Every year in November, my family gets together to have two big Christmas discussions. Firstly (and most importantly), what are we going to eat? Secondly, how are we decorating? If you’re having similar thoughts as the holiday season approaches, it’s the second question I’m hoping to help you answer today.
Deciding on Christmas decorations usually starts with a color scheme. With so many options, it’s helpful to narrow that down, unless you want an all-out multicolored home throughout December.
I always recommend choosing a Christmas color scheme that works with what you already have, whether that be your current home décor or the box of decorations in your garage. But there are also so many DIY décor options that allow you to experiment with color without spending too much on decorations and creating waste.
If you’re a fan of classic Christmas colors, or are looking for a way to circumvent tradition and go your own way, you’ll find a color scheme to inspire you on this list.
Red and Green
There is no color palette that screams Christmas like red and green. I actually avoid it throughout the year because red and green instantly make me think of the holidays. There are many reasons for this association, from holly and religious traditions to the classic depiction of Santa Claus created by Coca-Cola (yes, you read that right).
For the holiday-obsessed rule-followers, this pairing is a great choice. You certainly won’t be short on décor options, whether you’re purchasing new or making your own. And since vintage or nostalgic Christmases are popular this year, you’ll be on trend too.
Burgandy and Forest Green
The bright red and Christmas-tree green are not a pairing for everyone. It’s a little too ‘done’ for my tastes, and it doesn’t suit my existing home décor, requiring a lot of adjustments to make the look work in December. If you want to take this traditional pairing up a notch, try richer hues like burgundy and forest green.
Burgundy has been everywhere in the last half of the year, and it looks like this popularity will extend into next year too. Pair it with trendy forest green and you have a holiday color scheme that looks classic but elevated at the same time.
White and Gold
For a cleaner look, you can’t go wrong with white and gold. These colors still have a wintery holiday feel, but they aren’t as in your face as red and green. This is an ideal option for minimalist homes, or for anyone who wants to brighten their homes in the middle of gloomy winter.
Stark white with shiny gold can quickly become overwhelming when paired together, so choose your hues wisely. I would either opt for a creamy white with glittery gold, or bright white with a more neutral gold to provide some balance.
Red and Gold
If you simply can’t have Christmas without red decorations, pairing this festive color with gold is a great way to elevate the look. Warm gold hues add to the cozy feel that makes your home super inviting in winter. Throw in some green in your Christmas tree and with fresh greenery to finish the traditional holiday look.
There are so many ways to make use of gold beyond the usual ornaments and decorations. Warm fairy lights give off a gold hue that adds a great atmosphere around your home. Gold tableware is great for dinner parties too. Invest in some gold cutlery or a few tall candlesticks, and let the flicker of your candles add to the gold color scheme.
Green and White
Green and white is one of my favorite pairings around the holidays, because it doesn’t have to be strictly associated with Christmas. These colors look good throughout winter, from fall all the way to New Year. If you choose your decorations carefully, you won’t feel the pressure to take them down as soon as Christmas ends.
For a classic look, use fresh greenery as your green elements and place only white decorations. You can also add to the wintery feel by sprinkling some fake snow around your displays. If you’re not sure what fake snow to use, Editor Tracey Besemer has the perfect solution here.
White
Holiday decorating can be visually overwhelming. If your home is already a mix of many color schemes, adding more on top of that can distract from the décor rather than enhance it. In that case, create some harmony by sticking with all-white decorations. This is also a good choice in minimalist homes.
Like green and white, this color scheme has longevity. As long as the decorations aren’t heavily Christmas-themed, you can make use of whatever you need for holidays throughout the year. It also brightens rooms in your home while matching the winter season, looking particularly fitting if you live in an area where it snows often.
Beige and Brown
Sticking with neutral and natural tones, beige and brown is another trendy color scheme to try. It may not be festive enough to suit everyone’s tastes, but it always looks good together, especially if you already decorate with neutrals around your home.
The easiest way to incorporate this Christmas color scheme is with natural decorations found around your garden and neighborhood. Pinecone decorations are a classic choice that adds to the holiday feel without any bright colors. You can also use branches and dried flowers from your garden to create stunning long-lasting arrangements. There is a long list of decorations you can use that don’t cost a cent.
Green and Brown
Another way to create a natural, woodsy look is by incorporating green with your brown decorations. This could be fresh greenery to bring the outdoors in, or other decorative elements like candles and tablecloths.
Again, one of the biggest benefits of this color scheme is that you don’t have to spend any money on decorating if you don’t want to. Use what you can find and forage, keeping the decorations simple and natural. That way, you’ll have more money to spend on gifts and other holiday expenses.
Blue and Silver
For those who prefer cool tones to warm ones, icy blue and silver is a wonderful choice. This one is for winter lovers, especially when silver is paired with lighter metallic blues that make your home look like it’s covered in a layer of ice.
I find this Christmas color scheme works best with white as a backdrop. If you have too many other colors in the mix around your home, you lose that wintery feel. Tablescapes are the perfect way to incorporate this color scheme, using silverware and blue highlights to ensure your dining room is on theme.
Silver
Silver on its own is a powerful choice with plenty of options for decorating. If you love the classic and clean look but don’t really want to stick with all-white, this is my recommendation. A combination of glittery and muted shades will create a cohesive look without becoming overwhelming.
