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Do you deck the halls first or head straight for the tree? If you answered the latter, you’re in good company. “I’ve come to realize that a Christmas tree is basically a giant scrapbook where we can document our lives,” says Emily Henderson, stylist and New York Times best-selling author. In addition to bringing back memories of years past, Christmas ornaments can serve as a thematic or color-based jumping-off point for decorating a whole room.
Whether you want a picture-perfect tree or prefer a more eclectic look, take a look at our go-to ornaments. There’s something festive and design-forward for everyone, from those beginning their own collection to the holiday fanatic searching for that one special bauble to add to their tree.
Tonal Ornaments
In case you missed it, ornaments in pared-back shades of brown and burgundy are already trending for this year. The batch from Amazon went viral on TikTok recently, probably because they look a lot like McGee & Co.’s set of flocked glass balls but at a more affordable price point. We’re also longtime fans of Finnish glassware company Iittala; the brand is best known for the Aalto vase. This glass quintet will reflect Christmas lights beautifully.
Classic Christmas Ornaments
Doves, stars, nutcrackers—your tree will automatically feel right on theme with just a few of these timeless symbols. John Derian carries an extensive collection of ornaments made the old-fashioned way, including many that are handblown in Poland. But this year, we branched out and also discovered French country toile-inspired ones on Etsy with stellar reviews.
Unique Ornaments
There’s a delightful contrast in a traditional felt pickle ornament playing actual pickleball or a fragile glass option depicting a literal dumpster fire. “In the same vein of sharing a meme with someone that makes you think of them, these ornaments highlight all of our particular quirks and qualities,” says Jamie Meares, founder of Furbish, one of our top sources for funky ornaments. A little irreverent humor on the tree beside a beautiful keepsake lets you celebrate that seasonal nostalgia.
Shatter-Resistant Ornaments
If you have tiny hands helping you dress up the tree this year or pets that treat ornaments like toys, these shiny, matte, and glittery balls are just the ticket. Psst: Target’s shelves are stocked with shatter-resistant baubles. While they look like delicate glass, they’re actually made of durable plastic.
Food-and-Drink-Themed Ornaments
Who are we kidding? For most of us, this is what the holidays are really all about. The pear snagged a spot as a Christmas icon thanks to the 18th-century hit “The 12 Days of Christmas,” but today dozens of fruits, vegetables, and snacks have been rendered in glittery glass. Go timely with an espresso martini or get personal with a beaded sushi roll and teeny mugs that look like they could have been made by East Fork.
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Design
Some people love a traditional tree with a limited color palette, and others prefer to mix and match different styles and designs. Plus some ornaments feel very period-based thanks to old-fashioned glass, a mid-century color palette, or a contemporary subject (we’re looking at you, avocado toast ornament). “I don’t think trees necessarily need to look cohesive,” says Meares. “If you buy what you love, the tree will find its own story to tell.” Decorating the tree is meant to be fun, not stressful, so see what type of ornaments you gravitate toward and build a collection based on the pieces you want to see on your tree year after year.
As for how many or how filled, that’s also entirely left up to personal preference. “I like a tree with lots of holes,” says Matthew Monroe Bees, an interior designer based in Alabama and South Carolina (who also has a storage unit filled with ornaments). “The longer ornaments need room to hang, and I fill every nook and cranny with the smaller ones.”
Material
Ornaments are available in everything from glass and clay to wood and wool. “The easiest way to make any look cohesive is a similar color palette and similar materials,” says Henderson. While she prefers an eclectic mix on her tree, if you want a more streamlined design, add a matching set of ornaments or balance colorful and detailed designs with those in more muted materials, like wood or white clay. If your existing collection feels too varied, try using the same type of ribbon on all your ornaments to tie them together visually.
Color
“You can look at the ornaments you absolutely want to use and pull a color palette from those,” says Henderson. That could mean classic (red, white, green), metallics and wood tones, winter whites (with a little blue thrown in), or retro colors à la the Shiny Brite color scheme. Maybe you want to go with all-white ornaments in every material you can find or use repeating red balls to fill in a sparsely decorated tree.
Attachments
“I wire my ornaments with floral wire; I never use ornament hooks,” says Bees, who takes a more-is-more approach to the tree. “I can really secure them and pile them on!” Meares is a fan of ribbon. If ornament hooks work for you, get a set of one color so they match. Make sure that heavy ornaments are secured on strong branches. If an ornament is weighing down a branch more than a few inches, it’s probably too heavy.
Ask Domino
Q: What can I give my design-obsessed friend to add to her first Christmas tree?
This Bauhaus-era Christmas ornament set is a great way to add a dose of design history to any tree, and it comes in a cute box perfect for gifting. Originally designed by Johannes Gabriel, an architect and teacher at the Bauhaus, the collection of 12 wood ornaments was later purchased at auction. What once hung exclusively on the Gabriel family tree is now available and reproduced on the same scale and in the same colors as the originals.
Q: What’s the best way to non-chaotically store Christmas ornaments?
“Each of my ornaments is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and placed in large plastic storage bins,” says Bees, who collects vintage glass ornaments. Williams Sonoma stocks a designated ornament storage box, available in a size that holds 48 ornaments and a larger one that accommodates 120. For an under-the-bed option, try this one from Honey-Can-Do. When it comes to felted ornaments, Craftspring recommends storing them in a sealed plastic bag with a lavender sachet to prevent moths from creating holes in the wool.
Q: How can I personalize a Christmas ornament without it leaning too cheesy?
“Picture-frame ornaments are a favorite in my household,” says Henderson. “What’s sweeter than little kids and family photos on a tree?” Furbish carries a number of frame ornaments, and Meares has suggestions for things to frame beyond baby pics: “You can frame a matchbook from a favorite spot, a four-leaf clover, or any keepsake that warrants elevating,” she says. Framebridge sells a tiny wood-frame ornament with easy photo uploading and delivery options.
Etsy is a great source for personalizing ornaments, too. Henderson loves finding handmade and customizable ones there. Michelle Renee Co. offers acrylic ornaments with scripted names, perfect for a pet or as a gift for newly married couples. Anna Brown Creative makes charming clay stars that are customizable with print or cursive names.
Q: I’m going to try a new look for my tree this year. Can I recycle Christmas ornaments?
Unfortunately, most glass and plastic Christmas ornaments can’t be recycled. When disposing of glass ornaments, be sure to wrap them in old newspaper or something similar to prevent accidentally cutting a sanitation worker. One great way to reuse ornaments you no longer want to hang on the tree is to tie them onto Christmas presents as a decorative flourish.