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19 best Christmas decorations for 2023: From tree baubles to garlands and indoor lights

These stylish buys will have your home looking merry and bright

Sarah Jones
Monday 09 October 2023 10:47 BST
From glittering baubles to retro ornaments, these buys are bursting with festive spirit
From glittering baubles to retro ornaments, these buys are bursting with festive spirit (The Independent)
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Cosy knitwear is making its way back into our wardrobes, Strictly has returned to our screens and we’re this close to replacing our daily frappucino with a hot chocolate, which can only mean one thing: Christmas is coming.

In our opinion, it’s never too early to start planning for the big day, particularly when it comes to transforming your home into a winter wonderland.

A brilliant way to add some festive cheer to your living space, there’s no shortage of spots you can embellish – from coiling garlands around the stairs and stringing lights at the window to hanging stockings on the fireplace and, of course, kitting out the illustrious tree.

While you might already have a stash of decorations left over from last year, it can be fun to switch things up from time to time – be that with a total change of your go-to theme, or investing in just a couple of new pieces.

Whether you choose to run with a traditional colour scheme, such as gold, green and red, or you’re thinking about going kitsch for 2023 and embracing an eclectic mix of decorations, we’re on hand to prevent you getting your tinsel in a tangle, with a curated list of the best-in-show Christmas decorations to snap up.

How we tested

From baubles and bunting to fairy lights and tableware, we put a range of decorations to the test, assessing each on not only their good looks but quality, affordability, durability and, perhaps most importantly, whether they filled us with an overwhelming rush of Christmas spirit. And yes, all this serious yuletide investigative work does mean our home now resembles a grotto – and we love it.

(Sarah Young)

The best Christmas decorations in 2023 are:

  • Best Christmas decorations overall – M&S glass icicle hanging decorations, pack of 3: £10, Marksandspencer.com
  • Best budget Christmas decorations – Homebase rhapsody blues premium class bauble decorations, pack of 9: £10, Homebase.co.uk
  • Best luxury garland – The White Company pre-lit foraged winter garland: £145, Thewhitecompany.com
  • Best indoor lights – Lights4fun 150 multicoloured LED traditional pickwick Christmas lights: £34.99, Lights4fun.co.uk
  • Best cushion – Next striped humbug Christmas cushion: £20, Next.co.uk

M&S glass icicle hanging decorations, pack of 3

M&S Baubles Glass Icicle.jpg
  • Best: Christmas decorations overall
  • Material: Glass
  • Size: 22cm x 3cm
  • Why we love it
    • Unique design
    • Great quality
  • Take note
    • Only three in a pack
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Homebase rhapsody blues premium class bauble decorations, pack of 9

Homebase Rhapsody Blues Premium Glass Christmas Bauble Decorations.jpg
  • Best: Budget Christmas decorations
  • Material: Glass
  • Size: 27cm x 8.5cm
  • Why we love it
    • Eye-catching colours
    • Great value
  • Take note
    • Fragile
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Rockett St George monochrome stripe glass Christmas tree decoration

Rockett St George monochrome stripe glass Christmas tree decoration.jpg
  • Best: Alternative Christmas decoration
  • Material: Glass
  • Size: 14cm x 6cm
  • Why we love it
    • Unconventional design
    • Luxury look
  • Take note
    • Single ornament
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The White Company champagne ribbed baubles

The White Company champagne ribbed baubles.jpg
  • Best: Elegant Christmas baubles
  • Material: Glass
  • Size: 6.5cm x 4cm
  • Why we love it
    • Timeless design
    • Robust hanging thread
  • Take note
    • Fragile
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National Trust felt dove tree topper

National Trust felt dove tree topper.jpg
  • Best: Eco-friendly tree topper
  • Material: Wool
  • Size: 10cm x 12cm x 3cm
  • Why we love it
    • Handmade
    • Fairtrade product
  • Take note
    • Small
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Nkuku dew drop baubles, mixed antique, set of 12

Nkuku.jpg
  • Best: Recycled-glass baubles
  • Material: Recycled glass
  • Size: 12cm x 3cm x 3cm
  • Why we love it
    • Multipack
    • Eco-friendly
  • Take note
    • Expensive
  1.  £28 from Nkuku.com
Prices may vary
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Ian Snow aurora and chintz harlequin bauble

Ian Snow aurora chintz harlequin bauble.jpg
  • Best: Recycled-paper bauble
  • Material: Recycled paper
  • Size: 7cm diameter
  • Why we love it
    • Eco-friendly
    • Hand painted
  • Take note
    • Single bauble
  1.  £8 from Iansnow.com
Prices may vary
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Lights4fun 2m pre-lit oversized white berry Christmas garland