I used this color scheme a few years ago for one main reason—I desperately wanted to use disco balls in my holiday décor. My tree was decorated with adorable tiny disco balls and I added mirrored elements around my home for a fun twist on holiday decorating.
Metallics
This isn’t quite a color scheme as it is a general theme. Metallic decorations are also trending this year, or more specifically chrome decorations. These reflective shades have a futuristic feel and allow you to use any base colors you like to match your existing home décor.
Shiny gold, silver, copper, or other metallic hues will pair together in finish rather than color, allowing you to play with color combinations you may not have considered before. You may assume less is more here, but I think this Christmas color scheme makes much more of an impact when you go all out.
Navy Blue
Blue was one of the biggest colors of the year, and navy blue in particular is predicted to take center stage in 2025. Why not get a jump on this trend by making it your sole Christmas color scheme?
Navy blue has such a classy feel, great for both modern and vintage-inspired interiors. It’s not the most common Christmas color, so you may have to get creative with your décor or make your own. Pair it with neutral browns and greens for a woodland look or white for a rich coastal feel.
Gray and White
Millennial gray has received plenty of hate over the last few years. I will admit, after having my home covered in gray-everything in the 2010s, it’s not my favorite color. But during the holidays, it’s a wonderful complement to white Christmas décor and makes your home feel undoubtedly cozy.
I think the key is to emphasize texture and shape if you’re going to go with this Christmas color scheme. Rather than flat colors, incorporate gray in knitted blankets, spray paint your pinecones or foraged branches gray, and make sure the undertones (warm or cool) of the various grays match. If you still love your millennial gray, this is one way you don’t have to let it go.
Black and Gold
Party hosts will appreciate a black and gold color scheme, a pairing that works in any celebration. I do think of New Year’s Eve when I see black and gold together, so if you want your Christmas décor to double as New Year’s décor, these are the colors to choose.
Use black as a base color around your home, adding touches of gold for extra sparkle. The dark backdrop will help the gold stand out even more. The look is even more dramatic if you have existing black décor around your home, like throw pillows or a dark accent wall.
Black and Red
Black and red is a color combination guaranteed to bring the drama. It’s not a pairing people often choose for the holidays (possibly for fear of seeming too gloomy), but it can look incredibly classy and sophisticated when done right.
Much of the inspiration I’ve found online for this color scheme is black, red, and white. Although it can look festive, that’s a little more contrast than I’m suggesting. Instead, as with the gold, stick with black as a base color and incorporate red in small elements without relying on white to bring out the color.
Pastels
Now we get into the more unconventional Christmas color schemes, starting with pastels. Pastel hues create a soft and homey look that’s great for the holiday season. You can choose a few pastels you are fond of to create a harmonious decorating scheme without relying on one or two colors alone.
There is one risk when choosing this option. Your Christmas decorations may start to look more fitting for another holiday—Easter. For this reason, I would avoid pastel purple (which is most often associated with Easter), sticking with other pastel options instead.
Blush and Orange
Pink and orange is one of my favorite color combinations, especially in winter. Even if it’s cold and gray outside, there is something about pink and orange together that brightens up my home and adds a little tropical feel. You can bring this fun energy to your Christmas decorating, too.
While almost any pink will pair well, I think blush pink provides the best look for the festive season. Use blush pink accents and natural orange décor wherever you need a pop of color. Dried oranges are also great for homemade garlands or potpourri if you want to make your home smell like Christmas.
Sage Green and Orange
I’ve mentioned that a few of the previous color schemes last well past Christmas. This is a pairing that works in the other direction. If you’re planning on decorating for Thanksgiving and making absolutely no adjustments after that, this color scheme is perfect.
Sage green and orange is a quintessential fall color combination that reflects the change of season outdoors. The sage is a lighter shade of green than the darker hues we often see at Christmas to soften the look and create a cozy atmosphere.
Pink
Pink Christmas decorations were everywhere last year, inspired by the release of the massively popular Barbie movie. Barbie pink had its moment in the spotlight, and Christmas décor was not spared. It even got its own name, ‘Pinkmas‘.
But pink-themed Christmas decorating was not new then, and it’s not disappearing now either. The most popular way to use this color is in your Christmas tree, whether you’re using pink ornaments or purchasing a completely pink artificial tree. The options are almost endless.
Lime Green
Grinch-themed decorations were popular last year and seem to be completely taking over this year. With so many adorable options, there are few excuses not to have an off-the-wall lime green Christmas this year.
This is the option my mother has chosen this year, after trying almost every other color combination on this list over the years. She has lime green Christmas lights, lime green napkins, and even straws with tiny Grinch faces on them. I’ll be making the Grinch cocktails for the party—you can learn how to make them here if you want to join in.
Natural Tones
I’ve saved what I believe is the best Christmas color scheme for last, and the one I’ll be using this year. Natural tones and textures have been on trend for several years, but few people think to extend that to the holiday season.
Cream, brown, white, rust, green, gray, and other colors expand your options when decorating and allow you to use what you already have without it looking out of place. As long as what you choose is inspired by nature, you can be sure they will go well together.
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