A tree full of matching store-bought baubles looks fine. A tree with a sleeping cat curled inside an ornament, a dachshund popping out of a red ball and a little house sitting on a crescent moon gets people to stop and look. If you’re looking for cool 3D printed Christmas ornaments, these are new this season, and none of them is the usual flat snowflake. They’re grouped by style, so you can pick a look for the whole tree or mix a few from each group.
Ornaments With a Little Scene Inside
The most interesting 3D printed ornaments tell a small story. Each of these has a character or a tiny winter scene built into the shape.
Dachshund in a Christmas Ball
A dachshund in a Santa hat peeks out of a red ornament ball wrapped in a bow. It’s the kind of ornament that gets picked up and turned over every time someone walks past the tree, and it makes an easy gift for any dog owner. Paint the dog in brown and the ball in red, or print the whole thing in one color for a vintage look.
See the Dachshund Christmas Ornament
Sleeping Cat Ornament
A cat curled up asleep inside a round frame decorated with snowflakes and stars. In ivory filament it reads like a carved porcelain piece. Cat people will want one; everyone else will still find it charming.
Moon House Ornament
A small cottage sitting on a crescent moon, finished with a ribbon at the top. The shape is simple, which makes it one of the easy 3D printed Christmas ornaments on this list, and it looks lovely in plain white against green branches.
Reindeer in a Ring
A standing reindeer framed inside a red ring. The open frame lets the tree lights show through, so the reindeer seems to float. Print the ring and the deer in two colors for the cleanest result.
See the Reindeer Christmas Ornament
Santa Claus Scene Ornament
Santa with his sack, surrounded by little trees and hanging stars, all inside a round frame. It has the detail of a carved wooden ornament and works best in a single light color, where shadows do the work that paint would.
Winter Scene Ornament Set
Three lantern-shaped ornaments with a scene inside each one: a reindeer, a Christmas tree and a snowman. They look like old-fashioned glass ornaments with a diorama inside, but printed in one piece.
See the Winter Scene Ornament Set
Knitted and Crochet-Look Ornaments
Knit textures are the biggest trend in Christmas 3D prints this year. The pattern is modeled into the surface, so a single-color print already looks like yarn.
Crochet Angel Ornament
An angel with a bobble-stitch dress and wings, holding a red heart. It’s one of the most delicate-looking pieces here, and the textured surface hides layer lines well.
See the Crochet Angel Ornament
Crochet Tree, Reindeer and Star
A Christmas tree, a reindeer in a scarf and a star, all with a crocheted texture. In red, green and brown they look like a set your grandmother made, which is exactly the point.
See the Knitted Christmas Ornament
Knitted Woodland Friends
A little knitted tree, a reindeer and a fox, each with a scarf. They’re among the cutest 3D printed ornament ideas this season and fit a natural, woodland-style tree.
See the Knitted Woodland Ornaments
Cream Knit Reindeer, Snowman and Gingerbread
Three classic Christmas characters with a cable-knit surface, shown in cream. Printed in one neutral color they suit a minimalist or Scandinavian tree.
See the Knitted Character Ornament Set
Classic Shapes, Made New
These are the shapes you’d expect on a tree, done with better detail than the usual 3D printed ornaments.
Santa and Snowman Ornament Balls
Round ornament balls shaped like Santa and a snowman, with the hat forming the hanging loop. They read as ornaments from far away and as characters up close.
See the Santa and Snowman Ornaments
Lattice Ornaments
One ornament with soft ribs and one with an open lattice pattern that lets the light through. Print them in pastel mint and pink for a modern tree, or in white and gold for a classic one. The lattice version needs a well-tuned printer, so print a small test first.
See the Lattice Christmas Ornament
Vintage-Style Ornament Set
A red-and-white spotted mushroom, finials and patterned baubles that look like 1950s glass ornaments. Paint the details, or print in different colors and assemble.
Ribbed Christmas Bells
Three bells with deep ribs in red, cream and green. They’re among the easiest ornaments to print in a batch and look good in any number on the tree.
See the Christmas Bell Ornaments
Snowflake Ornaments
Most 3D print snowflake ornament designs are flat cut-outs. These have a stitched, knit-like surface and come out beautifully in pastel colors with a matching ribbon.
Tips for 3D Printing Christmas Ornaments
Christmas ornaments 3D print quickly because they’re light and small: a single Christmas ornament 3D print usually takes under an hour. Print the hanging loop with enough walls that it doesn’t snap the first time someone pulls on it. Matte filament hides layer lines better than glossy on textured pieces like the knitted designs. And if you’re printing ornaments as gifts, start early: a batch of ten takes longer than you think once you add painting and ribbon.
