Wooden Christmas ornaments have two advantages over glass ones: they do not break and they last longer than a single generation. All that remains is to decide whether you want solid wood, a natural finish or colourful ones. The difference is not just about looks – each line suits a different tree and a different household.
Before you start choosing. Measure the height of your tree and decide whether you want full or airy decoration – that determines how many pieces you need. Think about whether you will combine the ornaments with something you already have at home, because then you need to keep to a consistent colour scheme. And consider who lives in your home: small children and pets are in themselves a good reason to choose wood over glass.
Four lines and who they are for
1. Solid wood ornaments: the heaviest and most durable
Solid wood ornaments are made from a single piece of wood, not from a thin board. That makes them thicker, heavier and more substantial – you can feel it the moment you hold one. The grain is most visible on them because the surface has depth.
Their weight, however, means they need a sturdy branch. Do not put them on the tip of a slender tree or on thin branch ends – they will slip off or bend the branch. They look best hung closer to the trunk, where they have support.
They suit sturdier firs and spruces and interiors where wood should take centre stage. They are also the best choice if you are buying ornaments with the idea of passing them on to your children one day.
2. Natural: wood without colour
Natural ornaments let the material speak for itself – no paint, just a surface finish that brings out the grain. They are lighter than solid wood and often cut into more delicate shapes.
This line is the most versatile. It works on the tree on its own as well as combined with glass baubles in a single shade, and sits happily alongside dried fruit, pine cones and gingerbread. If you are not sure, start here.
A bonus: natural ornaments can also be used away from the tree – hung on branches in a vase, placed in a lantern or tied to a present instead of a bow.
3. Colourful: for children's rooms and cheerful decorating
Colourful ornaments are meant for places where the tree should be cheerful rather than restrained. They work well in homes with small children who want to enjoy decorating, and in children's rooms with a second, smaller tree.
Be careful about mixing them with the natural line – choose one or the other. Colourful and natural ornaments on the same tree usually look as if someone could not make up their mind.
4. Sets: when you want it done
Ornament sets are the answer when you do not want to put your decorations together piece by piece. The ornaments in a set are matched in colour and shape, so the result looks consistent without any effort.
They also make a practical gift – for a new home, for a young couple celebrating their first Christmas together, or as a foundation to build on in the years to come.
Hanging tip: Tie the string or ribbon to a length of ten to fifteen centimetres, not shorter. The ornament then hangs freely in front of the branch and is fully visible instead of hiding among the needles. And hang it on the branch, not its tip – closer to the trunk the ornament will not slip off and the tree looks fuller.
How many ornaments and how to arrange them
A tried-and-tested guide is roughly twenty to thirty ornaments per metre of tree height if you want full but not overloaded decoration. A two-metre tree therefore needs around fifty pieces. With wooden ornaments you usually need slightly fewer, because they tend to be larger and fill the space better.
Arrange them in three layers of depth, not just around the outside. A few pieces hung deeper towards the trunk give the tree a sense of depth that a flat outer layer never has. It is the simplest trick for taking an ordinary tree to another level.
Larger, heavier pieces go at the bottom, smaller ones at the top. It is not just about balance – a pyramid layout looks natural and makes the tree look taller.
Care and storage
During the season, wooden ornaments need practically no care. Just do not hang them on a branch directly above a candle or right next to hot fairy lights – classic incandescent strings get warm and needlessly dry out the wood near them.
What really matters is how you store the ornaments for the rest of the year. Keep them in a box with dividers or layered with paper so they do not rub against each other. The key is a dry place with a stable temperature – an unheated loft or a damp cellar is not suitable. A cupboard in the flat is better than anything else.
Before putting them away, dust the ornaments and leave them loose for a day before closing them in the box. We have written about this in more detail in our guide on how to store Christmas decorations.
What to avoid. Do not hang wooden ornaments directly above burning candles or right next to incandescent fairy lights. Do not store them in plastic bags, which trap moisture. Do not wash them with water – a dry cloth is enough. And do not store them in an unheated loft where the temperature rises in summer and drops below freezing in winter; it is precisely this alternation that harms wood the most.
Ornaments beyond the tree
It is a shame to leave wooden ornaments only on a tree that stands for barely three weeks. A few pieces can be used elsewhere, giving your decorations a unity that is otherwise hard to achieve.
The simplest option is to hang them on branches in a vase. Bare cherry, birch or hazel branches last all through Advent, the ornaments stand out more on them than among the needles and the whole looks airy. It also works in homes where no tree is put up.
The second option is to place them in a lantern or on a tray next to candle holders. Wood looks lovely next to candlelight, and the arrangement can be taken apart after Christmas without having to tidy everything away.
The third use is practical: an ornament instead of a bow on a present. The recipient gets a little extra, and the wrapping looks more thoughtful than a loop of synthetic ribbon. Lighter natural pieces are better suited to this than heavy solid wood.
Comparison of the lines
| Line | Weight | Suits | Works best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid wood | Higher | Sturdy firs and spruces | On their own, closer to the trunk |
| Natural | Lower | Any tree | On their own or with glass in a single shade |
| Colourful | Lower | Children's rooms, smaller trees | On their own, not mixed with the natural line |
| Sets | Varies | Anyone who wants a ready-made solution | As a foundation for decorating and as a gift |
A word about the material. We make the ornaments from native wood species, so the shade and grain differ from piece to piece. This is not a flaw but a property of a natural material – and that is exactly why wooden decorations look livelier on a tree than a set of identical moulded pieces.
If you buy ornaments gradually over several years, expect older pieces to be a shade darker than new ones. After a year or two the difference evens out, as the new ones mature in the meantime.
From our workshop
Ornaments as a gift
Wooden ornaments are among those gifts you can safely assume will not offend. They are not as personal as clothing, they do not take up space like a large decoration, and the recipient can put them wherever they like.
A well-proven approach is to give the same person one ornament every year – a child, a godchild, a friend. After ten years they have a collection where they remember the year of each piece. It is a gift that grows over time and costs little.
Frequently asked questions
How many ornaments do I need for my tree?
A tried-and-tested guide is roughly twenty to thirty ornaments per metre of tree height if you want full but not overloaded decoration. With wooden ornaments you usually need slightly fewer, because they are larger and fill the space better.
Do wooden ornaments break if they fall?
Practically never, and that is their main practical advantage over glass. In a home with small children, a cat or a dog, this is usually the deciding argument. Thin carved details can snap off, but a wooden ornament will survive an ordinary fall from the tree.
Can wooden ornaments be combined with glass ones?
Yes, just keep to a consistent colour scheme. Wood works best with glass in a single shade – for example natural wood with matt white or gold baubles. If you mix wood with a colourful assortment, the result tends to look disjointed.
How should I store wooden ornaments so they last?
Keep them in a box with dividers or layered with paper so they do not rub against each other. The key is a dry place with a stable temperature – an unheated loft or a damp cellar is bad for wood. Dust the ornaments before putting them away.
Do wooden ornaments fade over time?
Natural wood darkens slightly over time, which is a normal part of the material maturing. This happens faster in direct sunlight, so do not store ornaments by a window. Coloured versions keep their shade for a long time if you do not expose them to sun and moisture.
What Christmas ornaments does AMADEA offer?
In our sheltered workshop we make wooden Christmas ornaments in four lines – solid wood, natural, colourful and in sets. Everything is handmade from Czech wood, so the grain of every piece is different.
🎄 Ornaments to pass on. Wooden Christmas ornaments from a Czech sheltered workshop – they do not break and last for generations.
Browse Christmas ornamentsAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.