Quick answer: christmas tree decorations
A fully decorated tree needs seven kinds of pieces: fairy lights, wired ribbon or garland, baubles in two or three sizes, filler picks and sprays, a topper and a tree skirt. For numbers, allow roughly 10 baubles per foot for classic coverage, or 15 to 20 per foot for a designer-full look, so a 6ft tree takes about 60 baubles. Add around 100 to 150 lights per foot and 3 to 4 metres of ribbon per foot.
What Are Christmas Tree Decorations? The Complete List
Christmas tree decorations are everything that goes on, around or under the tree after the lights: baubles, ornaments, tinsel, garland, wired ribbon, picks and sprays, the topper and the tree skirt. The kit works in layers, and a tree reads unfinished with one missing.
Here is the complete list, layer by layer. Baubles are the hanging balls that carry most of the colour, in glass and shatterproof finishes from the baubles range. Ornaments are the umbrella term for everything else that hangs, from figural pieces to keepsakes, in the ornaments range. Tinsel and garland add shimmer along the branches: tinsel is the retro sparkle, garlands the fuller strand. Wired ribbon ties the palette together, with bows pre-tied. Picks and sprays soften the gaps: the picks range covers berries, pinecones and frosted stems. Finally, a tree topper finishes the silhouette and a tree skirt frames the scene.
Starting from zero? The Christmas decorations range gathers every layer in one place, and our Christmas decor guide covers the wider room-by-room picture.
Types and Materials: Glass vs Shatterproof vs Fabric and Wood
Almost every hanging decoration comes down to four materials. Glass gives the deepest shine and heirloom feel but must be treated gently. Shatterproof plastic and acrylic survive knocks, drops and hot summers, which is why we recommend them for lower branches. Fabric and wood, felt, velvet and timber, bring the vintage Christmas tree decorations look that suits natural and Nordic themes.
The material detail lives in the baubles buying guide and the ornaments guide. What matters here is the mix we recommend: shatterproof filler in the lower two-thirds, glass, fabric and timber pieces up high.
How Many Christmas Tree Decorations Do You Need?
Work from tree height, not the count on a box. The rule of thumb is roughly 10 baubles per foot for classic coverage, 15 to 20 per foot for the designer-full look, and the arithmetic is simple multiplication. A 6ft tree needs 10 × 6 = 60 baubles classic, or 15 × 6 = 90 up to 20 × 6 = 120 for full density.
Baubles are one layer of seven, so budget the rest at the same time: about 100 to 150 fairy-light bulbs per foot (the light-count formulas guide shows the working), 3 to 4 metres of wired ribbon per foot, a handful of picks, one topper and one skirt. The table shows the shopping maths by tree size.
Two adjustments finish the maths: slim and pencil trees take the low end of every range. And if you have wondered how many baubles for a 6ft tree: 60 fills it, 90 makes it look like the shop floor.
Christmas Tree Decoration Sets vs Building Your Own Palette
A decoration set is a pre-matched bundle of baubles, picks and ribbon in one designed palette, running from small 5 and 10-piece packs to 100-piece multipacks. A set trades choice for certainty; building your own trades convenience for personality. Both routes reach the same tree.
Sets earn their keep on first trees, second trees and fast seasonal resets, which is why "christmas tree decorations set" draws over 300 Australian searches a month. The decoration packs we stock include 100-piece multipacks that cover most of a 6ft tree in a single box, sizes and finishes already balanced.
Our recommendation is the honest hybrid: a set for the base layer, then two or three statement pieces a year. To pick every colour yourself, the colour palette guide walks the logic.
The Decorator's Order: What Goes On First
The order never changes: lights first, then ribbon or garland, then picks, then baubles, then the topper, and the skirt last. Each layer hides the mechanics of the one before it, so working out of sequence means rehanging things.
From bare branches to finished tree
- Lights first. Lights go on the bare tree, about 100 to 150 bulbs per foot, worked from the trunk outward so the tree glows from within.
- Ribbon or garland next. Wired ribbon weaves through the middle depth of the branches before baubles claim the tips.
- Picks and sprays. Tuck frosted stems, berries and pinecones into the gaps before the baubles arrive.
- Baubles, large first, inside out. Hang big pieces deep near the trunk first, then mid sizes, finishing with minis on the tips.
- Topper, then skirt. The topper closes the silhouette, the skirt hides the stand, and the tree is dressed.
