On a tree, a lot of ornaments end up facing the wall or lost near the back. If you’re not putting a tree up this year, or you have more ornaments than branches, you can spread them around the apartment where people can actually see them. A big tree holds 80 to 100 ornaments; most of these ideas use somewhere between 5 and 20.
In bowls and under glass
A large glass bowl (on Amazon). Big ornaments on the bottom, smaller ones on top, with a strand of battery fairy lights (on Amazon) tucked in so it glows. The bowl needs to be big, at least 12 inches, or it looks like storage. Thrift stores have plenty.
A tiered tray (on Amazon). Large ornaments on the bottom tier, small ones on top, a bit of greenery between. It holds about thirty ornaments in about six inches of counter space.
Cloches. Put one special ornament under each glass cloche (on Amazon) (an upturned wine glass or mason jar works too) and group three to five on a mantel or shelf. Stack a few books under some of them so they sit at different heights. This is the place for the ornaments that have a story behind them.
Hanging
A branch from the ceiling. Hang a branch about 3 feet long horizontally on two lengths of twine, then hang ornaments from it on fishing line at different lengths. Use light ornaments, paper, wood or plastic; heavy glass will tip the branch.
From a curtain rod. Tie ornaments to the rod with ribbon in front of a window, at lengths that vary by 4 to 8 inches. With daylight behind them, glass ornaments look their best. Odd numbers per window look better than even.
On a ladder. A wooden or blanket ladder leaning against the wall, with garland across the rungs and ornaments hanging from each one. It holds dozens in about two square feet of floor.
From a chandelier or pendant light. Loop ribbon over the arms and hang a few light ornaments at different heights. Keep them away from the bulbs, and spread the weight evenly so the fixture doesn’t hang crooked.
On surfaces
A tray. A handful of ornaments in mixed sizes on a large tray, with a candle and a sprig of greenery. The tray is what makes it look arranged rather than piled up. Five minutes.
Through a bookshelf. Nest ornaments between books, hang small ones from the shelf edges, group three on an empty stretch of shelf. Pull a few books forward and tuck ornaments behind them for depth.
Inside a wreath on the wall. Hang a plain grapevine or evergreen wreath flat on a wall and tie small ornaments to the inside edge on short ribbons so they hang within the circle. Good above a dresser or in a hallway where there’s no room for anything deeper.
Putting them away
Wrap glass ornaments individually in tissue and store them in a box with dividers, heaviest at the bottom. Keep the bowl, tray or cloches packed with the ornaments that go in them, so next year the display goes back up in one go.