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Christmas tree ornaments are the baubles, figures and hangings that hang in the Christmas tree and give Christmas its character. At Dims Studio you'll find Christmas tree ornaments in mouth-blown glass and hand-painted polyresin, from classic Kersten Christmas baubles shaped like champagne bottles and six-packs to Cody Foster's hand-painted glass ornaments with pop culture figures, musicians and humorous motifs. Here you get an overview of types, materials, motifs and brands, so you can find the Christmas tree ornaments that suit your tree and your Christmas style.

What are Christmas tree ornaments?

Christmas tree ornaments is a collective term for the things you hang in the Christmas tree: baubles, figures and other ornaments with a hanger at the top. The word covers both the classic, single-colour glass baubles and the more narrative ornaments shaped like something specific, for example an object, an animal or a figure. What Dims Studio's Christmas tree ornaments have in common is that each piece is hand-painted, giving a unique finish from ornament to ornament.

Christmas tree ornaments are also called baubles or Christmas hangings, even though not all ornaments are actually ball-shaped. The word Christmas ornament covers the same thing and is typically used for the more detailed, figurative pieces. See the broader range of Christmas decorations if you're also looking for other Christmas decor for the rest of the home.

The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with hanging ornaments goes far back and has evolved from simple, single-colour baubles to a wide range of colours, materials and motifs. Today, Christmas tree ornaments are just as much an expression of personal style as a firm tradition, and many people collect ornaments year after year, so the tree gets its own story.

Types of Christmas tree ornaments

Christmas tree ornaments can be roughly divided by what the ornament depicts, and how detailed the painting is. The type determines whether the ornament is a quiet addition to the tree, or becomes a talking point in its own right.

Classic glass baubles and object shapes

The classic ornaments from Kersten are shaped like recognisable objects: a champagne bottle or a six-pack with miniature beers in a holder. They're mouth-blown in clear glass with painted label details, and they work well as a festive, easily recognisable element among more colourful baubles.

Figurative ornaments with pop culture motifs

Cody Foster is known for hand-painted glass ornaments shaped like busts and figures with references to music, film and pop culture. The ornaments are painted in detail, so each figure has its own expression, clothing and colours, and they're typically used as an eye-catcher at the front of the tree, where the details can be clearly seen.

Text and sign ornaments

Some of Cody Foster's ornaments are shaped like small signs with a short, festive text, for example a reference to a well-known Christmas song or an invitation to pour the champagne. They add a humorous touch to the tree and work well as an eye-catcher among more traditional baubles.

Whimsical figures

Cody Foster also makes ornaments that are pure fantasy figures, such as fluffy, colourful monsters in snow and angel motifs. They stand out from the more realistic figures and give the tree a playful, less traditional look.

Type	Expression	Example in the range	Best for
Classic object shape	Recognisable, festive	Kersten champagne and six-pack ornament	A quiet, festive element
Figurative pop culture	Detailed, narrative	Cody Foster bust ornaments	Eye-catcher at the front of the tree
Text and signs	Humorous	Cody Foster sign ornaments	A laugh among the guests
Fantasy figures	Playful, colourful	Cody Foster fluffy monster figures	An unconventional, fun tree

Materials: mouth-blown glass and hand-painted polyresin

The material determines how fragile the ornament is, and how it should be handled and stored.

Mouth-blown glass

Most of our ornaments from Cody Foster and Kersten are mouth-blown glass, which is then hand-painted in several layers. Mouth-blown glass means each ornament is shaped by a glassblower, which allows for small, natural variations in shape from piece to piece. Glass is light and fragile, so the ornaments should be hung carefully and packed in cotton wool or bubble wrap when out of season.

Polyresin

A few ornaments, such as Anna+Nina's leopard ornament and one of Cody Foster's sign ornaments, are made of polyresin. Polyresin is more robust than glass and handles being managed by children better, or hanging somewhere it might easily be knocked. The surface is hand-painted, just like the glass ornaments.

Material	Fragility	Finish	Brands in the range
Mouth-blown glass	High, handle carefully	Hand-painted, often with glitter	Cody Foster, Kersten
Polyresin	Low to medium	Hand-painted	Anna+Nina, Cody Foster

How to look after your Christmas tree ornaments

• Hang glass ornaments in the branches with a sturdy hanger, so the weight is distributed evenly and the ornament doesn't slip.
• Avoid touching the painted surface too much with your fingers, as oils can wear down the colour over time.
• Wrap glass ornaments individually in tissue paper, cotton wool or bubble wrap when storing them out of season.
• Store Christmas tree ornaments dry and shock-proof, ideally in a box with fixed compartments, so the ornaments don't knock against each other.

