It took a few decades, but I finally feel like I have a collection of holiday decorations I can be proud of. I had to do a lot of searching to find the kinds of things I was looking for, and since the holiday season is all about giving, I thought I’d share my favorite holiday decor items with you in hopes they make someone else’s search a bit easier! :-)
Check out my top 10 favorite holiday decor items below! Use the list as inspiration for your own holiday decor, or if they aren’t to your taste (no hard feelings!), identify what you like or don’t like about them. Taking note of your likes and dislikes is a good starting point for dialing in your own unique holiday decor style!
Jillee’s Top 10 Favorite Holiday Decor Items
1. Christmas Gnomes
In Scandinavian folklore, gnomes (also known as tomte or nisse) are said to protect farms, families, and children, especially during the long winter nights. Over the years, I’ve grown a small collection of these charming Christmas gnomes as a nod to my Scandinavian heritage, and I love the touch of whimsy they bring to my holiday decor!
This year, I’ve even added a special limited edition reindeer gnome to my shop for the holiday season! I first encountered M. Wolf Designs, a small business run by Mindy Wolf of Eagle Mountain, Utah, last year at a local craft fair, and was immediately smitten by her handcrafted gnomes.
These adorable reindeer gnomes feature wooden noses, fluffy beards, faux leather antlers and boots, and a cozy faux fur hat and trim. There are just 200 of them available now in my shop, so don’t wait if you want to get your hands on one!
2. Electric Candles
As the holidays draw near and the days get shorter, I appreciate the glow of my vast collection of battery-operated LED candles more and more. I have LED candles of all shapes and sizes scattered around to give our home an inviting glow, and they turn on and off automatically thanks to their built-in timers.
3. Felt Garlands
I love the rustic, old-fashioned appeal of felt Christmas decor, but I’m a total sucker for a felt garland! I like to hang them on my Christmas tree, bookshelves, entertainment center, buffet table, and more.
4. Wooden Santas
My Christmas decor is a collection of collections, including my collection of wooden Santas. Over the past several years, I’ve become especially attached to Santas created by Jim Shore. There are a LOT of them to choose from, and each one is uniquely beautiful!
5. Wooden Trees
Speaking of wood, I think there’s something so cozy about wooden decorations during the wintertime. They take me back to the cabins and chalets we used to see when my parents would take us kids on ski trips.
Wooden trees are cozy, seasonally appropriate, and definitely deserve a spot on the mantel! You can incorporate them into almost any holiday decor theme, from classic red and green to modern silver and gold.
6. Cranberry Bead Tree Garland
I’ve decorated our Christmas tree with these wooden “cranberry” garlands for as long as I can remember! They’re the very first thing I put on my tree once it’s time to decorate. Real cranberries are more traditional, but I like that I can use my wooden bead garlands year after year. Holiday trends come and go, but these garlands never go out of style!
7. Straw Tree Topper
Our straw tree topper is another nod to our family’s Scandinavian heritage. Many Northern and Eastern European cultures traditionally used straw (which is easy to craft with and readily available) to make Christmas decorations. I love the rustic charm it lends to our Christmas tree!
8. Kraft Wrapping Paper
Speaking of rustic charm, there are few things more rustic or charming than kraft paper. I like to use kraft wrapping paper to wrap my holiday gifts — the brown paper creates a unified “look” while the different prints and patterns add variety. It makes the gifts under our tree look just as charming and festive as the rest of the house!
More Ideas You'll Love
Related: 9 Practical Gift Wrap Hacks That Will Simplify Your Holidays
9. Lace & Transparent Ribbon
Lace and transparent ribbon make delightful additions to gifts wrapped in kraft paper. They provide a counterpoint to the rustic paper while still feeling very homey and festive.
10. Command Hooks
Much of my holiday decorating strategy revolves around Command hooks and adhesive strips. I use them to hang garlands, lights, wreaths, signs, and more. The only thing quicker and easier than putting them up is taking them down at the end of the season!
What’s your favorite holiday decor item?
