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Putting Christmas ornaments on a real or artificial Christmas tree is one of the most popular and classic Christmas decorations for your home during the holiday season. Whether funny, sentimental, nostalgic, or just decorative, ornaments can help put you in the Christmas spirit. The right ornament can be a valuable keepsake for you and your family for years, even decades to come.
To help you select the ornament that’s right for you, our team took a close look at some of this year’s best Christmas ornaments. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 7 Christmas Ornaments
- Best Overall: SWAROVSKI Christmas Ornament
- Best Handcrafted: Funoasis Hanging Gnomes
- Best for Kids: Enesco Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Most Subtle: Kurt Adler Glass Icicle Set
- Most Classic: KI Store Christmas Ball Ornaments
- Most Unique: Northlight Glass Peacock
- Best Novelty: Hallmark The Office ‘World’s Best Boss’ Mug
Compare Top Christmas Ornaments
| Product | Count | Design | Material | Hnager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWAROVSKI Christmas Ornament | 1 | Snowflake | Crystal | Ribbon |
| Funoasis Hanging Gnomes | 10 | Gnome | Fabric | String |
| Enesco Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | 1 | Santa Claus and Rudolph | Stone resin | Hook |
| Kurt Adler Glass Icicle Set | 24 | Iceicle | Glass | Built-in hook |
| KI Store Christmas Ball Ornaments | 34 | Ball | Plastic | Hook |
| Northlight Glass Peacock | 1 | Peacock | Glass | Cord |
| Hallmark The Office ‘World’s Best Boss’ Mug | 1 | Coffee mug | Resin | Ribbon |
| Product | Count | Design | Material | Hnager |
Best Overall
SWAROVSKI Christmas Ornament
- $65
- $90
- 28% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes in three different designs
✔ Is part of SWAROVSKI’s annual Christmas collection
✔ Comes with a green ribbon for hanging
✘ Is very fragile
✘ Has a high price point
Key Features
- One ornament
- Snowflake design
- Made of crystal
- Available in multiple colors, sizes, and years
What Customers Are Saying
We found that customers who liked this ornament said it was well-designed and made with high-quality materials. Others commented that it fit nicely onto their tree and wasn’t too heavy. However, some negative reviewers said these ornaments were not as well-crafted as previous year’s versions, and others were disappointed in the quality of the decorative box.
Best Handcrafted
Funoasis Hanging Gnomes Ornament Set
- $15
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes in a pack of 10, with each gnome having a unique hat
✔ Includes an attached rope for easy hanging
✔ Made from fabric that’s soft to the touch
✘ The fair beard hair may fall out over time
✘ Only one gnome has a different-colored beard
Key Features
- 10 ornaments
- Gnome design
- Made of fabric
What Customers Are Saying
Those satisfied with this product said these ornaments were well-crafted, had a cute design, and were lightweight. Customers who were not happy with this product claimed that they were bigger than anticipated.
Best for Kids
Enesco Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Ornament
- $32
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes a battery-operated light-up nose on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
✔ Made from high-quality stone resin
✔ Has hand-painted details
✘ Has an awkward shape that may be difficult to store
✘ May need to be placed toward the bottom of the tree because it’s heavy
Key Features
- One ornament
- Santa and Rudolph design
- Made of stone resin
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who left positive reviews of this ornament said it was sturdy, had accurate details, and was made from quality materials. However, customers who left negative reviews said Rudolph’s nose didn’t always light properly. They also noted that it was heavy, making it difficult to hang.
Most Subtle
Kurt Adler Glass Icicle Ornament Set
- $18
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Features a twisted design that looks like dripping
✔ Comes with a crystal hanging string
✔ Comes in a pack of 24 individually wrapped ornaments
✘ Has to be handled with care
✘ Smaller than other types of shaped ornaments
Key Features
- 24 ornaments
- Icicle design
- Made of glass
- Available in multiple quantities
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked that these ornaments were lightweight and sparkly and came in different sizes. However, dissatisfied customers said some of the icicles arrived broken, and others indicated that the ornaments didn’t sparkle as much as anticipated.
Best Classic
KI Store Christmas Ball Ornaments
- $17
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Come in a wide variety of color choices
✔ Available in multiple sizes
✔ Includes a set of hooks
✘ May be too many for homes with small trees
✘Made of plastic instead of a more aesthetically pleasing material, such as glass
Key Features
- 34 ornaments
- Ball design
- Made of plastic
- Available in multiple colors and sizes
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were pleased that these ornaments were shatterproof and came in different color choices. However, some customers said that they were made from cheap material that was dented easily.
