The 16 Best Holiday Decorations to Buy for 2018

The most eye-catching addition in your living room? The classic Christmas tree. Since it’s so symbolic of the holidays, you want to make sure that you purchase something that looks beautiful and won't break the bank. This tree comes with stellar reviews and a superb price point, which is why it's our number one pick for best tree.

At six feet high, it’s hard not to notice this full-bodied, genuine Christmas tree. Backed by a sturdy metal base, there’s no need to worry about unwanted spills throughout the duration of the season. Customers love how real-looking this tree is, especially for the affordable price. They also say that it's easy to assemble, which can often be the biggest burden of all when it comes to an artificial option. It detaches into three pieces, so assembling, dismantling, and storing year after year will make this purchase worth it alone.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best artificial Christmas trees. 

When it comes to your doors and mantels, make sure they are clad in the finest of wreaths. This choice by National Christmas Tree brand is the holiday accent that gets this job done. Pre-strung with lights, and trimmed with all of the festive toppings, it’s sure to look good inside or outside.

While the pine cones, red berries, and glitter certainly add extra flair, what makes this a real winner is the safeness and durability it provides. Since it’s fire-resistant and non-allergenic, you can apply the “set it and forget it” mentality when hanging. However, customers do note to make sure it’s situated close to an outlet since plug-in is required. They also mention that at 24 inches in diameter, some rearranging is needed to get it in its full ornate shape before using.

Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the best holiday wreaths. 

It’s easy to forget about the details beyond the tree. This year, make your tree skirt part of the entire holiday decor story. This ruffled red tree skirt by the respected home retailer, Wayfair, adds an old-world feel to any room—even before being covered by gifts.

Made of polyester, cotton and linen, it looks as traditional and timeless as the customs behind it. Plus, the ruffle with white pleating gives it a bit of modern flair so it’s still relevant for your room. At four-and-a-half feet, it scales perfectly with most sized trees. Plus, the slit with tie closing makes it a breeze to slip on and off. Reviewers rave about its classic style and quality, ultimately making it a delight to pull out year after year.

Dawn your home in a lush garland covered in bright white berries and small pine cones. Strung with tiny lights, it brings the festive holiday cheer your room craves during the season.

Since it’s hand assembled and constructed of durable vine and wire, it’ll maintain its integrity even after being stowed away all year. Just don’t forget to replace the batteries on the 35 LED lights woven through the garland. Lucky for you, since no cord is required, it makes hanging this accent inside or outside hassle-free. Simply switch on the battery box and you’re left with a dazzling display.

Just like a tree, having some luminous decor handy is essential to any holiday party. These energy-efficient LED lights are our pick since they not only look beautiful, but are long lasting, too.

This set contains 3,000 heavy duty LED lights built with durable Weather Tight technology. Translation: They are built to withstand extreme conditions—from hot to cold—all year long. Which means taking them down at the end of the season isn’t required. Additionally, they are much more efficient than your typical incandescent light bulb. At 30 watts, these lights never get hot—even after burning for hours. Thus saving you money on your power bill and more budget towards gift buying!

Brightech also offers a three year warranty to back their lights. Combined with users who claim the product is “awesome, good quality, and SUPER bright,” this is a light set that’s certainly worth investing in.

Sometimes the details are just as important as the bigger items. In this case, the bestselling ITOMTE Handmade Swedish Scandinavian Gnome is an accent you won’t want to be caught without this season.

According to Scandinavian folklore, gnomes are known to bring luck to homes and children everywhere. Continue this tradition with an adorable handmade doll crafted by a Swedish Artist. At 16" tall it’s the perfect accent for a mantel or tabletop. Not to mention, with its own little box, it makes for a very sweet gift, too.

Not completely sold? Just look at the hundreds of positive reviews to see why customers are raving about the quality and cuteness of this special holiday decoration.

Ornaments are a timeless way to preserve memories of the holidays, year after year. Festive and charming, this Red and White Ball Ornament Set from Andover Mills is a one-of-a-kind collection that’s guaranteed to make your holiday feel infinitely more special.

There are 12 ornaments in each set that are crafted from shatterproof PVC plastic. Each red, white, or silver ornament is accented with a shimmery silver design. Reviewers on Wayfair give this set high marks, saying that the ornaments are festive, bright, and incredibly well-made. If you’re looking to mix-up your classic ornamental bulbs, or just brighten up your tree, this set is certainly the way to go.

Check out our guide to the best ornaments​ you can buy today. 

Tell the wonder of the Christmas story with a nativity set made by the renowned brand, Demdaco. The six-piece set is sure to withhold family traditions, while looking beautiful in the process.

Since the year 2000, customers have fallen in love with this scene that’s both simple, yet elegant in nature. At less than 10 inches tall, the entire recreation is tiny, yet timeless for all lucky enough to receive. Since it arrives in a gorgeous gift box, it makes the ideal gift for newlyweds, family or friends wishing to honor the meaning behind the season. Users have turned to Willow Tree for quality designs through the years. And here’s one more item in the line that just reaffirms how truly fantastic the pieces are.

