
“You can look at the ornaments you absolutely want to use and pull a color palette from those,” says Henderson. If your existing collection feels too varied, try using the same type of ribbon on all your ornaments to tie them together visually. 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. “The easiest way to make any look cohesive is a similar color palette and similar materials,” says Henderson. Ornaments are available in everything from glass and clay to wood and wool. “The longer ornaments need room to hang, and I fill every nook and cranny with the smaller ones.” Material “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). “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.Īs for how many or how filled, that’s also entirely left up to personal preference. “I don’t think trees necessarily need to look cohesive,” says Meares.
TREASURED ORNAMENTS PLUS
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). Some people love a traditional tree with a limited color palette, and others prefer to mix and match different styles and designs.


The Highs and Lows of Christmas Ornament Prices And because there are so many ways to decorate a tree, we opted for a number of different ornament styles.
TREASURED ORNAMENTS UPDATE
When looking to update our list of the best Christmas ornaments for 2022, we prioritized quality materials and a range of price points, as well as a mix of heritage brands, small businesses, and industry stalwarts that offer great collections year after year. This year’s highlights include exclusive Sophie Lou Jacobsen borosilicate glass ornaments House & Parties’s quirky, jokelike creations Urban Outfitters’s classic kitschy offerings, from a sparkly can of Diet Coke to playful felt caricatures and a seriously fancy school of fish, inspired by the mythical city of Atlantis, from Luke Edward Hall’s second collaboration with Svenskt Tenn. While the above are certainly go-to resources for the best Christmas ornaments, they aren’t the only makers behind cool, kitschy, modern, and traditional styles. Go healthy with stalks of asparagus or pick out a friend’s favorite sweet for a personal gift. While nearly every brand on our list offers some food item or another, Food52 carries a standout collection from maker Cody Foster, who started his crafting business in Valentine, Nebraska, when he was in high school. 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.

Why we chose it: Popcorn and cranberries have always gone on the tree, so why not anchovies and bagels? Some items, like the bagel, can only be purchased as part of a larger set.Best designer collaborations: Crate & Barrel.

There’s something festive and design-forward for everyone, from those beginning their own collection to the holiday fanatic looking for something special to add to their tree. Whether you want a picture-perfect tree or prefer a more eclectic look, take a look at our go-to sources for the very best ornaments. In addition to bringing back memories of years past, Christmas ornaments can serve as a thematic or color-based jumping-off point for decorating the whole room. “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. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.ĭo you deck the halls first or head straight for the tree? If you answered the latter, you’re in good company.
