Christmas Ornament Ideas: Buying, Collecting and Making Your Own

We run the NicheStuff store; some links in this post go to products we sell.

Opening the ornament box is one of the best moments of the season. Every piece has a story: the glitter star a child made at school, the glass bauble from a grandparent’s tree, the ornament bought on a family trip. This guide covers the main types of Christmas ornaments, how to start a collection worth keeping, easy ornaments to make at home and how to store them so they last.

Types of Christmas ornaments

Glass ornaments

Hand-blown and hand-painted glass ornaments have a long history. The German town of Lauscha is often credited as an early center of glass ornament making in the 1800s. Glass catches the light beautifully, but it’s fragile, so hang it higher on the tree if you have pets or small children.

Shatterproof ornaments

Plastic and acrylic ornaments can look surprisingly like glass. They’re ideal for families with kids or pets, for outdoor trees and for filling gaps on a large tree.

Wood, felt and fabric

Natural materials suit rustic, Scandinavian and woodland themes. They’re light, durable and often handmade.

Metal and keepsake ornaments

Engraved metal, dated annual ornaments and personalized pieces mark milestones such as a first Christmas, a wedding or a new home.

Figural ornaments

Ornaments shaped like animals, food, vehicles, characters or hobbies add personality and are easy to collect around a theme.

Classic Christmas symbols

Many ornaments draw on long-standing Christmas symbols. Stars recall the Star of Bethlehem, angels the announcement of Jesus’ birth, and bells the ringing in of the season. Evergreens, holly and wreaths represent life in the middle of winter, while candles stand for light. Newer favorites include Santa, stockings, toys, gingerbread houses, snowmen and elves.

How to start an ornament collection

1. Pick a focus. A theme (glass birds, nutcrackers, places you’ve visited) gives a collection shape. If nutcrackers appeal to you, see how to add a nutcracker to your holiday decor.
2. Add one a year. Buying or making a single special ornament each year builds a collection slowly and keeps each piece meaningful.
3. Write on the tag or box. Note the year and the story behind each piece. Future generations will thank you.
4. Give children their own collection. An ornament each year means they’ll have a box to take to their first home.
5. Mix heirlooms and new pieces. Not everything needs to be precious. A few fun, inexpensive pieces keep the tree playful.

Easy DIY ornaments to make at home

Making ornaments is a great activity for all ages, and handmade pieces often become the most treasured ones on the tree.

For young children

• Salt-dough ornaments: Mix flour, salt and water, roll out, cut shapes, poke a hole for the hanger and bake on low heat until hard. Paint once cool. (Salt dough isn’t edible, so keep it away from pets.)
• Handprint ornaments: Press a small hand into salt dough or clay and add the year.
• Paper chains and stars: Cut, fold and glue colored paper. Simple, quick and very festive.

For older kids and adults

• Filled clear ornaments: Fill clear plastic ornaments with ribbon, faux snow, sequins or tiny pinecones.
• Felt shapes: Cut and stitch felt stars, hearts or mittens, and stuff them lightly.
• Natural ornaments: Dried orange slices, cinnamon-stick bundles tied with twine, and pinecones dipped in white paint for a snowy look.
• Beaded wire ornaments: Thread beads onto craft wire and bend it into stars, snowflakes or candy canes.

Gather your supplies first: ribbon, twine, beads, felt, chenille stems, sequins, glue and ornament hooks. Supervise children with hot glue, ovens and small parts.

Using ornaments beyond the tree

• Fill a glass bowl, vase or lantern with ornaments for an instant centerpiece. See our tips on setting a festive Christmas table.
• Hang ornaments from a garland on the mantel or stair rail.
• Tie one to a gift instead of a bow, so the wrapping becomes part of the present.
• Hang a few in a window on ribbons of different lengths.

Ornaments that make great gifts

An ornament is one of the easiest gifts to get right. It’s small, it doesn’t need to fit, and it comes out every year. A few ideas:

• A dated ornament for a milestone: a wedding, a new baby, a first home or a graduation.
• An ornament that matches a hobby or interest, such as music, sports, travel or animals.
• A handmade ornament from a child for grandparents, with the year written on the back.
• A personalized ornament with a pet’s name for animal lovers.

Add a short note on the gift tag explaining why you chose it. That small story is what turns an ornament into a keepsake.

Our ornament picks

For a playful glass piece with a hand-painted, old-world look, the Aquarium Fish Glass Christmas Ornament and the Monkey Nutcracker with Trumpet Glass Ornament are both handcrafted with traditional blown-glass techniques and come with a hanging cord and a gift tag, which makes them easy to give. For a milestone keepsake, the personalized Baby’s First Christmas Snow Globe Ornament is a real snow-globe ornament with charms for the baby’s name and birth details.

Looking for gift ideas? Our personalized Christmas ornament gift guide covers ornaments for couples, families, friends and pets.

How to store ornaments safely

• Wrap glass ornaments individually in acid-free tissue paper.
• Use divided boxes or egg cartons for small pieces, and keep heavy items at the bottom.
• Label boxes by room or theme so decorating next year is faster.
• Store boxes somewhere cool and dry, not in a damp basement or a very hot attic.

For more ideas, see our Christmas decor storage tips.

FAQ

Where should I hang the most fragile ornaments?

Near the top and toward the inside of the tree, away from wagging tails and small hands.

How do I choose ornaments for a themed tree?

Stick to two or three colors and repeat them all around the tree. Our Christmas tree theme ideas walk through eight looks step by step.