17 Ways to Decorate with Christmas Ornaments (Beyond the Tree)
There’s so much more you can do when decorating with Christmas ornaments than just hang them on the tree! Whether you’re using vintage Christmas ornaments, handmade keepsakes, or shiny new favorites, ornaments are little works of art that deserve to be seen all around your home.
Over the years, I’ve collected more ornaments than I could ever fit on a tree (can anyone relate?). From rustic plaid patterns to delicate glass baubles, I love finding alternative ways to display Christmas ornaments—on tabletops, mantels, and even windows.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite Christmas ornament decor ideas that bring sparkle, texture, and holiday cheer to every corner of your home.
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17 Ideas for Decorating with Christmas Ornaments
1. Fill Containers with Ornaments
Dough bowls, glass jars, and baskets are perfect for showing off your ornaments.
I love filling a rustic wooden container or my vintage chicken feeder with ornaments, greenery, pinecones, and twinkle lights—it’s instant Christmas charm!
2. Add Ornaments to Holiday Vignettes
Use ornaments to fill in the little gaps when styling shelves, console tables, or coffee tables. A few well-placed ornaments add sparkle and color to any holiday vignette.
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3. Hang Ornaments from Chandeliers or Pendant Lights
Tie ornaments with ribbon or twine and hang them from chandeliers or light fixtures. The reflection of the lights against the ornaments gives the prettiest glow!
4. Use Ornaments On a Table Runner
Scatter ornaments down the center of your dining table for an easy and festive table runner. Mix in greenery, candles, and pinecones for a cozy Christmas tablescape.
5. Display Ornaments on a Tiered Dessert Stand
Turn a tiered stand into a mini ornament display! Mix in a few sprigs of greenery, cinnamon sticks, or faux snow for a fun, layered centerpiece.
6. Use Mini Ornaments as Napkin Ring Decor
Thread mini ornaments onto ribbon or twine and tie them around napkins for a charming holiday table setting.
7. Create a Christmas Ornament Centerpiece
Fill a glass cloche, lantern, or bowl with ornaments in your favorite color palette. It’s a simple but stunning way to create a holiday focal point.
8. Add Ornaments to a Holiday Wreath
Attach small ornaments to a fresh or faux wreath for extra sparkle. Metallics or colorful vintage pieces both work beautifully!
9. Hang Ornaments from a Mantle or Shelf
Use command hooks or greenery garlands as a base and hang ornaments from ribbons along your mantel, open shelving, or window ledge.
10. Hang Ornaments from a Curtain Rod
An unexpected but beautiful touch—hang ornaments from ribbons tied to your curtain rod for a sparkling backdrop that catches the light.
11. Display Ornaments in a Shadow Box
Showcase special keepsake ornaments in a glass-front shadow box or display frame. It’s perfect for meaningful or delicate pieces.
12. Add Ornaments to Garland
Wrap ornaments into your garland for extra shimmer, whether it’s draped across the mantel, stairs, or even your headboard.
13. Tie Ornaments to Cabinet or Door Knobs
Give your kitchen and furniture a festive touch by tying small ornaments to knobs and handles with ribbon or twine.
14. Add Mini Ornaments to Indoor Plants
Why should your houseplants miss out on the fun? Add mini ornaments to fiddle leaf figs, olive trees, or tabletop evergreens for a whimsical touch.
15. Tie Ornaments to Stockings or Wrapped Gifts
Use ornaments as part of your gift-wrapping or stocking decorations. They double as a sweet little keepsake for the recipient!
16. Make a Custom Mobile or Chandelier with Ornaments
Hang ornaments from a hoop or branch to create a sparkling mobile or chandelier-style decoration. It’s a creative way to display extra ornaments and adds height to your holiday decor.
17. Create an Advent Ornament Display
Hang 24 ornaments from a wooden dowel, branch, or wall-mounted hooks to create a beautiful Advent countdown. Each day, hang a new ornament as Christmas approaches.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
Beyond the Christmas tree, you can decorate with ornaments in bowls, wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, and table settings. They make any surface feel festive!
Balance colors, shapes, and sizes. Cluster ornaments in groups of three for visual interest, and mix matte, shiny, and textured finishes for depth.
Use them to decorate shelves, mantels, or tabletops. Tie them to gifts or doorknobs, or repurpose them into DIY crafts and displays throughout your home.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Ornament Decor Ideas
I hope you’ve found a few new ideas for how to use your Christmas ornaments as decor this holiday season. It’s amazing how such small pieces can make such a big impact!
If you have any creative ornament display ideas, I’d love to hear them—share them in the comments below. And if you know someone with an overflowing ornament collection, pass this post along for inspiration!
Until next time,
Happy decorating,
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You have so many gorgeous ornaments! I love the idea of hanging them on the chandelier! Pinned 🙂
Thank you so much, Cindy!
Beautiful. Ty.
Thank you so much, Denise!
Thanks sharing your adorable home! I’m also an ornament junkie and love to display them in various vintage containers around the house. I bought my first reproduction dough bowl recently and looking forward to styling it for Christmas, either on my dining room table or raised bar area. As I get older, I’m wanting to keep Christmas decorating simple because it’s so much work to get it out and put it away. These ideas are so simple, easy, and pretty! Merry Christmas!?
Thank you so much for visiting Vicki. I agree with you, it is so much easier to fill a dough bowl or vintage container. I’m all about simple these days.