How to Choose Christmas Colors for Your Holiday Decor

It’s the first day of Twelve Days of Getting Ready for Christmas! Today, I am sharing ideas for Christmas colors and a theme for your decor.

For twelve days, I will do everything I can to help you prepare for Christmas. Today is day one of this series, and I am sharing how to choose a theme and/or Christmas colors for your home.

Do you have a theme yet for your decor for Christmas?

My theme this year is based on three colors – cranberry red, soft sage green, and warm white. I call it my “merry color” theme.

I choose a theme every year for Christmas. For the last four years, my themes were:

• Rose Gold and Cranberry Christmas
• A Pomegranate Christmas
• A Verdigris Green Christmas
• Pink Cranberry Christmas

How I Picked My Christmas Colors

Every year, I choose a theme for Christmas. Why?

Because it keeps me on track and helps me stay focused. A theme makes it so much easier to decorate your home and saves you money.

I am pretty sure I didn’t have a theme for Christmas; every room in our home might have turned a different color!

You might want to consider a theme this year for your Christmas decor. It makes decorating so much easier and saves you money because you can switch decor easily from room to room.

To determine my theme this year, I took my two favorite colors, orange and pink, and gave them a holiday twist for my Christmas color palette. I ended up with rose gold and cranberry.

I am so excited to see these colors together all over our home.

How to Pick Your Theme

In previous years, I have had difficulty deciding on a theme because there are so many ideas. And some years ago, I couldn’t think of any themes to use!

All you need to do is decide what feels best in your home and what complements your existing decorations. For many years, my theme was red and green. Why wouldn’t it be, right?

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Tips for Choosing the Right Palette for Your Home

1. Take Inventory of Your Space: Consider what colors dominate your home. Choosing colors that complement your existing decor will make the transition to holiday decor smoother and more cohesive.

2. Balance Warm and Cool Tones: For a visually appealing look, balance warm (reds, golds) and cool (blues, greens) tones. This approach ensures the decor feels vibrant and balanced, regardless of your home’s style.

3. Experiment with Metallics: Incorporate metallics to add a touch of sparkle and elegance. Whether silver, gold, brass, or rose gold, metallic accents catch the light and enhance the festive atmosphere.

4. Use Neutrals to Ground the Palette: Add neutrals like cream, beige, or white to ground bold colors. This keeps your palette cohesive and prevents it from feeling overwhelming.

5. Mix Textures for Depth: Adding different textures—velvet ribbons, woven baskets, metallic finishes—will add depth to your decor and make each color stand out.

When it comes to Christmas decor, traditional color combinations that have stood the test of time are available, as are modern/coastal palettes that bring a fresh twist to the festive season.

Choosing a color palette for Christmas decor can transform your home, setting the tone for a festive, inviting atmosphere. Whether your style leans traditional, coastal, or somewhere in between, selecting a well-curated palette brings harmony and warmth to your holiday spaces.

Eight Color Palettes for Christmas Decor

Let’s explore eight color palettes that complement traditional and coastal styles, each with suggestions for specific ornaments, fabrics, and decorative elements.

Cranberry Red, Soft Sage, and Warm White

This palette pairs classic red with calming sage green and warm white, creating a festive yet soft look. It brings a refreshing twist to traditional red-and-green Christmas decor with a more relaxed, natural feel that suits coastal and rustic styles.

This is the palette I chose for this year!

Perfect For: Homes with rustic or farmhouse decor and spaces that embrace a more organic, grounded look.

Colors: Cranberry red, soft sage green, and warm white.

• How to Use: Combine lush sage garlands with cranberry red accents, like throw pillows, ribbons, or ornaments. Use warm white as a neutral base for a balanced and inviting look. Drape sage and red garlands along mantels or staircases and add warm white fairy lights to bring a gentle glow.

• Ornaments: Cranberry-colored baubles, sage green ornaments, and natural white accents (like faux berries or snowflakes) are great additions. For a coastal touch, add bleached coral or sand dollars painted in sage or cranberry hues.

• Tips for Coastal Homes: Sage green works well in coastal homes as it mirrors natural greenery. To keep the palette light and airy, focus on small red accents rather than large blocks of color, using cranberry in ribbons, bows, or small decor pieces.

