Homeowners’ Guide to Christmas Ornaments

No Christmas tree is complete without Christmas ornaments, whether they’re treasured family keepsakes, simple colored balls or color-coordinated sets fit for the cover of a magazine. Since Christmas trees first appeared in Northern Europe in the 1500s, ornaments have been a big, beautiful part of the story.

Why Are There Ornaments on Christmas Trees?

While the Christmas trees we now associate with the holiday originated in 16th-century Germany, the tradition of decorating trees or evergreen boughs goes back much further, possibly to the ancient Romans and Egyptians.

Other early societies worshiped trees, and the “tree of paradise” — decorated to represent the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden — was a common theme in early Medieval folk culture. Later, the triangular-shaped trees became a symbol of the Christian trinity, and of new life as associated with the birth, death and resurrection of Christ.

The earliest European Christmas trees were decorated with colorful fruit, sweets and baked goods. Hand-blown glass ornaments soon followed, and their shapes eventually took on Christian symbolism. In the 1880s, entrepreneur F.W. Woolworth had the genius idea to import the first glass Christmas ornaments from Germany to the U.S. The success of that venture helped him launch his fabled chain of five-and-dime stores.

Woolworth’s may have sold those early ornaments for a few pennies apiece, but times sure have changed. In 2013, a British jeweler made the world’s most expensive Christmas ornament. Encrusted with diamonds and rubies, it was valued at $136,000!

While people still decorate their trees with stars, angels and other Christian symbols, just as many ornaments are purely decorative. Whatever their meaning, modern ornaments are add beauty, bring joy and give a personalized touch to every tree. Wondering when to start decorating? Here find out when to put up Christmas decorations.

Types of Christmas Ornaments

The most common materials for modern Christmas ornaments are glass, metal, plastic and wood. Ornaments come in a nearly infinite number of shapes, but here are some of the most common ones:

• Ball Ornaments: The popular standard Christmas ball ornament can be made of metal, glass or plastic. It may be solid- or multi-colored, hand-painted or even made of hand-blown glass. They may be the original Christmas ornament shape, thought to mimic that of apples. Ball ornament sets can create base decoration for your tree, which you can then personalize with more ornaments. We also love this festive 12 Days of Christmas set available from Amazon.
• Shaped Ornaments: Often made of glass, plastic or lightweight metal, these shiny, clear or colorful ornaments may be shaped like bells, teardrops, or icicles and snowflakes. But it doesn’t end with basic shapes. Cast metal, glass or plastic ornaments can represent virtually any object, including snowmen, Santa, animals, fruit and vegetables or famous monuments.
• DIY Ornaments: Christmas ornaments are often handmade by school kids, and get handed down through generations. Ornaments made of wood, especially hand-painted ones, can add a rustic touch to the tree. Wood is a forgiving ornament material because it won’t break if dropped or packed carelessly. It’s also a good option for homemade ornaments, like ones made from these pre-drilled wood natural wood slices. Check out these other easy ideas on how to make ornaments.
• Keepsake Ornaments: Many families make it a tradition to buy one new, distinctive ornament every year. These ornaments then evoke special memories, especially as the kids get older. Hallmark issues a new collection of Keepsake Ornaments every year, and some of them have become collectors’ items. Family keepsake ornaments might be handmade, evoke memories of a special vacation, or be real splurges, like these ornaments studded with Swarovski crystals.
• Novelty Ornaments: In addition, there are ornaments made like mini-stuffed animals, ornaments that light up or play music, those found at places of interest (like theme parks—Disney has a dedicated ornament shop inside its park during the holidays) and more.
• Vintage Ornaments: With some dedicated searching, you can uncover ornaments from decades past. Classic, vintage ornaments often turn up at thrift stores, flea markets and holiday markets. While determining their value can be tricky, checking for a maker’s mark (like Hallmark) or visiting a vintage store for an appraisal can help.

Christmas Ornament Themes

Some households like to decorate their Christmas trees with a color theme. That may be traditional green and red, or maybe something more unusual, like purple or even black — hmm, maybe interesting on a white tree?

There are options for combining faiths and holidays, such as Kwanzaa-themed ornaments in Hanukkah colors. Then there are ornaments that seemingly have little to do with Christmas, such as ornaments for Peanuts, Star Wars and even Fortnite-themed trees!

Where To Buy Ornaments

Mass-produced Christmas ornaments are available at retailers across the U.S. Home improvement centers, department stores, drug stores, discount stores and supermarkets typically devote several shelves or aisles to ornaments, trees, lights and other decorations.

Specialty ornaments can be found at smaller gift shops, while one-of-a-kind handmade ornaments are popular items at seasonal markets and street fairs. If you happen to be in Europe around the Christmas holidays, you’ll find delicate glass ornaments available for sale at traditional, old-world Christmas markets. In Frankenmuth, Mich., Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is open year-round and bills itself as the world’s largest Christmas store.

It may be harder to get out and shop this year, but there are plenty of online options for ornaments. Those include the crafty retailers at Etsy, specialty Christmas sites like ExclusivelyChristmas or established home retailers like Crate & Barrel.

