When it comes to the Christmas decorations none works harder than the mighty bauble! Especially as Christmas baubles display ideas become more popular, for filling the rest of the home with colour and cheer – baubles are no longer just for the tree!
Each year we witness new creative ways to display this simple yet stylish festive decoration to full potential. Whether choosing expensive heirlooms to cherish for Christmas’ to come or affordable acrylic designs to load up to offer a splash of colour, there’s a bauble display idea to suit.
Take inspiration from our imaginative bauble display ideas to add a stylish touch to any room; from over-mantel masterpieces to alternative Christmas tree ideas.
Here’s how to put a creative spin on this classic Christmas decoration…
Image credit: Dobbies
It’s was THE trend of Christmas 2020, where we saw ingenious Christmas displays made up with walls of Christmas baubles. But attaching hundreds of round decorations to walls is no easy task…unless you use a wire frame, like the clever team at Dobbies Garden Centres with its collection of festive baubles.
Get creative with a wire screen to fix a fabulous arrangement of foliage and decorative baubles to create the most captivating display of the season. Secure the faux stems and the ornaments to the mesh framework using a fine floristry wire, to ensure every item is secure but that the wire is not seen.
We even saw fans using and making chicken wire Christmas decorations last year to fashion their imaginative doorway displays.
Image credit: Tamara Kelly
This is my own Christmas living room decor, so I can safely say this idea is an easy but impactful one on the feel of any room. Each year I give my statement living room chandelier a little festive makeover, with the simple addition of mini disco ball-style baubles.
The assortment of pink decorations are staggered in height using various shades of pink ribbon. The baubles catch the light beautifully at night when the light is on – creating a heavenly disco vibe! I double bow the ribbon to ensure they stay put, but also to point out – the baubles are shatterproof and almost weightless, to avoid weighing on the delicate light fitting.
Image credit: John Lewis & Partners
Floral arrangements suspended (safely) over dining tables is a hugely popular styling trend of recent years, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Try this idea to jazz up a floral arrangement hung over a dining table.
Using a decorative ribbon or twine staggered a collection of baubles from the structure of the wreath or tress branch – ensuring all are firm and secure, to avoid your decorative display falling onto the table below.
Cascade the baubles down at different heights to add interest and depth to this magical display. Go one step further with a set of fairy light threaded around the wreath hoop, to add a soft illumination to the display.
Image credit: Homesense
It’s shaped like a tree and has baubles hanging, which is enough for us to love this artistic creation. It would involve buying A LOT of baubles, but you can get hold of so many inexpensive sets now nowadays, so don’t let that deter you from recreating this fun alternative Christmas tree idea.
Use a clear wire to hang the baubles to create a sense of them floating within the frame. Adopt this idea to add a sense of fun to a family living room or a hallway to welcome guests with a statement display.
Image credit: John Lewis & Partners
Pull out all the stops for your guests by decorating their chairs especially for the occasion. A selection of elegant, colourful baubles tied to the back of each chair can go a long way to making even the everyday kitchen dining chairs feel fabulously festive. We’d recommend using shatterproof bauble designs to avoid unnecessary breakages, because while you want the seating to look – it still has to prove practical.
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
Fashioning an impressive centrepiece needed cost the earth. Repurpose your cake stands, stacking them on top of one another to add height and drama to the table. Simply use baubles on each level to add a decorative touch, with the option to enhance the look by adding in elements of dried fruit and sprigs of foliage.
Image credit: Future PLC
Fill a cloches, bowl or even a terrarium with decorative baubles to make an easy but effective Christmas table centrepiece idea. Using a glass structure allows the baubles to be seen, to add a splash of colour and glitz to the table top.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Jo Henderson
You can go small but still make a huge impact to the decorating scheme. Use a sideboard or console table to create a sophisticated twig display, adorned with delicate small baubles – just enough to add a hint of festivities without being OTT. Pair with a simple candle votive with sprigs of seasonal foliage, for a soft approach to sophisticated Christmas decorating.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Pop baubles in a glass bowl to make an attractive coffee table or kitchen centrepiece. Compliment the colours of the baubles to the decor, adding the same tone. This simple display is enough to set the scene for the season, without having to deck the halls. Ideal for those wanting to keep decorating to a minimal.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Max Attenborough
Who says baubles are only for Christmas trees? Branch out, quite literally, this year with an artistic twig display to add colour and festive decoration to a plain wall in the living or dining room. Choose to coordinate with your tree scheme or use a different accent colour to embrace more than one seasonal trend.
