Deck the halls: top ten decorations for your Christmas tree

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la. ‘Tis the season…all right, we’ll stop now. Decorating (or trimming) the tree, though, is really the start of Christmas for most of us. Perhaps you have your own family traditions, including sherry, Christmas music and the gradual re-discovering of favourite ornaments.

If your tree is looking a little tired, though, it could be time to invest in some new decorations which will become part of next year’s tradition. We’ve picked out our top ten favourites.

1. Spring swan ornament, Alessi

Beautiful and unusual, this Faberjorì Cigno di Primavera / Spring Swan decoration was inspired by the famous Fabergé jewel eggs of Peter Carl Fabergé. It has a flat golden base to sit on a table as well as hang on a tree, so you could display it as part of your centrepiece or on special occasions. £27, available from Hurn & Hurn.

2. Green stoneware tree ornament, Bloomingville

A cut above gaudy glass baubles, this stoneware ornament with its leather cord would look lovely both on a tree or used in a simple vase arrangement of branches. £8.95, available from Beaumonde. 

3. Dinosaur Christmas decoration, Abode Living

A must for the younger members of the family, this metallic brontosaurus certainly makes a change from robins and reindeer! £8.95, available from Abode Living.

4. London wooden decorations, Poundland

At nine pieces for just £1, this cute little wooden decorations make a great buy. As well as hanging them on the tree, you could use them to adorn napkins, as gift tags or as part of a table centrepiece. Available in Poundland stores. 

5. Nordic Santa tree topper, The Contemporary Home

Nordic style at Christmas will never go out of fashion and this lovely tree topper has bucketloads of charm. In felt with wool details just pop on the top of the tree for a cosy traditional Christmas look. £6, available from The Contemporary Home. Also available in an angel design.

6. Dodo Christmas decoration, the Natural History Museum

Add some sparkle to your home with this beautifully embroidered gold dodo decoration, with a smooth velvet body and diamante outline. Exclusive to the Natural History Museum, it’s priced at £18 and is sure to make a talking point when hung on the tree.

7. Set of two Christmas tree cookie cutters, Dexam

How about this ‘two uses in one’ set of festive cookie cutters in two different sizes? You can either use them for baking of hang them on the tree – or both. Made from a non-stick, durable aluminium green cookie cutter, the pack features a recipe card and would make a useful little stocking filler. £4, available from Dexam. 

8. Handmade porcelain Christmas Tree by Katie Almond, Made by Hand Online

These beautiful handmade and textured porcelain Christmas decorations come in a range of designs, including wreaths, puddings, reindeer, trees, stars and stockings. Strung on twine and ready to hang, some of the designs also have little robins and touches of gold lustre for extra festive cheer. The wreaths and puddings measure approximately 5.5cm x 5.5cm, the stars 9cm x 6cm, the trees 10cm x 8cm and the reindeers 11cm x 10cm. Prices range from £12 to £16, available from Made by Hand Online. 

9. Set of six felt penguins, Fiona Walker England

By Sara Walker.