One of our favorite Christmas decorations is actually a wooden nativity set. We were visiting my Aunt and Uncle years ago at Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if they already had one made or hurried and made it while we were there. We’ve had it at least 30 years., We’ve gotten so many compliments on it. Also it’s so precious because these relatives aren’t living anymore.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have some fun decorations- a light up ceramic tree a friend made years ago with the Lite brite pegs. Also my Sister in-law is Japanese . Her mom sends us the best cards every year they light up or play music. My mom has kept them and puts them on display.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite Christmas decorations are my nativity scenes because they highlight Jesus’ birth (the real reason for the season) and telling my grandchildren about Jesus being our Lord and Savior through his death on a cross, the greatest gift of all!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would just like to thank you so very much for ALL your post’s that you put out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am originally from England but have been living in Tenerife for the past 18 years and enjoying every minute of it. We have 3 dogs and 6 cats that were all strays and we love em to bits.
Once again Jillee, thank you.
I bought several strands of wooden cranberry garland 2 years ago. I took it all apart then crochetted tons of little “popcorns” Rethreaded them with the wooden cranberrys. They look so old timey and nice on the tree.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What a cute idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for all your posts. I love them!! Could you tell me how much garland to buy for a 5ft. tree?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for all your posts! I love all of them ! Can you give me an idea of how much garland it would take for a five foot tree?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing! I adore the felt garland, so cute! I found a wooden tree last year and would like to find more, they are one of those decor items that can easily stay up as winter decor after Christmas, when it’s too early to decorate for spring! I also love that you incorporate decor that represents your heritage. Years ago I discovered that glass pickle ornaments were a German tradition, where the child who found the ornament first on the tree won a prize! My husband and I have signicant German roots, so of course, I had to get one! I love to collect ornaments that represent the interests of our family and specifically my kids, like sports, music, hobbies, favorite characters, pets, etc. I also like to get ornaments as souvenirs when we travel to remember our various vacations. I’m also a big fan of vintage Christmas decor and have a good collection of wooden and ceramic snowmen.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Good for you and your husband. I am now just waking up to my European roots. So important and what incredible Europeans they were and are. Like us in the US.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I stay in South Africa, Cape town. I love to put up a african christmas tree. I put some branches in a pot and hang the big 5 , with other tradition things .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh my goodness, thanks to you showing the Jim Shore Santas, I found a Scottish Santa with bagpipes! lol I love the candles on timers. I plan to buy those for our windows. I too love Kraft paper. It’s so much easier to work with when wrapping than the standard wrapping paper.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How fun!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the wood Christmas trees. Where can I get some like yours?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jodie! Just click on the underlined name of the item you’re looking for :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I did and it took me to Amazon but not to the carved Christmas trees you have. They show a lighted kind of wood tree. Yours are much nicer.
I actually found mine at Home Goods :-)
I love the flameless candles as well but use them all year long. They are a great comfort when power goes out-the house is not in total darkness, they are safe to use around pets and can be put in areas that traditional candles cannot. I have them on all three levels of my house, with the timers going on and off at different times so that there is always some “glow” in my house.
I also collect nativity scenes of all kinds-large, small, plastic, ceramic, glass, porcelain, vinyl stick ons, etc. I love to have some my children when they were small as well as my grandchildren, can put their hands on and tell the story of the nativity.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love decorating, but don’t like to have a lot of stuff to store. I prefer decorations that store flat if possible. What ideas do you have for flat decor?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Garlands and banners :-) I’ll have to think of some more!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I put Command hooks in the center of all my kitchen cabinets, and I hang holiday potholders from them. I add a yarn bow to the hanger loop for an extra festive look.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What a cute idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.In my travels I look for Jesus manger scenes to add to my collection. I love Christmas!! (Like your electric candle idea also.)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite is an already decorated tree. It is about 3 feet high and I have been adding miniature ornaments for years. When Christmas is done it goes in a closet with a black garbage bag draped over it, waiting to come out again next year. No annoying lights to struggle with each year, just plug it in and go. The trick is to make it thick so you can add lots of ornaments. I used a tree shaped frame and draped evergreen swags around it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh I just love the Jim Shore Santas! I thought to myself “I’ll bet they’re not available here” but they are!!!! I’m thrilled. So I can’t get the turkey oven, but at least I can get a Santa, I’ll buy one for my daughter and her family! All of your decorations are wonderful Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Jenni! I’m so glad you found one :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. The wooden trees made me think of my brother in laws dad. We’ve known their family for years and he does wood carvings like this for a hobby. He’s made a few for our family over the years. I love learning about Scandinavian traditions. My moms family is half Swedish. But, any of the traditions of their culture I’ve learned about by reading. When my Grandpas parents came to America over 100 years ago they didn’t pass any of their cultural ways down to their family.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.