Lights4Fun 2m pre lit oversized white berry Christmas garland.jpg
  • Best: Pre-lit Christmas garland
  • Material: Plastic, LED bulbs, lead wire
  • Size: 2m length
  • Why we love it
    • Realistic
    • Six-hour timer
  • Take note
    • Difficult to twist into shape
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Meri Meri red and pink tinsel fringe garland

Meri Meri Garland.jpg
  • Best: Tinsel Christmas garland
  • Material: Tinsel
  • Size: 1.8m length (3m including excess cord)
  • Why we love it
    • Unique design
    • Versatile
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The White Company pre-lit foraged winter garland

The White Company pre lit foraged winter garland.jpg
  • Best: Luxury Christmas garland
  • Material: Plastic, LED lights
  • Size: 250cm x 15cm
  • Why we love it
    • Realistic
    • Six-hour timer
    • Easy to manipulate
  • Take note
    • Some shedding
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Cox and Cox remote-control candle tree lights, pack of 10

Cox and Cox lights.jpg
  • Best: Remote-control lights
  • Material: Plastic, LED bulbs
  • Size: 15cm x 4cm x 1.5cm
  • Why we love it
    • Safe alternative to real candles
    • Remote control
  • Take note
    • Requires 10 x AA batteries (not included)
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Lights4Fun 150 multicoloured LED traditional pickwick Christmas lights

Lights4fun 150 multicoloured LED traditional pickwick Christmas lights.jpg
  • Best: Retro Christmas tree lights
  • Material: Plastic, LED bulb, lead wire
  • Size: 15m of lights, 5m lead cable
  • Why we love it
    • Traditional design
    • Plug-in
    • Nine light functions
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M&S large light-up tree decoration

M&S large light up tree decoration.jpg
  • Best: Light-up Christmas decoration
  • Material: Glass
  • Size: 30cm x 13cm x 13cm
  • Why we love it
    • Portable
  • Take note
    • Fragile
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Asda Christmas brights dinner set, 12 piece

Asda plates Christmas.jpg
  • Best: Christmas dinner set
  • Material: Porcelain
  • Size: Dinner plate: 26.5cm; side plate: 19cm; bowl: 14cm
  • Why we love it
    • Colourful design
    • Value for money
    • Dishwasher and microwave safe
  • Take note
    • Larger families would require multiple sets
  1.  £22 from Asda.com
Prices may vary
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Emma Bridgewater Christmas toast and marmalade enamel jug

Emma Bridgewater Christmas toast and marmalade enamel jug.jpg
  • Best: Gravy jug
  • Material: Enamel on steel
  • Size: 1,100ml
  • Why we love it
    • Large capacity
    • Can be used year-round
    • Dishwasher and oven safe
  • Take note
    • Heavy when full
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Ginger Ray merry and bright Christmas dinner candles

Ginger Ray merry and bright Christmas dinner candles.jpg
  • Best: Christmas candles
  • Material: Wax
  • Size: 24cm
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable
  • Take note
    • Single use
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Meri Meri ric rac napkins

Meri Meri Napkins.jpg
  • Best: Napkins
  • Material: Soft linen
  • Size: 45.7cm x 45.7cm
  • Why we love it
    • Unique design
    • Machine washable
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Next striped humbug Christmas cushion

Next striped humbug Christmas cushion.jpg
  • Best: Christmas cushion
  • Material: Cotton
  • Size: 50cm x 30cm
  • Why we love it
    • Eccentric design
    • Great quality
  • Take note
    • Velvet can attract dust
  1.  £20 from Next.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Habitat merry Christmas bunting decoration

Habitat Bunting.jpg
  • Best: Christmas bunting
  • Material: Cotton
  • Size: 13.5cm x 12cm
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable
    • Premium finish
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Very set of 3 ceramic trees

Very ceramic trees.jpg
  • Best: Christmas ornament
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Size: Small: 14cm x 5.5cm x 5.5cm; medium: 20cm x 8cm x 8cm; large 26.5cm x 9cm x 9cm
  • Why we love it
    • Portable
  • Take note
    • Fragile
  1.  £25 from Very.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Verdict: Christmas decorations

The decorations you choose to deck your halls with will largely depend on your personal taste but, if you’re struggling with a theme this year or want to mix up your existing knick-knacks with something a little different, we can’t recommend M&S’s icicle tree decorations enough. Unique, eye-catching, high quality and affordable, they’ll certainly make a statement and will work just as well on their own as they do with other baubles. Other top contenders for a flamboyant festive affair are Lights4Fun’s retro Christmas lights and Next’s Scrooge-worthy cushion, which both promise to add a kitschy touch to your home that’s guaranteed to attract attention.

Looking for more festive inspiration? Read our round-up of the best Christmas wreaths for your front door

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