How To Make DIY and Personalized Ornaments

Handmade Christmas ornaments are among the most special family keepsakes, especially those made by school-age children. Across the U.S., Michaels stores sell DIY Christmas ornament kits, many suited to young crafters. Grown-up DIYers might try more elaborate kits.

Crocheted or knit ornaments are also a popular DIY option. Or if you’ve got scissors, felt, a hot glue gun and a good sense of creativity, you can invent your own designs. Then don’t forget the original DIY tree decorations — popcorn and cranberry strings. While they’re not edible once they’re on the tree, they’re lots of fun to make.

Taste of Home‘s DIY ornament guide is a superb comprehensive guide to the many personalized and DIY Christmas ornament projects you might embark upon.

Where and How To Hang Ornaments

• Order, Order: Hang Christmas ornaments on the tree after you’ve strung and lit the lights, so you can gauge spacing and effect.
• Numbers Game: One rule of thumb is to hang 10 to 12 ornaments for every foot of tree height. Use fewer for a minimalist look and more for happy overload. Regardless, space them around so that the tree looks balanced.
• Hang Time: Start with randomly hanging ornaments, filling in gaps and adjusting as needed. You don’t want ornaments of all the same size or color clustered together.
• Weight Here: If you’ve got a live tree, hang heavier ornaments on lower, thicker branches or slightly closer to the trunk of the tree. That way the branches can give them more support.
• Hooked Up: Do yourself a favor and keep a package of new ornament hooks handy when you trim the tree. Discard old, twisted, unsightly hooks, or the trash bag ties that are subbing as ornament hangers. We like these green metal hangers because they come in two sizes and blend in with the color of the tree. These more elaborate hook hangers add a pop of color and make it harder for ornaments to fall off.
• Tree Alternatives: Your ornaments don’t have to stay confined to the tree. If you have extras, try displaying them in other ways—drape them on garlands, arrange them above the mantle or incorporate them into themed vignettes throughout your home. Get creative!

Ornament Safety

• Go high: Put precious and fragile ornaments near the top of the tree, out of reach of little paws and hands.
• Snack attack: If you use edible items such as popcorn or candy canes, make sure they’re out of reach of pets. (Although if your cat is a tree-climber, you’ll probably want to skip edible decorations altogether.) Keep in mind, too, that mistletoe and holly are toxic to pets and kids alike, and tinsel can do serious damage to a cat’s digestive tract.
• Hands off: Teach little kids a “look but don’t touch” rule around the tree, for their safety as well as the tree’s. For toddlers, you may even consider a baby gate around the tree. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises that in houses with small children, it’s best to avoid ornaments that look like candy or other food.
• Sweep up: Check under the tree often for ornaments that might have broken or fallen when the tree got bumped. Sweep for debris and any broken pieces, and restore any fallen ornaments before the dog gets them — or does that only happen in my house?
• Table it: If you have a medium-height tree, display it on a table to keep pets and toddlers out of reach of the tree.
• Hang it up: For a real twist on tree trimming, try hanging an upside-down Christmas tree. The tree is suspended from the ceiling, keeping it safe and secure and leaving more room underneath for all those presents! It’s an ancient custom, but one that’s caught on as a novel, space-saving new trend.
• Safety first: For more on keeping your home and loved ones safe during the holidays, check the CPSC’s Holiday Decoration Safety Tips.

How to Store Christmas Ornaments

The holiday season only lasts a short time each year, so between holidays, you’ll need a way to store your ornaments—unless you want to keep a year-round Christmas theme. Since ornaments are often delicate and treasured pieces, usually made of glass or other fragile materials, it’s best to use padded storage like bubble wrap, felt, or even newspaper to keep them safe.

Storing them in a cool, dry place is also important, as moisture can lead to bacteria growth and attract pests like insects. You may also want to use a dedicated space with clearly labeled containers so you can easily access your ornaments when the holiday season returns.

Here are some helpful tips for storing your Christmas ornaments:

• Original Packaging: Although not the most space-efficient, keeping ornaments in their original packaging between uses is effective. These boxes are designed to protect the ornaments during transport, so they’ll do the same for storage.
• DIY Storage Bins: For larger collections, consider using a plastic storage tub, like those from Tupperware. Paired with cardboard dividers, these bins can hold many ornaments while keeping them organized and protected.
• Ornament-Specific Storage: Some retailers sell containers designed specifically for ornament storage. These come pre-padded and, while they require an upfront investment, they provide one of the safest options for keeping your ornaments intact.

For more details on storing holiday decorations, check out our full guide to storing Christmas décor.

FAQ

What is the most common Christmas ornament?

Glass ball ornaments are the most common choice for Christmas decorations. Traditionally delicate, these ornaments are now often made from shatterproof materials, making them much more durable.

What is the most popular ornament on top of a Christmas tree?

Two popular tree toppers are stars, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, and angels.

How many Christmas ornaments should you have?

There’s no set rule for how many ornaments you should have. A tree with too few might look sparse, while too many could overwhelm it. Decorating a tree takes a bit of finesse and patience—space the ornaments evenly and aim for balance. And remember, ornaments aren’t limited to the tree; you can place them anywhere in your home for extra holiday cheer.