The best Christmas tree decorations

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The best Christmas tree decorations

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  • Whether it's an 8-foot ceiling duster, a tiny tabletop tree, or any size in between, an unadorned conifer is merely a houseplant, not a Christmas tree.
  • It's what you put on the tree that transforms it into a celebration of the holidays.
  • We've gathered up an array of Christmas decorations for your tree, including our favorite ornaments, toppers, lights, and tree skirts.

Whether you prefer to cut your own tree, choose one from the local tree lot, or retrieve your faux tree from storage, it's just not Christmas without a decorated tree gracing the living room. For many families, trimming the tree is a treasured holiday tradition, with all family members participating. In other households, one person prefers to do the decorating alone. Either way, it's always fun to get reacquainted with your holiday decor as you pull each piece from storage containers.

Of course, there are times you need, or just want, to add some more holiday decor to your collection. Or maybe this is your first year living on your own or setting up a holiday tree. Either way, you're on the hunt for Christmas tree decorations, which generally include ornaments, lights, some sort of topper, and a tree skirt to cover up the typically unattractive tree stand and provide visual balance to the tree's height.

And while there are a lot of places to buy tree decorations, it can be rather overwhelming choosing your favorites from the nearly endless options available online and in brick-and-mortar stores. That's where we come in.

Life can get a bit hectic as the holidays approach, so to make it easier for you to cross a few things off your must-do list, we've selected a wide selection of our favorite Christmas tree decorations to turn that plain conifer into a holiday star.

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Though we admit there really is no "best" Christmas tree decoration and it mostly comes down to personal preference, we do stand by our assertion that you really can't go wrong with any of the following options. So whether you prefer traditional, whimsical, or something in between, get ready to trim your holiday tree.

Here are our favorite Christmas tree decorations:

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Christmas Tree Lights

When it's time to trim your holiday tree, start with the lights. As a rough rule of thumb, you'll want 100 mini lights for every foot of Christmas tree height. So for example, if your tree is 6 feet tall, you'll want a total of 600 lights. While you can connect strings of different colored lights, you do need to stick with the same size and type of bulb, so keep that in mind when choosing holiday string lights.

The best clear traditional tree lights

The best clear traditional tree lights

If you like traditional clear lights with a steady glow, you'll love the Prextex 100-count Christmas Lights. The green wire blends in with your tree, and the lights are bright and dependable. The string of lights is approximately 18 feet long, and you can connect up to five strings to cover your entire tree.

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The best colored tree lights

The best colored tree lights

Forget about tediously winding a long string of lights around your Christmas tree: With the ingenious Star Shower Tree Dazzler, all you need to do is slip the ring over the top of your 6- to 7.5-foot Christmas tree, tuck the eight attached vertical strings of lights down and around your tree's branches, plug into your nearest electrical outlet, and then choose one of the 31 possible colorful displays, which include steady, wave, scroll, fade, and spin in several different colors.

The best bubble lights for the tree

The best bubble lights for the tree

If you have fond childhood memories of these vintage bubbling candle-shaped lights adorning your Christmas tree, you'll be thrilled with the Novelty Lights Bubble Set. You're not going to decorate your entire tree with bubble lights (probably), but tucking one or two strings of these old-fashioned fun bubblers along the tree branches adds an instant dose of nostalgic fun and color. Each string is 7 feet long and has seven bubblers with small clips to keep them in place and steady.

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Christmas Tree Toppers

Once your lights are in place, it's time for the topper. Typically, these slip over the top of the tree's trunk, and generally take a little bit of wiggling or adjusting before they sit steadily. While stars and angels are very popular options, there are plenty of other choices as well.

The best animated tree topper

The best animated tree topper

Your kids will love watching Santa flying around the Christmas tree in his reindeer-drawn sleigh with a "Believe" banner trailing behind. The Mr. Christmas Santa Sleigh Animated Tree Topper has a brightly lit yellow star that attaches easily to your tree's top, and with a flick of the on/off switch, Santa begins his journey. This topper is AC powered with adapter included.

