Twinkly lights
Terrain Stargazer Northstar Twinkling Pendant Light + Tree Topper
Sparkly like fireworks, this festive light can be hung like a pendant or placed atop your Christmas tree.
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Whether you hang the Terrain Stargazer Northstar Twinkling Pendant Light + Tree Topper from the ceiling, dangle it from a window, or top your Christmas tree with it (using an included clip), you’ll make your space feel that much more magical. The light (available in two sizes, sold individually) is powered by either three AA batteries (for the small one) or via plug-in or batteries (for the large one). The control box for both sizes gives you the option to turn it on or off (twinkling or steady shining), and the large one also allows you to set a timer that stays on for eight hours, followed by 16 hours off.
A cheery table cloth
IKEA Vinterfint Tablecloth
This sweet, no-fuss tablecloth adds pop to your party spread, no matter what you’re serving.
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Designed by Swedish illustrator Cecilia Pettersson, this 100% cotton IKEA Vinterfint Tablecloth draws inspiration from folk art and the Swedish winter landscape. We love how Pettersson’s botanical print crackles with color and energy, but we especially appreciate that the tablecloth can be thrown in the washer and dryer.
Starry candles
Meri Meri Gold Star Taper Candles
Endearingly hand-painted gold stars, featured on these 11-inch taper candles, bring extra holiday twinkle to your table.
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Meri Meri’s cheery Gold Star Taper Candles (sold as a pair) brighten up any gathering, whether it’s a winter solstice soiree, a Christmas party, or just a nice dinner at home. The hand-painted, slightly raised gold stars aren’t all perfectly symmetrical, or even perfectly shaped, making them all the more charming. At 11 inches tall, these candles burn down in roughly five hours. Meri Meri also has taper candles with multicolored stars and golden bows. There’s a pack of six in multiple colors, too.
Baubles for your beverage
Terrain Confetti Double Old Fashioned Glasses
Colorful three-dimensional dots make these delicate glasses feel extra festive.
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Cocktails are for celebrations, but pouring your beverage into these colorful Terrain Confetti Double Old Fashioned Glasses adds an additional exclamation point to the event. We especially appreciate that, while perfect for the holidays, these glasses can also be whipped out on birthdays, anniversaries, or just humdrum evenings that need a little sparkle. Prefer a highball or Champagne? They have confetti glasses for those, too.
A village all aglow
West Elm Ceramic Village Tealight Candleholders
Available in several styles and sizes, these house-shaped ceramic vessels let you create your own cozy village.
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You can put together a veritable village on your coffee table or fireplace mantel with these glazed West Elm Ceramic Village Tealight Candleholders, each sold separately. Choose from different shapes and sizes (ranging from 5 to 8 inches)—and add a few ceramic trees, if you prefer—to customize the scope and scale of what you’d like to build. Make them glow by adding a tea light (not included).
Snowmen with attitude
Kamawanu Winter Snowman Tenugui Towel
This multiuse cloth is patterned with grumpy snowmen, sure to make you smile.
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Frosty may have been “a jolly happy soul,” but the snowmen on the Kamawanu Winter Snowman Tenugui Towel are jaded, unimpressed, and a bit bored. That’s why I love them. Tenugui, a Japanese hand-dyed cloth, can be used for a bevy of purposes: as a gift wrap, placemat, dish cloth, or a scarf. The cloths are dyed using a traditional method called chusen, which gives them their distinctive depth of color. To minimize fading, hand-wash towels in cold water, without detergent. Kamawanu also makes other prints for the holiday.
A craft classic
A paper snowflake made from sheets straight out of the printer is as close to free as you can get (or, roughly 1¢ per sheet) and genuinely fun to make. If you’re rusty on your snipping skills, Martha Stewart offers a very easy-to-follow how-to guide. I like to make a bunch of snowflakes all at once (sometimes with friends, but always with some terrible movie running in the background) and then hang them all from the ceiling for a faux-blizzard effect. If you want to get different kinds and colors of paper, our guide to origami has great resources for fun options, or you could go take your pick at a local craft store.