It works best above a sideboard or shelf, allowing the surface to house the vase containing the twigs – alongside additional paper decorations and foliage. Alternatively you could suspend the twig from an existing picture hook, using twine or a clear thread. The branch display would replace what was usually hanging in the space – a clear sign of a seasonal refresh.
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Make a bold statement by placing a star on display, one made entirely from brightly coloured baubles. Ideal for placing anywhere you wish to make a focal point, such as on the mantelpiece. Ensure the star is securely propped up, to avoid it falling off and taking everything in its path with it as it falls. Coordinate tinsel to dress the surrounding space to add extra wow factor. If you’re feeling brave enough with a glue gun you could even have a go at making this yourself, simple glue the plastic baubles to a wire frame or polystyrene base.
Image credit: Future PLC
For a simple but effective budget Christmas decorating idea, upgrade your dishes with decorations.
Fill the top level of a cake stand with a dessert for your party guests, but rather than taking out more food than needed, use the extra levels to act as bauble displays. Pile up pretty baubles, battery-powered fairy lights or sprigs of holly and you’re good to go!
Image credit: Future PLC/ Sussie Bell
Make the table a toast to the versatility of baubles. Fill glass vases and dishes with baubles and line every free table space with a string of these gems to set the scene for festivities. Create a truly show-stopping spread by mixing the bauble displays with fake snow and festive foliage.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Emma Lee
If you aren’t using your fireplace this winter but have a large cavern to fill, then place a log basket brimming with beautiful baubles. To prevent wasting their beauty, fill the basket first with blankets or something of the sort – then simply fill the visible area with baubles. Place the basket in the space before stringing stockings from it and sprinkling with strands of foliage.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Paul Raeside
Be super stylish and give your traditional nativity scene a glamorous spin this year. Upcycle a child’s playhouse with baubles and festive fairy lights for a fun festive display.
Replace figurines with giant baubles in Christmas colours, completing your scene with metallic trees.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Jonathan Gregson
Add some bauble tradition to your dining table this year by adding a small display to each place setting. Match a bauble to the colour of your plates and napkins to create a smart place setting for your festive feast for a thoughtful Christmas table decoration idea.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Chris Everard
Baubles need not only hang from your tree, but can also hang throughout the house. Strung from a simple light the cascading balls will form a festive halo decoration. Hang from coloured ribbons to add jolly accent colours to the look. In this idea the baubles appear to seamlessly blend in, rather than stand out too much – thanks to the matching muted colour palette.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Max Attenborough
Sometimes less is more. Use baubles in muted tones to enhance the existing decor. Elegant frosted glass and metallic browns singularly placed on a sideboard or mantelpiece can add just enough of a nod to festive cheer. Adding a seasonal element to a dried flower arrangement, that is already on display to lift the decor.
Image credit: Future PLC
Cover your barren staircase with clusters of tree decorations and balls hanging from thick strands of ribbon. Lining the steps with festive decorations will get all the family excited as they come down on Christmas Day.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Maxwell Attenborough
Instead of opting strictly for foliage this year, make a door wreath with baubles and large loops of luscious ribbon. Adding baubles gives it a contemporary twist. You’ll have all the neighbours talking and trying their hand at bauble bouquets next year.
Above is a wreath from our Christmas shoot, fashioned with fragrant herbs, pretty baubles and decorative dried flowers.
Image credit: Future PLC
Cover your home in strings of cascading baubles and other tree decorations like these. Make them out of left over baubles or last year’s colour scheme and pin them in front of barren walls and windows for a sprinkling of Christmas spangle.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Bevan
Cover any wall art you have (whether that be a unicorn head or a gallery of family photos!) with strings of baubles and reels of ribbon for an instant festive make over that doesn’t need a tree.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Laura Edwards
Be inventive with your table name cards this year by detaching the ribbon from a bauble and slotting a name card through the loophole. Super easy and super chic, these place settings will go down a treat with your meal.
How will you be decorating with baubles this Christmas?