There's nothing more festive than a tree covered in baubles. And this year those baubles will be almost anything but plain!
Novelty baubles are set to be a huge trend for Christmas 2024, but with so many different types to choose from, how do you pick the best ones for your space?
To help you trim your tree this year we've rounded up five of the top novelty bauble trends for 2024. From cute and quirky to refined and elegant, there's a style to suit every taste. Whether you're looking to start a new collection or update your current theme, this is a chance to have fun with your decor and make your tree really shine.
There's no need to abandon your favourite festive aesthetic to accommodate these new trends. Novelty baubles can be integrated easily into existing schemes, and the collections below will all pair well with classic festive colour palettes such as gold, silver and red. For an individual touch, look out for novelty baubles that reflect your personality or interests. Whether your passion is music, food or the great outdoors, you'll find a trend to match.
Make a statement
You might want to pick a few statement pieces to elevate your decor or go bold with a tree that's dripping in ornaments. Either way, your favourite novelty bauble is a great starting place for designing a scheme.
Try contrasting quirky, unique shapes with traditional ones such as stars, droplets and globes for a balanced effect. Remember to think about texture and shine too – mix up metallic and matt materials, as well as soft and hard surfaces, to add an extra dimension to your look.
And it doesn't stop at the tree! Consider taking the theme into the rest of your room too. We have some ideas below for how to use baubles throughout your space, as well as a guide to hanging them on your tree like a pro. So read on to find your favourite baubles and give your home a truly unique look this Christmas…
Rainbow disco
Go retro with sparkles and sequins
Brighten up your space with a Seventies-inspired trend that brings the joy of the dancefloor into your home. This feel-good theme mixes mirrors, sequins and metallics with bright rainbow shades and quirky shapes. Complete the look with mirror balls and foil garlands for the perfect backdrop to your next kitchen disco.
Folksy forest
Enter a magical winter woodland
Transport yourself to a fairytale forest with this nature-inspired scheme. Look out for organic shapes and textures, folk art-style florals, and woodland animals in their favourite winter woollies. With its rich red, gold and green hues, this trend complements traditional Christmas themes – so you can refresh your look with just a handful of new pieces.
Sweet tooth
Think pink with this scrumptious trend
These delightful baubles will bring a playful touch to your decor (with or without a pink Christmas tree to hang them on). Think wrapped sweets, ballerina mice and a scattering of sprinkles, all in soft pastel shades. Use candy stripe baubles as fillers between the statement decs, and extend the theme into the room with marshmallow-soft cushions and a pink fluffy rug.
True blue
Turn heads with bold, theatrical colour
This dramatic scheme takes inspiration from the dark night sky, with celestial touches such as twinkling stars adding glamour to the look. Build dimension by mixing soft curves with sharp lines and geometric elements – with a monochrome scheme you can afford to be bold. Finally, add gold metallic accents for that all-important festive sparkle.
Vintage glamour
Add larger-than-life luxury to your space
Taking inspiration from the glitz and glamour of the Art Deco era, this opulent theme lets you indulge your inner maximalist.
Add a sprinkling of fairy lights to your tree, then pile on the baubles – there's no such thing as too many! Beading, gold trims and champagne shades anchor the look, while jewel tones provide a striking contrast.
How to decorate your tree with novelty baubles
Follow our step-by-step guide to make this year's tree the best one yet. With a few simple tips and tricks we'll help you show off your new novelty baubles with a picture-perfect, professional-looking display…
First, think about what you want your finished tree to look like, so you have a goal in mind as you work. Whether it's pared-back Scandi style, a vintage theme inspired by your period property, or all-out maximalism, having a plan from the start will make it much easier to achieve the look you want.
Next you need to prepare your tree. Whether you have a real tree or an artificial one, the steps are similar. Place the tree where you want it to stand, then take a step back. Is the fullest part facing the place it will be viewed from, or does it need turning around? Does the tree look symmetrical, or do some of the branches need tweaking? Are there any bald spots that could be covered with a bit of extra faux foliage?
Once you're happy with how your bare tree looks, it's time to start sprucing it up. If you're using spray snow, add that now before you begin decorating. Now is also the time to think about covering up the base. You'll never see unsightly wiring or tree stands beneath professional trees! Use a tree skirt, a throw, or a stack of wrapped boxes to disguise anything you want to keep hidden.
Light it up
No tree would be complete without twinkly lights, so that's the next step. Allow around 100 lights per foot of tree – or more if you like lots of sparkle. Plug in the lights to check that they're working, and to ensure you have enough cable to reach from the socket to the tree.
The rest is largely down to personal preference. We like to start at the bottom of the tree and wind the lights up to the top, weaving over and under the branches as we go. Place some lights nearer the trunk and some on the outer branches to make the whole tree shine.
Now you're ready for the best bit – adding your baubles. Choose a narrow colour palette or single style theme to give your tree a more cohesive look. Playing with size and texture within your scheme can help add interest. You'll need plain or lightly patterned baubles that fit your colour theme, a selection of filler items (such as ribbon bows, garlands, strings of beads and so on), and of course your statement novelty baubles.
Start by adding long filler items, such as beads and garlands, followed by the largest baubles. These can sit closer to the trunk for extra depth. Place statement baubles on the outer branches, where they'll be most visible, and use smaller ornaments and filler items in the gaps. Try to imagine that your tree is split into quarters, and work on each segment separately. This will help you to ensure that similar baubles are spread out across the tree and keep the overall look from being top or bottom-heavy.
Keep stepping back to check the overall effect and rearranging if necessary. You may find you need to move the baubles around until everything appears balanced. Don't forget to capture a picture of your finished tree so that you can recreate it in years to come!
Where else to hang novelty baubles
Novelty baubles aren't just for your tree. Find creative ways to display your favourite finds and they'll bring colour and fun to every room. This is also your chance to display any oversized or sentimental decorations that might not fit with the theme you've chosen for your tree. Show off family heirlooms, kids' creations and more with these simple techniques.
Here are five ways to use baubles throughout your space:
1. Fill a bowl or vase
One of the easiest, and most effective, ways to display your baubles is in a wide bowl or glass vase. Choose a colour or shape and pile them high, with bigger baubles on the bottom and smaller ones on top. This portable decoration would make an eye-catching table centrepiece too.
2. Decorate your mantelpiece
Drape a garland (or some real foliage) along your mantelpiece, then place baubles on top and around it to add depth and colour. You could also suspend baubles along the mantelpiece using stocking hangers, ribbons or sticky hooks. Vary the height and size of the baubles for an eye-catching scheme.
3. Style up a doorway
Hang oversized baubles, paper decorations and more from a suspension rod placed in an arch or doorway to create a dramatic entrance to your living space. Why not go one step further and complete the look by wrapping the rod in a garland and fairy lights first?
4. Hang from a branch
Quick, easy, and oh-so beautiful – simply collect a small branch, place it in a vase and hang a variety of baubles from the twigs. Perfect for rustic and Scandi-style festive schemes, this look pairs particularly well with decorations made from natural fibres such as hessian, jute and felt.
5. Make a bauble wreath
Why buy a bauble wreath when you can make your own? All you need is a wreath base and some florists' wire. For maximum impact try using a backdrop of plain baubles with novelty ones placed on top or suspended below. Follow the bauble wreath tutorial from Gathered.how to find out how it's done.
Disclaimer: Prices correct at time of publication
Feature by Sarah Winsper