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The best snowflake tree topper

The best snowflake tree topper

Snowflakes are a popular Christmas-tree theme, but this handcrafted, laser-cut beauty from Cost Plus World Market isn't the run-of-the-mill cheap plastic design. Instead, the Layered Wood Snowflake Tree Topper has three overlapping wooden pieces with just a hint of glitter for extra pizzazz. The wire-coiled base holds the star securely on the top of your tree.

The best tree topper for kids

The best tree topper for kids

The Hugging Snowman Tree Topper will absolutely thrill your kids, but let's admit it: It's adorable enough to thrill adults as well. It's easy to position too. Just slip Mr. Snowman's head over the top of the tree, and then bend his wired arms to grip the branches and keep him in place. His long red scarf adds even more fun to the tree.

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The best angel tree topper

The best angel tree topper

While many angel tree toppers are somewhat tacky, that's not the case with the Santa's Workshop Pine Cone Angel. This delicate beauty combines rustic and vintage appeal into one lovely tree topper that you'll treasure year after year. At 16 inches tall, it's big enough to grace even a large tree.

The best unique tree topper

The best unique tree topper

Owls aren't a traditional Christmas motif, but if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, why not top your holiday tree with this wise bird? The blown-glass Owl Topper from Old World Christmas is beautifully handcrafted, hand-painted, and sprinkled with a bit of glitter. It's definitely a conversation starter and a wonderful addition to an Old World, vintage, rustic, or country-themed tree. The owl is a little over 8 inches tall.

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Christmas Tree Ornaments

Your tree is up, it's strung with lights, and your topper is firmly in place. Now it's time for the best part: trimming it with your favorite ornaments.

While everyone has their own preference when it comes to ornaments, it generally makes the most sense from a budget and convenience perspective to decorate the bulk of the tree with inexpensive, easily found shatterproof or glass balls in your favorite holiday colors. You'll find every color of the rainbow at Target or Walmart. Then add your own personality with individual ornaments or small sets reflecting a hobby, color, interest, or something whimsical that strikes your fancy.

The best personalized ornament

The best personalized ornament

The holidays are all about family, so celebrate yours with a personalized ornament that includes everyone's name. The Winter Family Ornament from Bed, Bath & Beyond includes your family name in the center, surrounded by up to 12 first names. It's made of porcelain with a glossy finish and is nearly 3 inches in diameter.

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The best blown-glass ornament

The best blown-glass ornament

What do you get when you combine traditional blown-glass with an of-the-moment and absolutely adorable craze? This super-cute sloth ornament from Old World Christmas, that's what. The Christmas Sloth is hand-blown from glass, then hand-painted and sprinkled with a bit of glitter. The kids are going to argue over who gets to put this on the tree, but don't feel bad if you have the urge to step in and do it yourself.

The best felted-wool ornaments

The best felted-wool ornaments

While Cost Plus World Market has a large selection of wonderfully unique felted-wool Christmas ornaments, you can't go wrong with this adorable set of two Christmas Mice. Mr. and Mrs. Mouse are all dressed up and ready to celebrate the holiday with their very own tree and gifts. The mice are made of handcrafted of wool and 5.5 inches tall.

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The best ball ornaments

The best ball ornaments

You already have your shiny glass or shatterproof ball ornaments, so add some warm texture, pattern, and color with two sets of 12 Knit Ball Ornaments from WEWILL. Each ornament measures around 3 inches in diameter and is completely covered with knitted wool in a colorful winter sweater design. Each set contains multiple patterns.

The best snowflake ornaments

The best snowflake ornaments

Snowflakes are a traditional Christmas motif, and we really like the Iridescent Glass Snowflake Ornaments from Banberry Designs. You get a set of six, and just like the real thing, each is a different design. All are made of clear glass with a bit of iridescence to add a subtle touch of shimmering beauty to your holiday tree. measure around 2.5 inches in diameter.