Christmas tree ornaments in practice: how to use them

Christmas tree ornaments aren't just about filling the branches, but about creating a cohesive look that matches the rest of the Christmas decor in the home.

Mix classic and figurative

A tree with only single-colour baubles can quickly feel flat. Mix the classic object shapes from Kersten with a few figurative ornaments from Cody Foster, so the tree gets both calm and personality. A good rule of thumb is to let the quiet, single-colour baubles form the base of the tree, while the more detailed and colourful ornaments are placed where they can best be seen, for example at eye level and facing the room. See more classic Christmas baubles for the base of the mix, or check out fun Christmas baubles if the humorous expression should take up more space.

Create a theme

If you want a music or film theme in the tree, you can gather several of Cody Foster's figurative ornaments that reference pop culture. A theme gives a cohesive look and is a good conversation starter when guests stop by on Christmas Eve. You can also choose a theme by colour or motif, for example animals, food and drink or festive signs, so it doesn't necessarily require a specific figurative motif to create cohesion in the tree.

Place the most fragile ornaments well

Glass ornaments with fine details, like Cody Foster's bust figures, fare best deep in the tree or high up, out of reach of small hands and pet tails. The more robust polyresin ornaments can advantageously hang lower down.

Christmas tree ornaments as a collector's item

Many households build up their Christmas tree ornaments year by year, rather than buying everything at once. A single new ornament each year, ideally from the same brand or with a running theme, means the tree gets its own story, and each ornament can be linked to a particular Christmas or event. Cody Foster's changing range of figures is well suited to exactly this kind of collecting, because new motifs keep being added.

A humorous Christmas tree

If Christmas should have a twinkle in its eye, Cody Foster's sign ornaments and whimsical monster figures are a safe bet. They work well as a couple of surprising elements among more traditional Christmas decor in glass Christmas decorations.

Sizes and hanging

Most of our glass ornaments measure between 10 and 15 centimetres and have a discreet metal hanger or a string at the top, so they're easy to hang on a branch. Large figurative ornaments take up the most visual space and should have their own spot in the tree, while smaller object shapes like the champagne bottle can be hung closer together in clusters. Cody Foster's bust ornaments are typically a little taller and wider than the classic ball shapes, because the details in the face, clothing and accessories need more room to paint.

Christmas tree ornaments and the colours of Christmas

Traditionally, red, green and gold dominate the Christmas tree, but our range of hand-painted Christmas tree ornaments invites a broader palette. Cody Foster's ornaments range from clear, saturated colours to more muted tones, depending on the figure or object in question, while Kersten's object shapes stick to realistic, true-to-life colours like clear glass and gold. Anna+Nina's leopard ornament introduces an earthy pattern that pairs well with natural materials such as pine cones, dried orange slices and straw trees. If you want a consistent colour theme, choose ornaments within the same colour range. If you'd rather have a lively and eclectic tree, feel free to mix several colours and types.

Christmas tree ornaments for door wreaths and other places in the home

Although the name suggests that Christmas tree ornaments only belong in the Christmas tree, most ornaments can easily be used elsewhere too. Hang a few ornaments on a door wreath, tie them to gift ribbons on the Christmas presents, or gather them in a bowl on the dining table as table decor on Christmas Eve. See more ideas for Christmas hangings if you want to spread Christmas throughout the home and not just in the tree.

The brands behind our Christmas tree ornaments

Our range of Christmas tree ornaments brings together a small number of brands, each with its own expression.

Cody Foster

Cody Foster is the brand that features most in our range of Christmas tree ornaments. The American brand is known for hand-painted glass ornaments with a sharp eye for detail, from figurative busts referencing music and pop culture to humorous signs and whimsical monster figures. What Cody Foster's ornaments have in common is that they're painted by hand, so no two figures are quite the same. The brand continuously updates its range with new figures, so the selection changes from season to season, and several of the ornaments are marked as new in our range.

