*Image above via The Avenue by Lyndsey Zorich and can you even deal with how gorgeous these handmade, artisan-paper ornaments are?
I love my fellow anticipators, many of whom have been asking me for more holiday decor ideas, with a specific focus on trimming the tree. Our strategy when we got married was to buy a few boxes of inexpensive, traditional-leaning sets of ornaments (i.e., a lot of balls in different sizes) in red and metallic and then to add in novelty ornaments every year since. If you’re in that camp — i.e., looking for a starter set of inexpensive ornaments to get things going while you slowly add more meaningful ornaments over the year, I’m dying over this $25 pack of gorgeous rose gold ornaments! It also comes in red/gold, which is more of the color palette we have. Amazing price for the number of ornaments you get, and just look at the reviews!
It took us years (!) to find a tree topper we liked. We felt like there were so many cheesy styles out there. Finally, we found a gorgeous one at ABC Home downtown just last year (!) after close to a decade of searching — but this Anthro one is similarly stunning.
Below, I’m organizing ornament ideas by palette since I think that tends to be how we ladies plan these things, but a few other must-haves:
BACKUP ORNAMENT HOOKS (SO HANDY)
ORNAMENT STORAGE (THIS LESS EXPENSIVE ONE GETS GOOD REVIEWS AS WELL)
KRINNER TREE STAND (TRUST ME – YOU NEED THIS UPGRADE)
TREE SKIRT (<<I OWN THIS EXACT STYLE IN THE IVORY, BUT ALSO LOVE THIS KNIT STYLE AND THIS QUILTED VELVET)
OR TREE COLLAR — I LOVE THE WOVEN ONES I’M SEEING THIS YEAR, LIKE THIS ONE FROM TARGET AND THIS ONE FROM TERRAIN
For a Blue Christmas Tree…
THESE GINGER JAR ORNAMENTS, OR THIS ETSY SET
THIS JUMBO PACK OF 100 BLUE/SILVER ORNAMENTS
SET OF 22 CHINOISERIE ORNAMENTS
For a Blush/Pastel Christmas Tree…
DEAD (D.E.A.D.) OVER THESE GORGEOUS ORNAMENTS FROM THE AVENUE
ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE NOVELTY ORNAMENTS I’VE GIVEN MR. MAGPIE (WE BOTH LOVE OYSTERS)
For a Red/Gold Christmas Tree…
I LOVE BLOWN GLASS ORNAMENTS, LIKE THIS LADYBUG AND BASICALLY ANYTHING FROM JOHN DERIAN
Pure Novelty for Any Tree…
THIS FELT NYC SUBWAY CAR (HAD TO BUY THIS WITH THE “A” TRAIN ON IT, BUT THEY CARRY MANY LINES)
BABY’S FIRST ORNAMENT (THIS STYLE IS ALSO VERY SWEET, AS IS THIS ONE — SWOON OVER ALL THREE)
BABY/CHILD SILHOUETTE ORNAMENT
PERSONALIZED HOUSE PORTRAIT ORNAMENT
FELTED AIREDALE ORNAMENT (TILLY!!!)
I LOVE (AND HAVE SEVERAL) BIRD ORNAMENTS — I THINK I NEED TO ADD THIS DOVE TO THE MIX
IF YOU’RE DOING A CHILDREN’S TREE, MINI WOULD ADORE THIS $12 SET OF FOUR BALLERINAS AND THESE FUN POOL FLOAT ONES
P.S. So far this season, my favorite holiday buys have been these white decorative houses (I bought all five), these stocking holders, and these feathered trees. More finds here and here.
P.P.S. Don’t miss out on my girlfriend Inslee’s collaboration with Anthropologie! Dead over those juice glasses!
P.P.P.S. One of my favorite Christmas posts (written while living here in New York City) ever, in which I wrote: “On the taxi home, as we zipped up Park Avenue, a wreath the size of a studio apartment came into focus dead ahead of us, shining like a beacon from the front of Grand Central. And there was something about its sudden and unanticipated beauty, its charm, its improbably generous existence in a city that often feels viciously indifferent to your wellbeing and spirit, that moved me. To think that there is a line item in the Grand Central budget for a wreath — and that there are staff hours dedicated to ordering and hanging it — somehow stirred me into a weepiness I did not anticipate. Even in that monolithic building, there is Christmas cheer, a willingness to delight and welcome the Christmastime visitor–or, you know, the New York transplant worn down by the city’s inelegances.”
I love that idea with the garland will try it. Thank you so much
LOVE all as usual!! What are your feelings about bows on Christmas trees? My mother always did it, and for some reason I hated it…but now I adore it, I used red grosgrain, with white lights. <3 xo
I LOVE bows on trees! We have not yet done it at home, but I was just telling Landon that I think next year we need to apply a layer of ribbon or bows to our tree. SO chic.
xx
These are great, I especially love the wreath idea. Do you have a problem with squirrels? We do here in Jersey and have to add cayenne pepper to keep them away!!
So clever!! We do not because we live in a building but I can imagine how frustrating that would be!
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YES, I am with you on being an anticipator … of most things, really, but of Christmas especially! I just placed an order for our 2020 Christmas ornament additions. My mom started a tradition of buying one family ornament per year, and I decided that this year our family ornament would have a crown theme (get it? Corona = crown … haha, maybe it’s a stretch, but a wink to the theme that dominated the year!) We tend towards the novelty/quirky ornaments, which is always fun, esp. for kids!
xx
So clever! I love this!
I’m glad, because honestly I was thinking about it as I was falling asleep last night (which took longer than usual) — I was hoping it wasn’t too insensitive, esp. in light of your battle with COVID! Eeek. I’m glad to read this comment 🙂
xx
Oh gosh – not at all! I love this tradition. I might borrow it, actually, and aim for themed ornaments that reflect something from each given year from here on out.
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Aww — you should! It’s so much fun to visit my parents during Christmas and reflect on all of the various ornaments from years past — marriages, university acceptances, fun vacations, etc. 🙂 Highly recommended! Mini and micro will love it as they get older, too!
xx
So many fun options! We like to pick up ornaments when we travel. I’ve also started a collection for each kid, choosing an ornament that represents each child in some fashion. This year, I found some beautiful wooden ones from Etsy – the craftsmanship is remarkable.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GielishWoodSculpture
By the way, the Target brass deer stocking holders you previously linked are back in stock! I wanted to get them and was bummed when they were sold out.
OMG – how precious are those wood ornaments!? Love the crab in particular!! Thanks for sharing that Etsy shop.
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They’re all so beautiful! I’m still assembling harvest-themed tableaux, but these inspire. My trees are decorated on Christmas Eve, in keeping with Northern Europe tradition. I use white fairy lights, and shoe ornaments from the Met Museum gift shop. I buy one every year during the after Christmas sale. After Thanksgiving I display all the shoes and lights on beds of Christmas greens until Christmas Eve. Holiday hygge!
Oo, Carmen! Such a cool tradition! Sounds beautiful 🙂
xx