?

I keep a written list of potential bundle themes in a journal. Things like “Faerie Forest” or “Antique Toy Shop” are some ideas I’ve based collections on in the past. I’ve also let a single ornament be the foundation for an entire theme before. There are times when a colour scheme or story jumps out at me when I’m taking stock of all my collected items laid out on a table. When I’m building a bundle, I liken it to a good floral arrangement. I think a well decorated tree will have its show-stopper elements, some medium sized complimentary items, and some small bits to add depth and sparkle.

Thrifting is full of surprises—what’s the most memorable or meaningful ornament you’ve ever found, and did you keep it or let it go in a bundle?

In the three years that I’ve been doing this, I’ve sourced thousands of pre-loved ornaments. I can think of certain ones from each year that stand out to me as being extra special or memorable. A vintage tandem bicycle with a little wooden couple pedaling it. A pair of handmade snowmen wrapped together with a scarf that read “Snugglin’ Season”. A real miniature glass slipper… I’ve let each of these pieces go instead of saving them for my own tree. It’s rewarding for me to see that they bring as much joy to others as I experience when finding them.

For people who are new to secondhand décor, what are your top tips for spotting quality ornaments at thrift stores and avoiding the duds?

Decorations should be made to last, so they can become heirloom items and survive decades of being taken in and out of storage. I look for pieces that have nice detail and good materials, and I leave behind items that look poorly constructed or overly generic. Some broken pieces can be fixed though, and it’s a great opportunity to get crafty to save an ornament that would otherwise be discarded.  I would advise anyone to invest in proper ornament storage to ensure that their pieces last, and It’s also why I include a keepsake storage box with each of my bundles.

Your bundles feel super curated and personal. How do you imagine people using them—are they statement trees, mixed into existing collections, or even displayed in non-traditional ways around the home?

My hope is that those who choose to purchase my ornament bundles intend to use them year after year. Whether someone is adding to their existing collection, or starting from scratch, I would love to see them adored many times over. I am only a temporary custodian of these decorations while I source and create the collections, but once I release them, I hope that their new owners cherish them as much as I have.

Sustainability is such a big part of thrifting. How do you see your ornament bundles helping people celebrate the holidays in a more eco-conscious, less “buy everything new” kind of way?

The entire ethos of this ornament bundle project is to highlight the vast quantity of secondhand ornaments in existence. Beautiful pieces that are often more personal or nostalgic, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by a household again. Sustainability is about reusing, and I want to encourage others to consider pre-loved before new. Prices for a single store-bought ornament can be incredibly expensive nowadays and I like to think I’m making holiday decorating more affordable by offering bundles at a fraction of the cost people may see when shopping for similar items in store.

If someone wants to start their own tradition of thrifting ornaments each year, what fun “rules” or rituals would you suggest to make it a meaningful, memory-filled holiday habit?

Try thrifting for ornaments while you travel! Some of my most meaningful finds were from little shops while on road trips or traveling abroad. Or  make a habit of visiting thrift stores in your neighbourhood (I like ones that directly benefit a charity or hospital auxiliary) and pick out something special while supporting your community. And lastly, include your friends! Start a new tradition together with a thrifted ornament exchange each year.