Coastal Blues and Natural Tones

For a light, breezy holiday vibe, coastal blues paired with sandy neutrals and soft whites can evoke a wintery beach atmosphere. This palette is refreshing yet festive, perfect for homes with a coastal flair.

Perfect For: Coastal decor, airy spaces, and homes that embrace natural elements.

Colors: Soft blue, sandy beige, crisp white, and hints of metallic silver.

• How to Use: Drape white and light blue garlands across mantels and tables, or add silver and blue ornaments to trees and wreaths. Use natural materials like driftwood, shells, and woven textures to add warmth.

• Ornaments: Blue glass balls, white starfish ornaments, silver bells, and cream-colored bows bring this palette to life.

• Tips for Traditional Homes: If your home is more traditional, add pops of deep blue and silver to your classic greenery to give it a fresh twist.

Classic Red, Green, and Gold

The classic Christmas palette of red, green, and gold is timeless. It brings warmth and tradition, making any space feel festive and cozy.

Perfect For: Traditional decor and cozy, holiday-inspired spaces.

Colors: Deep red, evergreen, and warm gold.

• How to Use: Place evergreen garlands along mantels and stairways, woven with red and gold ribbon for a classic look. Try pairing deep red velvet throw pillows with golden accents on ornaments or picture frames for a refined, vintage look.

• Ornaments: Gold bells, red glass baubles, and green fir picks work beautifully on trees. For coastal homes, consider incorporating gold starfish or sea glass ornaments to give a beachy twist.

• Tips for Coastal Homes: Swap traditional pinecones for bleached driftwood or add touches of cream to lighten the look. A few red accents can go a long way in a coastal space, so keep it subtle to maintain an airy feel.

Forest Green, White, and Warm Neutrals

For a natural, rustic Christmas look, forest green combined with crisp white and warm neutrals creates a woodsy feel reminiscent of a cozy cabin. This elegant yet grounded palette works beautifully with traditional and coastal homes.

Perfect For: Rustic or Scandinavian-inspired decor and homes that embrace minimalism.

Colors: Forest green, warm beige, crisp white, and natural wood accents.

• How to Use: Pair forest green foliage with natural materials like burlap, woven baskets, and wooden accents. Decorate your tree with white and beige ornaments, adding touches of gold or bronze for warmth.

• Ornaments: White ceramic stars, wooden ornaments, and simple green bows add a natural, minimalist touch. For a coastal twist, include driftwood accents or rope details.

• Tips for Coastal Homes: Integrate natural textures like sea grass or raffia to complement the earthy tones in a beachy way.

Elegant Silver, White, and Sage Green

For a touch of elegance, silver, white, and isage greene make a beautiful palette reminiscent of winter wonderlands. This versatile look blends beautifully with traditional and coastal decor to create a refined, sparkling Christmas vibe.

Perfect For: Modern, elegant decor styles or spaces with a lot of natural light.

Colors: Silver, bright white, sage green, and subtle hints of dark green.

• How to Use: Decorate with sage green and silver baubles, using white garlands to create a snowy effect. Consider using silver candle holders, white faux fur pillows, and sage green table runners.

• Ornaments: Silver snowflakes, green glass balls, and white icicle ornaments bring out the frosty vibe. Add shell or coral-inspired silver ornaments to echo beachy textures for coastal decor.

• Tips for Traditional Homes: Add touches of sage or deep green alongside silver to anchor the palette, creating a contrast that still feels festive.

Blush Pink, Burgundy, and Rose Gold

For a unique and sophisticated holiday palette, blush pink, burgundy, and rose gold bring a modern twist to Christmas decor. The soft pinks are festive without being overly traditional, perfect for adding warmth to any home.

Perfect For: Glam, bohemian, or romantic decor styles.

Colors: Blush pink, deep burgundy, and rose gold, with accents of soft cream or white.

• How to Use: Create a rosy, romantic look with burgundy and pink ornaments, blush-colored candles, and rose gold candle holders. For a cohesive look, use soft pink table runners and rose gold ribbon.

• Ornaments: Blush pink ornaments, rose gold stars, and burgundy bows add elegance. For coastal decor, add rose-tinted shells or blush coral pieces to mix with the metallics.

• Tips for Traditional Homes: Introduce blush pink with more traditional deep red and burgundy elements for a rich, modern palette that feels warm and inviting.

