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Tuesday, June 17th
Etsy is our favorite place to get Christmas ornaments that are the opposite of mass produced. From handblown glass to hand-painted oyster shells decorated with palm trees in full holiday regalia, the ornaments here are a joy to browse and often radiate the love of the people who make them.
Sets are spendy but special
That's not to say you can't get ornament sets here. You can absolutely find some sellers who offer themed groupings of ornaments. However, you'll pay more for them than for an assembly-line, made-in-China box of plastic baubles that aren't anything special. (We're not judging if that's your vibe! There are retailers on our list who offer those, and they're great for decking the branches from top to bottom in one uniform color/style!)
Your wish is Etsy sellers' command
But, we took the opportunity to order four custom Christmas ornaments from four different Etsy sellers, and we were thrilled without exception. While there are other stores on our list that also provide personalized ornaments, those tend to be a little on the cartoonish side, or they don't necessarily have the super-niche styles you might be looking for. We had some pretty unique requests, like an ornament celebrating a long-distance relationship between the US and another country, and one in the shape and style of a Disney Cast Member, and it was no problem to not just find those but also multiple options that were all perfect.
Details are easy to find and understand
As you look through the options here, you can see at a glance what each ornament costs and how many reviews each ornament has. Click on one that interests you to see even more details to guide your purchase: an estimated delivery window, any shipping costs (some ship for free), dimensions, desired personalizations (like color of the hanging ribbon/string or the names/dates/places to be featured), and so on. One tip as you start to shop, though: make sure to keep the "most relevant” sort in place. When we tried to look at Christmas ornaments by price, we started seeing a long list of items that had nothing to do with holiday decorations (like bottle openers and geodes?!).
Personal touch working with Etsy sellers
It's usually pretty nice interacting with the Etsy sellers, too. More often than not, there are real people behind these accounts, and they love to make sure your ornaments turn out just right. That's why the customer reviews (which can number in the hundreds or even thousands on some ornaments) are so important: to you, so that you can see that a seller is one to trust, and to the seller, so that their business keeps on growing. It's completely different from shopping at That Big Store Online, right?
Shop with confidence
However, if you're still a little nervous about ordering from a creator instead of a corporation, Etsy understands. That's why most Christmas ornaments are eligible for Purchase Protection: you'll see that displayed in the item's information if it qualifies. If your ornament doesn't match the description or photos, it arrives damaged or after the estimated arrival date, or doesn't arrive at all, reach out to the seller first. You can escalate the issue to Etsy 48 hours after you contact the seller and once the estimated delivery window has passed. If all else fails, Etsy will refund your purchase.
Best place to buy personalized or unique Christmas ornaments
From sweet and simple to intricate and impressive, the Christmas ornaments available on Etsy don't disappoint. While naturally this isn't going to be the right place to shop if you need a whole bunch of relatively same-looking ornaments for a quick tree decorating session, it's 100% the best place to look for ones that will be unique and crafted with care. From niche sports and hobbies to special occasions and everything in between, you'll find anything you're looking to celebrate or commemorate with a Christmas ornament. Etsy earns an excellent rating when shopping for personalized ornaments.
The world of Christmas ornaments is incredibly diverse. From traditional glass baubles to quirky, novelty ornaments, there's something for everyone. Many modern ornaments feature popular characters from movies, TV shows, and cartoons, adding a touch of pop culture to the holiday season.
The tradition of decorating trees, particularly during Christmas, dates back centuries. However, the concept of hanging ornaments on trees is believed to have originated in 16th century Germany. Back then, people decorated their trees with fruits, nuts, and other edible items. Over time, this evolved into using more decorative items like candles, paper decorations, and small trinkets.
As this tradition spread throughout Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, the ornaments themselves evolved. Handcrafted glass ornaments became popular in the 19th century, particularly in regions like Germany and Czechoslovakia. These delicate decorations were often intricately painted and adorned with glitter. In the 20th century, with the advent of mass production, Christmas ornaments became more accessible to the general public. Materials such as plastic, metal, and fabric were used to create a wide array of ornaments, though traditionalists still looked for the old-world styles in glass too.
Personalization has also become increasingly popular. People now look for ornaments that can be customized with names, dates, or special messages, making them unique keepsakes for families and loved ones. Many families have the tradition of buying a new ornament every year to reflect their interests, hobbies, or significant life events. For example, newlyweds may look for ornaments that celebrate their first Christmas together, while pet owners may seek out ornaments shaped like their furry companions.
Are you ready to deck out your Christmas tree? The world's best selection is, of course, online, but where should you shop? Here are a few things to look for that can help you get started:
To help you find the perfect Christmas ornaments to adorn your tree and create lasting memories for years to come, the elves at Top Consumer Reviews have shopped the selection at some of today's most popular retailers, ranking them from best to worst so that you know which ones are on Santa's "nice” and "naughty” lists. Happy decorating!
Select any 2 Christmas Ornament Stores to compare them head to head