Cody Foster's ornaments are a popular choice among customers who collect Christmas tree ornaments over several years, precisely because the brand keeps introducing new figures within music, film and pop culture. This makes it possible to build a personal collection, where each ornament represents something meaningful to you or your family.

Kersten

Kersten is the Dutch brand behind the classic object shapes in our range, such as the champagne and six-pack ornament. The ornaments are mouth-blown glass with painted label details and act as a calm, festive counterpart to the more figurative ornaments from Cody Foster.

Anna+Nina

Anna+Nina contributes a single, but distinctive, ornament to our range: a leopard-patterned ornament in polyresin. It's an obvious choice if you want an animal motif in the tree that breaks with the more traditional red and gold baubles.

Brand	Material	Characteristics	Best for
Cody Foster	Mouth-blown glass, a few in polyresin	Figurative, humorous, detailed	Eye-catcher and personality in the tree
Kersten	Mouth-blown glass	Classic object shapes	A calm, festive foundation
Anna+Nina	Polyresin	Animal motif, colourful	A single distinctive element

Find your Christmas tree ornaments: decision guide

If you're unsure which Christmas tree ornaments to choose, start from what look you want in the tree this year.

Situation	Our recommendation
You want a classic, festive tree	Kersten's champagne and six-pack ornaments in glass
You want a fun, conversation-starting tree	Cody Foster's figurative and humorous ornaments
You want a single, colourful animal motif	Anna+Nina's leopard ornament in polyresin
You have children or pets in the house	Polyresin ornaments placed low, glass ornaments placed high
You want to create a theme in the tree this year	Several of Cody Foster's figurative ornaments with the same theme
You need to give a Christmas gift that surprises	One of Cody Foster's sign or monster ornaments

Frequently asked questions about Christmas tree ornaments

What's the difference between Christmas tree ornaments and baubles?

Baubles are a type of Christmas tree ornament that's specifically ball-shaped. Christmas tree ornaments is the broader term, which also covers figures, signs and other shapes that aren't round, but still have a hanger and are hung in the Christmas tree.

What are the ornaments made of?

Most ornaments from Cody Foster and Kersten are mouth-blown glass, while a few ornaments, including some from Anna+Nina, are made of polyresin. Both materials are hand-painted in several layers.

How do I best store my Christmas tree ornaments?

Wrap glass ornaments individually in tissue paper, cotton wool or bubble wrap, and store them dry and shock-proof, ideally in a box with fixed compartments, so they don't knock against each other between seasons.

Are glass ornaments fragile?

Yes, mouth-blown glass should be handled carefully. Hang the ornaments securely in the branches, and place the most detailed and fragile ornaments high up or deep in the tree, where they're less exposed.

Can Christmas tree ornaments be used for several years in a row?

Yes, hand-painted glass and polyresin are made to last several seasons, if the ornaments are stored and handled carefully outside of Christmas.

Why is there a colour difference on seemingly identical ornaments?

Because the ornaments are hand-painted and, in many cases, mouth-blown, there can be small, natural variations in colour and shape from piece to piece. This is part of the handmade look, not a flaw.

Do Cody Foster's ornaments suit a traditional Christmas tree?

Yes, they can easily be used as an eye-catcher among more traditional baubles. Mix them with classic object shapes from Kersten for a tree that has both calm and personality.

How many ornaments do I need for my tree?

It depends on the size of the tree and your taste, but a good rule of thumb is to mix several sizes and types, so some ornaments are eye-catchers, while others quietly fill in between them.

Can Christmas tree ornaments be used as a Christmas gift?

Yes, a single figurative ornament from Cody Foster is an obvious small Christmas gift or a fun element in an advent calendar, because it's both personal and a collector's item.

What do I do if a glass ornament breaks?

Carefully collect the shards and dispose of them safely. Unfortunately, there's no way to repair mouth-blown glass so it keeps its original strength, but many people choose to keep a whole ornament of the same type as a replacement.

Can Christmas tree ornaments be used anywhere other than the Christmas tree?

Yes, many people also use the ornaments on door wreaths, as table decor, or tied to gift ribbons on Christmas presents. Ornaments with a sturdy hanger are easy to move around between different places in the home.

Do Christmas tree ornaments need to match in colour and style?

That's down to taste. If you want a calm, uniform tree, choose ornaments within the same colour range. If you prefer a more eclectic look, you can freely mix classic object shapes, figurative ornaments and fantasy figures.