For me, nothing can beat a rustic wooden ornament. I like their simplicity and texture; wooden ornaments recall the warm nostalgia of a cabin Christmas, of celebrations tucked in the woods. If you’re looking for a touch of rustic charm for your tree this year, consider our list of the best wooden Christmas ornaments.
Naturally, the birth of Jesus is the heart of the Christmas celebration for many families, and the installation of a nativity scene is a common expression of this during the season. This lovely ornament is carved from mountain mahogany, a tree native to the western United States. This lovely wood creates a darling frame for the nativity scene, which will make a fine addition to any Christmas tree. It’s made in the U.S.A. and comes complete with a string hanger. If you want to include a nativity scene in your decorations this year but are short on space, consider this ornament for your tree.
When I was a kid, my brother and I each had an ornaments honoring the year of our birth. This one takes the form of a baby’s wooden block. In addition to the year, you can have your baby’s name inscribed on it to fully personalize the ornament. Includes the eyehook and ribbon for hanging.
With this rustic set, you can arrange a nativity scene by using your tree as the stage. Ten of the key figures to any good nativity scene are present here, all hand carved into roughly 2.5 inch ornaments. Makes a great starter set, too.
Nutcrackers originated sometime in the 15th century as good luck symbols in Germany, based on a folk tale. Following the first U.S. production of The Nutcracker ballet in 1940, they caught on as decorations here, as well. Often depicting a soldier, king, or knight, these figurines are nearly as ubiquitous as Santa Claus. This set features four five-inch figures made from wood in festive colors. Each of the jackets are glittered for extra flair. A gold hanging ribbon is included for each of them. For less than $1 more, you could also try this set of six.
As one of the few birds that don’t migrate during the winter, the striking red cardinal has become a fixture of Christmas decorations. Cardinals keep their red color even in the winter months, and their distribution in snowy areas of North America has made them famous for their contrast against white backgrounds. Though they don’t have a historic religious meaning, some think that the color is meant to recall the blood of Christ. Others say that hanging a cardinal on your Christmas tree is just good luck. Whatever the case, cardinals do, indeed, make handsome tree decorations. This set of two cardinals clips onto the boughs of your tree, giving the appearance that they have landed there to perch. These wooden birds are a little over four inches long and are hand decorated. Other birds are available, as well, including chickadees and blue jays.
Whether it’s your first Christmas or your tenth, this custom wood Christmas ornament makes a great choice. Laser engraved with any names and date you choose, this darling lovebirds ornament is made in the U.S.A out of alder wood specially for you. It also comes in an owl version, if you prefer. Includes a red ribbon for hanging on the tree.
While we always bought at least one box of real candy canes to hang on the tree each year, we also had one or two ornaments made to look like them on the tree, too. This set of six wooden candy canes features three four-inch canes and three five-inch canes for hanging all around your tree. If you have room for multiple trees in your home, you could buy a few of these sets and have a themed tree based on these rustic ornaments. They’re subtle and festive and will look great in any home.
Got a cat lover in your life? Are you, indeed, the cat lover in your life? Represent your abiding love of cats on your Christmas tree this year with this charming design. The listing makes a point to say that because it isn’t glass, it’s a good choice for pet owners whose animals might knock ornaments down and break them – great for letting your cat play with!
This lovely ornament features a barn owl print on natural maple veneer. It’s not overtly Christmas themed, but the colors will fit nicely with other ornaments, especially if you have others with wildlife. It measures three inches in diameter.
I always advocate for putting a tree on your tree. This 3D tree is rendered out of wood slices that also resemble snowflakes. The whole piece measures 10 inches.
A fine Hallmark ornament is a nice addition to any collection. This lovely piece features a festive holiday painting on a real wood, retro style sled. It measures about four inches.
Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts or the Christmas tree at the lakehouse, this is a relatively subtle ornament. It nods to the Christmas season with a sisal wreath and the color, but has enough wood tones to blend in with a collection of wooden ornaments. It measures just over five inches long.
This ornament is part of a set of six retro-styled wooden ornaments. When I was a kid, I had some of these same designs, but they were made of tin rather than wood. In addition to this charming reindeer, you can choose from a girl with a gift, boy in pajamas, santa, or a snowman. All measure about 4.5 inches tall.
This piece is especially subtle. The nativity scene is hand carved into hardwood from the Black Forest in Germany in such a way that it blends so nice together as a whole piece. The star is festive enough, but the real joy is getting up close to see the detail.
Each year, my wife and I buy one ornament to symbolize the major event of the year. For the year we adopted two dogs, we found an ornament that sorta looked like the two of them combined. Whatever the reason – even if you just like dogs – you’d get this, it’s a nicely detailed golden wearing a wreath. It’s cute enough to not need a reason.