Most Unique
Northlight Glass Peacock Christmas Ornament
- $18
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Is bright and colorful
✔ Comes with a ready-to-hang cord
✔ Is made with fully dimensional glass
✘ May not fit in well with more traditional Christmas designs
✘ Has a fragile design
Key Features
- One ornament
- Peacock design
- Made of glass
What Customers Are Saying
There weren’t many customer reviews online for this ornament, but some customers did say they were impressed with its elegant design, while others thought it was overly fragile.
Best Novelty
Hallmark The Office ‘World’s Best Boss’ Mug
- $10
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a durable resin design
✔ Is made to exactly resemble the mug used on the TV show
✔ Can be purchased as part of an “Office” themed Christmas ornament set
✘ May be too heavy for small trees
✘ Not designed for those unfamiliar with “The Office”
What Customers Are Saying
Those we found who were impressed with this ornament liked how accurate the design was and that it came with an attached ribbon. However, others found this ornament was smaller than expected, and some felt the string was not sturdy.
Buying Guide to Christmas Ornaments
Before choosing your Christmas tree decorations, there are some important factors you should consider. Take time to think about how you like to decorate your tree.
Do you like having lots of ornaments that fill every available space? Or do you prefer a minimalist approach? Do you like novelty or keepsake ornaments? Or are simple glass ball ornaments and stars your preference?
Here are some of the other most important factors to think about when buying the next ornament for your Christmas tree.
Type
Christmas ornaments typically come in one of the following types.
Balls
Ball, bauble, and bulb ornaments are one of the most common types of Christmas ornaments. They are usually made of glass, plastic, or metal and come in various sizes and colors.
DIY
Another option for ornaments is making them yourself. Children often make ornaments in school or at church, but you can also craft your own ornaments at home.
Keepsake
Keepsake ornaments are designed to build tradition. Some manufacturers release a new ornament every year that complements ornaments from previous years. This allows you to build on your collection as the years pass.
Novelty
Novelty ornaments can be anything from a Christmas-themed ornament that’s shaped like Santa Claus, snowmen or another Christmas character to a commemorative ornament that’s bought on vacation or after an important life event, such as a wedding or birth. There are an infinite number of novelty ornaments, and adding one to your collection each year can be a fun activity for your family.
Shaped
Shaped ornaments, such as the icicle ones in this review, are another common type of ornament. These are usually made from glass, plastic, wood, or metal. Other common shapes include snowflakes, wreaths, or trees.
Fragility
Depending on the household, it may be more important to avoid fragile ornaments. If you have small children or curious pets who will be near the tree, buying glass ornaments may be a risky move. Instead, look for plastic or other shatterproof ornaments that won’t get damaged if they fall to the floor.
Size and Quantity
The type of Christmas tree you pick can influence how many ornaments you buy for it. For example, if you have a large tree, you will want lots of ornaments to fill its branches. Additionally, the size of your tree may also determine the size of your ornaments. For instance, smaller trees may not have big enough branches to support large, heavy ornaments made from metal or glass.
Other Types of Holiday Decor
Adding Christmas tree ornaments is an excellent way to improve your interior design during the holiday season and create your very own at-home wonderland.
However, there are also numerous types of holiday home decor you can add to make your space more festive, such as:
- Advent calendars
- Candles
- Candy canes
- Christmas lights
- Christmas villages
- Elf figures
- Garland
- Nutcrackers
- Pinecones
- Reindeer sculptures
- Ribbons and bows
- Santa Claus figurines
- Snowglobes
- Stocking
- Tinsel
- Tree toppers
- Wreaths and boughs
Check out this list for even more holiday decor ideas.
How to Make Your Own Christmas Ornament
If you’re a big DIYer, you can also make your very own Christmas ornament at home for a wonderful heirloom you can pass down for generations. This Old House’s Kevin O’Connor and Tom Silva show you all the steps from start to finish for making an ornament in the video below.
Before you get started, make sure you have on your safety glasses, a lathe, woodworking tools, and 220-grit sandpaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Christmas ornaments have to be hung on a Christmas tree?
While the primary purpose of ornaments is to hang from Christmas trees, you’re free to do whatever you’d like with them. Some people want to put ornaments on fireplace mantels or other shelves for decoration. You could also put ornaments on the branches of other indoor plants if you don’t have a Christmas tree.
How do you hang Christmas ornaments?
Most ornaments come with either a built-in hook or string that you can hang on a branch or a small hole that you can slide a plastic or metal hook through.
Where should heavy ornaments be hung?
Heavy ornaments should be placed at the bottom of the tree because the larger branches can support more weight. Delicate ornaments should be hung toward the top of the tree, as they’re less likely to be bumped.
How We Selected the Best Christmas Ornaments
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of Christmas ornaments with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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