Whether you're lacking the room, the time, the money, or are treeless for any other reason, here are some alternative ways of displaying ornaments:
1) Hanging from the ceiling
2) On a branch
3) In a bowl
4) On (or as) garland
(Images: 1. Redbook, 2. Sunset, 3. Delish, 4. Design*Sponge)
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I dig them hanging from the ceiling. Very lovely for a holiday party.
What's to miss? Even with a triee, I still use all of these ideas. Nothing over the top but I like to add a touch of sparkle to each room during the Christmas season. Here's another....I have a lamp with a glass base in my office which I fill with vintage ornaments. Keeps them safe from little hands and I still get to enjoy them.
Number 1 is pretty, but it looks like it might be attached to a lighting fixture since it's over a table... if so, and I know because I tried it once, the shadow can make a pretty dark table! (I now hang a few individual crystal snowflakes from my "chandelier" fixture, and they don't get in the way...)
Number 2 with the branch is gorgeous!!!
I'm not allowed to have a tree this year because we won't be home for Christmas, so I hung ornaments all over my front windows and the window treatment hardware! I also hung a few on the lights I strung along the inside of the windows as well. And I might have decorated the wreaths just a tad.
I filled an antique cake dome/plate with ornaments as a table centerpiece, and surrounded it with oversized pewter candleholders… but instead of candles, I displayed large, mercury glass balls.
It’s pretty and sparkly… and can be relocated to the mantel to make room for dinner.
Sort of like #1, we hang just one large vintage ornament from the middle of our chandelier in our dining room so it hangs precariously over the table.
An alternate to #3 would be to fill glass hurricanes with ornaments.
I like no. 1 but have no way to execute it at the moment.
Victoria Elizabeth, I love your centerpiece. It's very pretty and I liked your post, too ;-)
I've done #3 before, because it is easy.
I really like 1, 2 and 4. Might have to try that next year.
I wish we could see the whole arrangement for #2 --- i.e., how did they get that branch horizontal?
fyi - if you go to the Sunset link they state: Start with a branch—such as manzanita—with a graceful, intricate silhouette. Suspend it with nearly invisible fishing line from C hooks screwed into the ceiling. Then just add the ornaments.
Always a big fan on non-traditional holiday decorating. And balls! Thanks for sharing!!