Earlier, decorations were worn even in everyday life, but more recently, their use has declined and is today limited to festive occasions only. Guidelines on the wearing of Finnish decorations are laid out in a set of rules adopted on 1 June 1940 and in subsequent amendments to them.

A person who has received a higher decoration of the Order of the White Rose of Finland or the Lion of Finland does not wear a lower decoration of the same Order.

An exception is made with the Crosses of Merit and Medals of the Orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland, with the Pro Finlandia Crosses and Medals of the Lion of Finland, and the Pro Finlandia Medal and Knights with swords and clasps, which are worn together with a higher decoration of the same Order.

All Crosses of Liberty received for wartime merits are worn at the same time, but of the Crosses of Liberty received for peacetime merits, only the highest one is worn.