Painting Christmas Ornaments – How to Design Your Own Christmas Baubles

Painting Christmas ornaments

Just before Christmas, the Christmas tree is simply part of the season for many people. But it's the lights, small accents, and painted ornaments that turn it into a real Christmas tree. More and more people want to design their own Christmas ornaments or paint their own baubles instead of using store-bought decorations. Dried orange slices, paper stars, or hand-painted Christmas ornaments are trending because they're more personal and sustainable.

What do I need to paint Christmas ornaments?

You don't need much to paint your own Christmas baubles:

Materials for painting Christmas ornaments:

• Glass or plastic Christmas baubles
• Acrylic paint markers or acrylic paints
• Brushes

Optional:

• Glitter
• Ribbon
• Glue
• Natural materials like pine or cypress branches
• Artificial snow
• Candy or paper, if the ornaments are meant to be used as gifts

If you'd rather have long-lasting ornaments, go with plastic. Glass looks more elegant, but breaks easily.

What kind of paint is best for painting Christmas ornaments?

If you want to paint Christmas ornaments, acrylic paint is the best choice. Watercolors don't hold well on smooth surfaces. Acrylic has strong coverage, dries quickly, and you usually only need one coat.

Acrylic paint and a brush work well for larger areas, while acrylic paint markers are great for fine lines or motifs like pine branches, snowflakes, or little candy canes – personally, I prefer markers. They give you better control and let you paint even very small shapes without slipping.

What colors are trending for Christmas ornaments in 2026?

When decorating Christmas ornaments, you can use any color you like. If you want to follow current trends, natural and warm tones are the way to go in 2026.

Popular colors for Christmas ornaments:

Mocha Mousse All warm brown tones Terracotta Creamy neutrals Dark green Copper and gold

Classic colors like red and burgundy always work and are perfect if you want to design Christmas baubles that fit a traditional look.

Guide to painting Christmas ornaments:

Here's your clear, step-by-step guide so you can get started right away:

1. Clean the Christmas ornament:

Take a clear glass or plastic bauble and clean the surface with alcohol or a paper towel.

2. Test your motif for the Christmas ornament:

Try out colors and motifs on paper first.

3. Choose a motif for the Christmas ornament:

Decide on patterns, symbols, or nature motifs.

4. Paint the Christmas ornament:

Hold the bauble between your thumb and index finger and start painting. The curved surface can be tricky, so take your time.

5. Fix mistakes:

Acrylic paint can be removed with alcohol. Be careful with plastic baubles – don't use nail polish remover.

6. Decorate the Christmas ornament:

Tie a ribbon around the bauble or decorate it with natural materials.

7. Fill it (optional):

For a gift idea, you can fill the bauble with cocoa, marshmallows, a gift card, or small decorative elements.

8. Hang it up or give it as a gift:

Hang your own designed Christmas ornaments on the tree or give them away as a personal one-of-a-kind gift.

With this guide, you can paint your own Christmas baubles, upgrade old ornaments, and create new favorites every year.