Joanna Gaines's giant Christmas tree reminds us why a traditional holiday color scheme will never fall out of favor

Joanna Gaines has kickstarted the holiday season with a reminder that, when it comes to Christmas trees, bigger is better. But it's not the only lesson we're taking from her Waco abode. 

'Mama likes big trees,' the designer shared as she swapped her giant fiddle-leaf fig for a similarly impressive Christmas tree almost reaching the vaulted ceiling in her living room. Joanna dresses the tree in gold lights (like these from Target) and a selection of (what appears to be) mostly red and green ornaments. 

Reds, golds, and greens are synonymous with timeless Christmas decor – transcending more fleeting color trends to stand the test of time through the centuries. A look inside Joanna's Christmas living room reminds us exactly why the popularity of this color combination will likely never waver. 

This nostalgic color combination may transcend 'trends.' However, as Jess Martin, a design expert at Ginger Ray, explains, the look does tap into a 'festive nostalgia' aesthetic influencing how we decorate. 

'Expect to see classic red, white, and green color schemes paired with classic patterns like tartan and Christmas characters like Santa and his reindeer appearing in patterns,' Jess says. 'This theme is sure to see you living out your Home Alone fantasies and reminiscing back to the late '90s.'

Alysha Alli, the head of interiors at Redrow, agrees. Alongside a timeless color scheme, she recommends collecting retro or nostalgic decorations for our tree. 'If you're going for a Maximalist style tree, retro-looking pieces work well for this too,' she adds. 

Interior Designer

Interior Designer

Alysha Alli

Alysha Alli is the head of interiors at Redrow is a leading, premium housebuilder service dedicated to giving people a better way to live. For nearly 50 years, we have been creating high quality homes and communities for our customers, building over 100,000 homes around the UK. 

To further create a nostalgic look, Alysha urges us to get more personal. 'Next-level personalization is what will really make your tree stand out.' she says. 

'From mementos you've collected on your travels or significant moments to decorations you've handcrafted or decorated yourself, adding a bit of personality to your tree is key. Plus, using different textiles and materials like velvet, faux fur, colored paper, and felt can add new points of interest.'

Plus, while Joanna's tree is missing presents (so far), Alysha reminds us that they're equally impactful in curating a well-coordinated space overall. 

'Bring your theme into the present wrapping too – if you're taking a Scandi vibe, then brown paper with twine ribbon keeps it simple, or velvet ribbons across some sugar plum colored paper for a glamorous look,' she says. 

We're buying our way into a Joanna-approved tree with these decorations from her brand, Magnolia, below.