Gwyneth Paltrow's quiet luxury Christmas tree is the most beautiful I have ever seen – and this trend is here to stay for 2024 and beyond

The importance of a neutral color palette should never be underestimated

Gwyneth Paltrow
(Image credit: Stefanie Keenan via Getty Images for Daily Front Row)

Decorating with a warm, autumnal color palette is so of the moment, and Gwyneth Paltrow's Christmas tree from last year proves that the American actress and entrepreneur was one step ahead of the curve.

The festive season is usually – and predominately – heavily saturated with a red and Christmas color scheme, but lately, another softer palette has edged into the zeitgeist. Decorating with brown, bronze, gunmetal, gold and other warm neutrals are the quiet luxury colors of 2024.

Paltrow's Christmas tree is a wonderful example of why this palette works, and achieving the look couldn't be easier this season.

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When choosing your Christmas decorating ideas, take inspiration from nature's seasonal spectrum of earthy tones to create a warm, welcoming space that you'll love throughout the festive period – and into January.

Nature’s dazzling colors are one of the joys of fall and winter and provide rich inspiration for creating cozy Christmas interiors. Trees glow with red, rust, and golden tones that shine as bright as flickering flames in the low fall and winter sun, while the copper and chestnut hues of fallen leaves carpet the ground.

Lately, I've noticed more designers, decorators, and homeowners opting to decorate with neutrals – and other subtle, subdued colors – for Christmas.

Offering myriad warm hues that sit harmoniously together, the autumn palette is loved by designers for its ability to create relaxed, grounding spaces with enduring appeal. ‘Walking through woodland is so inspirational, with leaves falling and crunching underfoot in rust, terracotta, and ochre. These colors, especially when used at Christmas, give interiors a calmness and a feeling of serenity. They sit back in a room and don’t jump out at you,’ explains fabric designer Vanessa Arbuthnott.

The beauty of the autumnal palette at Christmas is that the tones work wonderfully layered together, but will also naturally complement the timber, natural fabrics, and stone prevalent in furniture, architectural elements, and furnishings in your existing decor. It is a win-win for those of us who prefer – and still adore – the quiet luxury Christmas trend.

Jennifer Ebert
Editor

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens, bringing years of interiors experience across the US and UK. She has worked with leading publications, blending expertise in PR, marketing, social media, commercial strategy, and e-commerce. Jennifer has covered every corner of the home – curating projects from top interior designers, sourcing celebrity properties, reviewing appliances, and delivering timely news. Now, she channels her digital skills into shaping the world’s leading interiors website.