Fresh Green, Cream, and Muted Metallics

For a soft, earthy palette, fresh green paired with cream and muted metallics like brass or copper create a peaceful, timeless holiday look. This combination works beautifully for both traditional and coastal homes.

Perfect For: Natural, organic, and minimalistic decor styles.

Colors: Fresh green, soft cream, brass, and muted copper.

• How to Use: Accent a fresh green wreath or garland with muted brass or copper ornaments. For added warmth, use creamy linens and natural textures, such as woven baskets and linen stockings.

• Ornaments: Brass bells, cream-colored baubles, and green velvet ribbon add elegance. For coastal homes, consider adding bleached starfish or brass seashell ornaments.

• Tips for Traditional Homes: Blend this palette with traditional red berries or gold to make it feel festive without losing the calm, organic feel.

Deep Red, Navy Blue, and Champagne Gold

For a rich, sophisticated take on Christmas decor, try a combination of deep red, navy blue, and champagne gold. This palette is bold yet elegant, blending the warmth of red with the cool sophistication of navy, all grounded by soft, shimmering champagne gold accents.

Perfect For: Classic, elegant, or modern decor styles and homes looking for a refined, luxurious holiday look.

Colors: Deep red, navy blue, and champagne gold.

• How to Use: Decorate with deep red and navy ornaments, incorporating champagne gold ribbon and candleholders for warmth and sparkle. Use navy and red table runners or pillow covers to tie the look together. The gold accents add just the right touch of glam.

• Ornaments: Deep red glass ornaments, navy blue velvet bows, and champagne gold stars or snowflakes. For a coastal twist, mix in gold-painted starfish or navy-and-gold seashell ornaments to echo the colors of the sea.

• Tips for Traditional Homes: This palette works beautifully with classic red-and-green decor. Substituting navy for green gives it a more refined feel. Champagne gold keeps it warm, adding elegance that feels festive yet elevated.

Choosing a Christmas Theme

Another option is to choose a popular Christmas theme. Here are just a few of the themes you might want to consider. All themes below are linked to a list with lots of fun items to get you started, so check them out!

• Gingerbread Christmas
• A Vintage Christmas
• Coastal Christmas Decor
• Boho Christmas Decor
• Plaid Christmas Decor
• A White Christmas
• A Farmhouse Christmas
• Winter Wonderland
• A Rustic Christmas
• Christmas Gnome Decor

So, how do you select a theme? It comes down to your style and the Christmas decor that you love. Spend some time looking at Christmas decor photos (such as those on Instagram, Pinterest, and back issues of holiday magazines).

I like to change it up a bit every year. While I certainly want to be able to reuse my decor from year to year, I like to change it just enough to fit a new theme.

Create a Mood Board

Once you have picked your theme, it might be fun to create a Mood Board. It is effortless to make one on the website Canva.

I created my Mood Board using cranberry, sage, and warm white colors for this year’s Christmas colors theme.

Previous Years Mood Boards

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Ways to Incorporate Your Theme

Once you have a theme, what do you do with it? I like to use my theme throughout everything I do for Christmas. My decor matches the theme. My wrapping paper, crafts, and florals go with the theme. Even my recipes fit the theme whenever possible.

I know. I am a bit obsessed with my Christmas colors. You will see a lot of them in the next two months.

I want to try many Cranberry recipes this holiday season. One of my favorite Christmas Party recipes is my Cranberry Orange Scones.

You are going to want to make these.

Selecting a color palette for your Christmas decor can be an enjoyable process that lets you express your style while enhancing your home’s beauty during the holiday season. By following these tips and choosing from these six color palettes, you can create a warm, inviting, and festive environment that fits traditional and coastal decor styles.

From classic red and green to elegant blues and gold, these palettes offer something for everyone, ensuring your home feels magical, beautiful, and perfectly festive.

So, pick a palette that speaks to you, gather your decorations, and transform your home for a memorable Christmas season!

Remember, the best color combinations reflect your taste and the atmosphere you want to create for the holiday season.

Whether you stick to traditional hues or venture out with modern palettes, the most important thing is that your decor brings joy and festivity to you and your home.

Shop My Sage Green and Cranberry Christmas Theme

Silver & Gold Christmas Favorites

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