The full walkthrough, with ribbon technique and placement tips, is our step-by-step guide to decorating a Christmas tree.
Colour Themes Australians Are Searching For
Four palettes dominate Australian searches every season. Red and gold is the classic warm look. Blue and silver is the frosty, cool-toned scheme that suits our bright summer light. All-white is the minimalist snow look, and flocked, snowy trees carry a whole theme on their branches before a single bauble is hung.
Each theme has a deeper guide. The gold decorations guide covers the warm metallic. The silver decorations guide and the blue Christmas range handle the cool pairing. The white decorations guide and the white and silver range cover the snow look; flocked trees start with flocked vs frosted vs snowy trees. For more schemes, the tree decoration ideas guide is the theme gallery.
Safety Around Kids, Pets and the Australian Summer
The safety rules are simple and they are not optional. Shatterproof pieces on the lower two-thirds, glass and small keepsakes up high, no lit candles near the branches, and cords secured so neither a toddler nor a tail can drag the tree over.
- Go shatterproof low. Everything within leaping or grabbing height should survive being pulled off and dropped.
- Watch the small parts. Tiny hooks, beads and figurine pieces are choking hazards for children and pets alike.
- Secure button batteries. Battery compartments should be screw-secured, and spares live in a drawer, not a decoration box.
- No lit candles near the tree. Battery-operated candles and LED pillars give the same glow with none of the fire risk.
- Mind the summer sun. A tree in direct sun through glass can cook glued finishes; move it back from the window.
Storing Tree Decorations
Good storage makes next December cheap. Wrap glass and treasured pieces individually in tissue, pack baubles in divided decoration storage boxes rather than loose in a crate, and keep boxes out of hot roof spaces, where summer heat softens glues and dulls finishes. The full system is in our storage guide.
Where to Buy Christmas Tree Decorations in Australia
Australians buy tree decorations in three places: department stores for cheap basics, online marketplaces for the occasional find, and specialist Christmas retailers for the full, coordinated kit. Specialists are where whole palettes come together, baubles to toppers and skirts, paired with the tree itself.
Christmas World has eight stores across NSW and the ACT, from Alexandria and Belrose to Penrith, Castle Hill, Campbelltown, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, plus the full range online with free shipping on decoration orders over $199. Check the store page for current hours, because trading days change through the season.
Build your tree kit at Christmas World
Shop the full range of Christmas tree decorations, from single baubles to complete sets, online or in store.
Free shipping over $199, Australia wideFrequently Asked Questions — Christmas Tree Decorations
How many decorations do I need for a 6ft tree?
Roughly 10 baubles per foot for classic coverage, so 10 × 6 = about 60 baubles for a 6ft tree, or 15 × 6 = 90 for a fuller look. Add one topper, 18 to 24 metres of ribbon or garland, a few picks and a skirt.
What is the difference between baubles and ornaments?
Baubles are the spherical hanging balls. Ornaments is the umbrella term for any hanging decoration: figural pieces, themed characters, keepsakes and personalised decorations included. Every bauble is an ornament; not every ornament is a bauble.
Glass or shatterproof baubles?
Glass gives the deeper shine and heirloom feel; shatterproof plastic and acrylic survive knocks, drops and hot Australian summers. A mix works best: shatterproof on the lower branches, glass up high.
What does a Christmas tree actually need?
Seven layers: fairy lights, wired ribbon or garland, baubles in two or three sizes, filler picks or sprays, a topper and a tree skirt. Tinsel is optional shimmer on top, not a replacement for any layer.
Are Christmas tree decoration sets worth it?
Yes, for a coordinated first tree or a fast reset. The palette is pre-matched and usually costs less per piece. Add statement or personalised pieces over the years for personality.
How do I keep tree decorations pet- and child-safe?
Hang shatterproof pieces on the lower two-thirds, keep small parts and glass keepsakes above reach, screw-secure any battery compartment, and keep lit candles away from the tree. Anchor the stand so it cannot be pulled over.
Can I store my tree with the decorations still on it?
Remove glass and treasured baubles first; wrap them in tissue and pack them in divided boxes. Sturdy shatterproof pieces can sometimes stay on the tree, but age faster that way. Label boxes by tree zone for a quick setup.
Where can I buy Christmas tree decorations in Australia?
Department stores cover basics; specialist Christmas retailers carry full, coordinated palettes. Christmas World stocks the complete kit online and in its eight NSW and ACT stores, with free shipping on decoration orders over $199, Australia wide.
