Nicole Kidman's Candy Cane-Covered Christmas Tree Resets The Formula for Two-Tone Decorating in 2026
Red and white have never looked so chic as on the actress's Christmas tree – it raises the bar for stylish, high-contrast decor this holiday season
This year, Christmas decor will be balanced, bold, and eye-catching. Gone are the minimalist trees of the early 2020s, and we're shying away from the over-the-top '80s-style kitsch that ruled last year. One of the best ways to strike this equilibrium is with bold decor in a simple color palette.
Nicole Kidman's ultra-chic red and white Christmas tree is the perfect blueprint. By using ornaments, garlands, and ribbons all in shades of red and white, she created a tree that feels both elevated and festive. Candy cane ornaments (like these fun chunky ones from Target) bring in a touch of whimsy.
Her christmas decor presents an easy formula for decorating with red and white this year, using a mix of stylish ribbons and striped ornaments, toeing the line between playful and stylish.
Furthermore, Nicole's idea aligns with the key Christmas trends for this holiday season, where red and white feature prominently. Burgundy and cherry shades have been huge this year, which is extending to Christmas decor.
David Sumner, design expert at Christmas Tree World explains: 'This year, Christmas is taking style notes from one of the biggest color trends on social media. Cherry cola shades have been everywhere throughout 2026, from fashion and beauty to home interiors, and now they're making their way onto Christmas trees. The trend involves rich cherry reds, deep burgundies, chocolate browns, and metallic gold accents.'
Recreate Nicole's Christmas Look
To bring Nicole's unexpectedly pared-back Christmas color scheme to life, you will need striped ornaments, white lights, and red ribbon. These are our editors' top picks.
Design experts say that this year's Christmas tree bows will be bigger and bolder than ever, and this pretty striped one is perfect for getting the look. It would be a stunning topper, or could feature prominently on the front of a Christmas tree.
This pre-lit tree offers a chic, Nicole-inspired aesthetic with ease. Boasting 2,000 branch tips crafted from lifelike green PVC and PE pine needles, it has a lush, cashmere-soft texture that feels natural and provides the ideal backdrop for red ornaments, reminiscent of Nicole's signature style.
For a more interesting take on red and white stripes ornaments, I love the subtle shimmer of these thread covered balls. They are perfect for interspersing among glass ornaments to create contrast.
Light and elegant like a bubble, these glass ornaments will allow your white Christmas lights to shine throughout the living room. They're utterly timeless, ideal for creating classic character.
Bring an exceptional, elevated feel to your Christmas tree with these pretty beaded candy cane ornaments. They would look especially pretty paired with ribbon garland.
I love this red and clear take on a classic icicle ornament, perfect for bringing length and depth to the branches of your tree. We think Nicole would approve.
To replicate Nicole's look, balance garlands and ornaments to create a rich, textural feel. David advises: 'Pair glossy red baubles with velvet ribbon and string lights for a look that's cosy, elegant, and effortlessly on trend.'
The Christmas tree ribbons we see on Nicole's evergreen will be exceptionally important for decorating this year. 'Oversized bow details, with luxurious ribbon add-ons, will become something more than a mere finishing touch,' advises New Jersey-based designer Swati Goorha.
She states: 'We will see oversized bows, flowing velvety ribbons and beautiful fabric ties, as statement decor elements for our Christmas trees. I especially like this method of decorating a tree, due to the fact that the ribbons provide a sense of softness and motion; therefore, a well-designed tree does not need an abundance of ornaments.'
Luckily, this sculptural look from Nicole Kidman's tree is easy to recreate. Swati tells Homes & Gardens: 'My suggestion is use some type of textured ribbon (velvet, satin) that will complement your current tree decoration colors. Do not wrap the ribbon too tightly around the tree's branches. Let it flow down through the tree branches.'
Nicole Kidman's Christmas tree is a masterclass in striking balance with your holiday decor, and choosing a look that's between bold and subtle. With her guidance, perfecting your look is easier than ever.
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