Savor the sweet celebration that comes before the gifts are even opened. These vintage-styled Kurt Adler Red and Cream Knit Stockings will make the stocking opening process fun to enjoy—while still looking good in the process.

The set includes two knit stockings clad in red and white and embellished with adorable pompoms. Designed exclusively for their customer base, Kurt Adler created a product that looks good hanging on the fireplace, while serving as a functional way to store goodies to open on Christmas Day.

Customers love this product for both its durability and style during the season. However, they do mention to be cautious of the condensed interior that makes stuffing the stockings a bit more of a challenge.

Complete your tree with a shimmering gold star that gives off it's own warmth. When it comes to finding the best one for your tree, we recommend this wire rendition that's backed by hundreds of positive reviews.

It measures 9" x 9" x 2", so it's the perfect way to accent almost any sized tree. Made from iridescent materials and a gold wire skeleton, this tree topper glows on its own—no lights needed. It will instantly make any tree look merry and bright! You can rest assured that the study wire coil underneath the star will keep everything in place. At such an affordable price, you can't go wrong with this beautiful tree topper.

Fastening those stockings to your mantle can pose quite a challenge. You don't want to wake up on Christmas morning with a sad looking stocking on the floor. This year, the Original MantleClip Stocking Holder Set in gold will provide a wonderfully festive look and keep your stockings in place.

The set consists of four mantle clips that are made of glimmering gold metal. They're lightweight, adjustable, and festive enough to make your stockings stand out without interfering with other mantel decorations. No matter how full each stocking gets, these sturdy clips will hold it up. Plus, you can use the clips to hold garlands, lights, and other holiday decorations. This set also comes with four clear gripper pads to protect your mantel from scratches.

The holidays wouldn't be complete without some festive candlelight. Decorate your home or apartment with these elegant and festive Ornament Candle Pots. Lovingly crafted from hand-blown glass and fitted aluminum, each pot is filled with refined paraffin wax and has a delightful Snow Currant scent. The scent is an intoxicating blend of apple, orange, clove, cedar, thyme, sandalwood, and Canadian fir.

You can choose from two different sizes: a medium size that has a 5" diameter and 21-hour burn time or a large size that has a 7" diameter and 35-hour burn time. Each pot is lead-free, impossibly shiny, and available in silver, red, or gold. Be sure to place your candle on a fireproof surface before using.

Complete your holiday decorations with a Christmas nutcracker! This wooden Gingerbread Nutcracker figure will spread holiday cheer to any room you place it, and it will evoke visions of sugar plum fairies and more. It measures 17" x 7.2" x 6.2" and is crafted of solid wood.

This nutcracker holds a tray of gingerbread men in one hand and a bright candy cane in the other. A red, white, and green gingerbread house stands at the base. This piece comes packaged in a festive box, so you can even purchase this as a holiday gift. Kurt Adler's Gingerbread Christmas Nutcracker will be a treasured holiday decoration for years to come.

We couldn’t end the round-up without featuring a new tradition everyone in the family will enjoy. This #1 bestseller with over 2.5 million products sold surely deserves a spot in your home. 

The North Pole pixie scout (aka “Elf on the Shelf”) keeps young ones on their best behavior for the duration of the season. After all, they don’t want Santa’s helper reporting back to place them on the “Naughty List.”

The set includes a plush rendition of the Elf, right from the story, to place around the home as an element to delight children. Children can even register their elf online to receive an official certificate and a letter from Santa to truly make the tradition come alive. With so much hype behind it, adding it to your home is worth all of the joy and laughter that are sure to ensue for the season.

The Embellished Sparkle Tree Pillow Cover will make your home feel like Christmas in no time—stylish, sparkly, and artfully trimmed with pearls and beads, this popular cream-and-beige pillow cover is understated yet exquisite. Made of a linen/cotton blend and metallic yarn, the cover features an appliquéd tree with silver beaded ornaments.

It will look divine on your couch, bed, or virtually anywhere else in your home. Conveniently (considering there’s usually plenty of red wine and decadent foods consumed around the holidays!), the Sparkle Tree Pillow Cover can be easily cleaned with a damp, white cloth.

Want to spruce up every nook and cranny in your kitchen this holiday season? The Coastal Christmas Hand Towel from The Holiday Aisle will provide a lovely dose of Christmas cheer to your kitchen. Crafted from 70% cotton and 30% polyester, these patterned hand towels feature a vibrant scene of three snow-people, and they come in dark green, pale blue, and navy blue. The towels are easy to care for and can be cleaned in the washing machine along with like-colored items. Reviewers on Wayfair praise the Coastal Christmas Hand Towels for their “great quality” and “adorable” design, at an affordable price point.