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The best ornaments to please your kids

The best ornaments to please your kids

It's hard to imagine any child — or adult, if we are being honest — who wouldn't break into a huge smile at the sight of these Felt Dog Christmas Ornaments. Dressed in little scarves, hats, and shirts, each of the four winter-loving pooches measures roughly 4 inches across. The set includes a dalmatian, golden retriever, dachshund, and Scotty.

The best wooden ornaments

The best wooden ornaments

While the majority of Christmas ornaments are made of glass, plastic, or wool, it's nice to mix it up a bit with a variety of textures, which is why we love these Wooden Heart Ornaments. You get two sets for 24 ornaments in all. Measuring 2.7 inches across, each ornament is delicately laser-cut by hand into a reindeer-and-bird design and finished with a red satin ribbon for hanging.

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Best Tree Skirts

Most Christmas tree stands are not very attractive, so a Christmas tree skirt serves two purposes: It covers up the stand, and it provides a horizontal counterbalance to the upright shape of the tree. Smooth your tree skirt in place once the tree is fully decorated, and then arrange the wrapped gifts on top of it. Now you're ready for Santa's visit!

The best natural tree skirt

The best natural tree skirt

While most tree skirts are some type of fabric, Cost Plus World Market breaks with tradition with their Natural Seagrass Tree Collar. Woven by hand in the Philippines, this unique alternative to the tree skirt adds a somewhat rustic, woodland touch to your holiday tree. It consists of two pieces that hook together around the tree stand and measures 22 inches at the top, 27 inches at the bottom, and 10 inches in height.

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The best faux-fur tree skirt

The best faux-fur tree skirt

The Snowy White Faux Fur Christmas Tree Skirt is hard to resist. It's almost like a wintry drift of snow beneath your tree, except this snowdrift is warm, plush, and fuzzy. At 48 inches in diameter, it's large enough to work with just about any tree and has hooks and loops along the slit edge to fasten it around the tree's trunk. The only downside is that your cat or dog might decide this is the best sleeping spot ever, but never fear: The skirt is hand-washable in cold water if necessary.

The best traditional tree skirt

The best traditional tree skirt

The Holiday Plaid Christmas Tree Skirt is decorated with a red and green plaid print with a thick border of green velvet for a traditional finish to your Christmas tree decorations. Best of all, it comes personalized with your family name or any word up to 20 characters. The skirt is 47.5 inches in diameter and can be spot-cleaned.

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The best knit tree skirt

The best knit tree skirt

The Reversible Fair Isle Christmas Tree Skirt is softly knit like your favorite sweater, and sports a cheerful red-and-white Fair Isle reindeer pattern on one side. Flip it over, and it's white with red stripes. Whichever side you choose to display, the tree skirt is a traditional design that adds lot of holiday cheer. The tree skirt is 48 inches in diameter and can be spot-cleaned.

The best elegant tree skirt

The best elegant tree skirt

If your holiday decor leans more toward classic elegance than cutesy designs, you'll love the beautiful Valery Madelyn Gold Christmas Tree Skirt. This 48-inch velvet and satin stunner has gold sequins throughout the central star as well as along the satin border. The cream and gold color scheme complements a collection of metallic gold and clear glass ornaments.

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For more Christmas decorating inspiration, check out our other great guides

For more Christmas decorating inspiration, check out our other great guides
The best artificial Christmas trees

Artificial Christmas trees have come a long way. Now they offer a much more realistic and festive look during the holiday season than their predecessors. Here are our top picks for the best artificial Christmas trees you can buy:

The best tabletop Christmas trees

Whether it's your one touch of holiday decor in a tiny studio apartment, part of an extensive collection of Christmas decorations, or even a shot of holiday spirit for your office cubicle, a tabletop Christmas tree lets you celebrate the season without the space commitment required by a full-size tree. Here are the best tabletop Christmas trees:

The best Christmas stockings

Whether you're young or old, there's something magical about the sight of an overflowing Christmas stocking awaiting you on Christmas morning. These are the best Christmas stockings you can buy: