Wooden Sled Decor: Decorative Vintage Toboggan Ideas

There’s nothing quite like turning a vintage wooden sled or old toboggan into charming holiday decor.

These nostalgic pieces are a great way to create a cozy white winter wonderland in your home while adding character and history to your seasonal decorating.

During one of my routine drives from Vermont to Maine, I found this wooden sled, a vintage toboggan, at one of my favorite thrifting stops, which unfortunately has since closed down.

This vintage toboggan was selling for just $58. Yikes, how could I resist this?

I couldn’t wait to add it to our Vintage Ski Lodge Decorations on our porch in Vermont.

Where can I find vintage wooden sled decor?

For Christmas decorations, you can find vintage toboggans today on sites like Etsy and eBay. And, of course, at your local thrift stores, second-hand shops, flea markets, and antique stores,

History of the Toboggan

The toboggan has a fascinating history rooted in practicality and recreation. Originally used by Indigenous peoples in North America, the earliest toboggans were sleds made from poles tied together with animal-hide thongs. These sleds were designed to traverse snowy terrain for transportation and hauling supplies during harsh winters.

The modern sleigh evolved from these designs and is typically constructed from materials like thin, straight-grained boards of hickory, birch, or oak held together by crosspieces. It features a flat surface, with the front end curved upward to form a hood, often braced with ropes or leather. Dimensions vary, but they are generally around 18 inches wide and 4 to 9 feet long.

Tobogganing became a popular recreational activity in the 19th century, evolving from practical use to a leisure pastime. By the late 1800s, sled manufacturers began producing them commercially, solidifying their place in winter sports and family fun. Today, they are still cherished for their traditional design and the nostalgic experience of sliding down snowy slopes.

And here is our newly found thrifted wooden toboggan ready for decoration.

Welcome to Our Vermont Ski Lodge Style Porch

Friends, grab a warm drink and join me today on our porch in Vermont. Where I hope this traditional New England ski lodge style will inspire you.

You may also want to grab a warm hat, as it’s pretty darn chilly out there on this January day.

Wooden Sled Decor on the Porch

Truthfully, when decorating with a large wooden sled like a toboggan this size, sometimes all you need to do is lean it up against your house, on a porch, barn, or garage.

A vintage toboggan can certainly stand alone, making its own vintage ski lodge decor statement.

And that’s how I started out with my wooden Christmas sled decor.

5 Popular Wooden Sled Decor Ideas

Here are five charming ideas for decorating with vintage wooden sleds:

Now, back to our new found vintage wooden toboggan…

Mittens

I found handmade mittens at a music festival a few summers ago in Bangor, Maine, which inspired this quick and easy winter decorating idea.

I hung the mittens onto the vintage toboggan sled by adding some freshly cut greens and a little wire.

You may also enjoy making these crafty winter ice candle holders too!

I’m also swooning over the Northland logo on top of the sled.

Unfortunately, Northland went out of business in the mid-1950s.

Next, I placed an old Christmas tree into a tree stand to add winter greenery to the porch.

This Christmas tree is still strong, adding warmth, style, and charm to the porch during the winter months.

Check out more of our porch’s vintage ski boot decor here.

I found this wicker table and tray antiquing a couple of weeks ago. The top comes right off and can be used as a tray.

I will enjoy it more once the weather warms up with our green rattan porch furniture.

I’ll definitely get a lot of use out of our new wooden sled decor.

Maybe creating a table with it this summer. We’ll have to see…

And now it’s time to bring in Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, our little model, for this simple wooden sled decor finale.

I keep thinking, maybe later; I’ll hang this decorative sled on our red barn.

Unfortunately, though, it’s just too cold and snowy to accomplish that in mid-January around here…

Everything is just filled with ice and little snow here.

Jack Jumper Wooden Sled Decor

Do you know what a Jack Jumper real sled is?

I found two and another vintage toboggan at Vintage Market Days Vermont last year. Learn more about these sled runners in this Vintage Market Days Fall 2022 Vermont post.

See these decorative sleds in our decor in this Winter Porch Decor on Full Display post.

Adding a vintage wooden sled or toboggan to your winter decor is a wonderful way to bring rustic charm and nostalgia into your home. Whether displayed as a Christmas present accent under the tree or styled on your porch with greenery and lights, these timeless pieces add a little vintage touch that’s both cozy and unique.

Embrace the magic of the winter season by repurposing these classic sleds into charming focal points for holiday inspiration.

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