7 Designer-Approved Christmas Color Schemes to Try This Season

No matter how big or small your Christmas display is, it's your color scheme that will truly set the tone. Whether you prefer traditional festive tones or something a little more unexpected, the first step in decorating for the holidays starts with color.

While Christmas color schemes will always be associated with the familiar red and green pairing and all-metallic silvers and golds, this year we are seeing some exciting new shades and combinations worth paying attention to. Whatever your interior design style, these seven timeless Christmas color schemes each feel unique, festive, and assured – and are perfect sources of inspiration to guide how you decorate your home this Christmas.

1. Traditional Red and Green

Decorating with red and green always evokes a wintry feel over Christmas. Reminiscent of lush foliage and red winter berries, keep things classic and embrace these two classically festive tones.

This cozy living room follows a cheerful, yet classic color palette. Pops of vibrant red and green are scattered throughout the space, from the vintage furniture to the Christmas tree decorated with kitschy glass decorations. 'I love a vibrant Christmas tree. Bright red and gold always look great on a green tree and complement it well,' explains creative Landon McAfee. 'There's nothing as festive as a red glass ornament! I also tend to buy vintage ornaments too, and seeing these colors is very classic to vintage taste.'

It's not just tree decorations that can inject cheery color into your home; seasonal branches, garlands, and whimsical red bows can bring a dose of punchy color to any corner.

2. Pared-Back Neutrals

Neutral tones can feel just as cozy and festive as a classic red and green. As interior designer Eliza Dewbury says, 'I think that a neutral Christmas scheme doesn't mean we have to move away from traditional festive palettes. Instead, it's about taking inspiration from nature and embracing the familiar colors of Christmas in a softer, more understated way.'

'For this room, we were drawn to evergreen foliage, rich burgundy velvet ribbons and antique golds. These colors and materials all feel inherently festive and nostalgic, but their natural tones create something beautifully elegant, allowing the decorations to feel like a natural extension of the interiors.'

'I think the most important thing is not to confuse neutral decorating for the holidays with an absence of color or personality. I'd always start by looking at the colors already present in the room (in this case, neutral paint) and finding ways to echo these through the Christmas decorations. Natural materials and textures lend themselves beautifully to a more neutral backdrop, so I'd start by taking inspiration from traditional Christmas foliage.'

3. Retro Metallics

'The icy brilliance of silver has always been a go-to for me when I’m thinking about a Christmas color scheme,' says designer David Lawson. 'Not only does it beautifully embody the feeling of the frosty winter months, but its shine and sparkle also lend themselves as the perfect backdrop for parties and festive celebrations, and who doesn’t love a good shimmering holiday soirée?'

'While reds and greens might conjure a more traditional Christmas color palette, silver has been used in festive decoration from as far back as the 17th century. Quite literally, in its earliest iteration, real silver was spun into fine strands and draped on tree branches to reflect candlelight and mirror the effect of icicles. Later to be replaced by metals such as tin, copper and aluminum, then finally evolving into what we know as modern tinsel and lametta, I think silver’s historic association with Christmas is one of the reasons it still feels so timeless to use today.'

'When it comes to Christmas decor, I tend to treat silver like a fantastic and versatile neutral,' David explains. 'It goes well with pretty much everything. Particularly stunning used alongside rich reds, burgundy and wines, it’s equally beautiful paired with turquoise, dark greens and burnt orange tones. One of my favorite things to do is mix metallic finishes; adding in some gold really warms a silver moment up, while silver and bronze tones mixed together are absolutely striking. A bit like a magpie, anything shiny and metallic works for me holiday decor-wise, and my own home will be adorned with lots of silver when the 25th of December hits.'

4. Nostalgic Brights

They might not be traditional, but vibrant, playful, bright tones really lean into the festivity of Christmas. Nostalgic and light-hearted, cheery orange, powder blue, and soft pinks bring a whimsical feel to our homes over the holidays and pop particularly well against lush wintry foliage.

Whimsical decorations are one of the biggest Christmas decor themes this year. From bows to nostalgic ornaments, these familiar accessories tap into the festivity of past Christmases and shine against oh-so sweet, pastel colors.

Interior designer Melanie Lissack covered her Christmas tree in a generous helping of pastel bows. 'I chose some of my favorite colors that I use a lot around my home: burgundy, pink, blue, green, and brown can all be found in my furnishings. I wanted my tree to feel bright and glamorous. I left the tails of the bows long so that the color draped through and the design looked more elegant than cutesy.'

'I love to pair bold colors, so I chose ribbons in shades that complement each other: baby blue and brown work well together, as does red and pink. You'll see a lot of these color pairings in colorful, modern interiors at the moment.'

5. Rich Jewel Tones

For those wanting to embrace a colorful Christmas theme but with a luxurious, sophisticated feel, you can never go wrong with jewel tones. Think rich teal, ruby reds, and amethyst purples.

Purple may have been an unexpected fall color trend this year, but it's also a timeless jewel tone that brings real richness to our homes over the holidays. 'It's almost a wonderful twist on the traditional Christmas red and green, but instead we're introducing these deep, jewel-like plum tones alongside earthy, chocolatey shades and warm greens', Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design at Lick, says. 'It feels incredibly rich, nostalgic and soulful, with a real nod to those wonderful 1970s color palettes.'

'And one color that I think is going to take center stage this Christmas is purple! Purple has had a bit of a bad reputation in interiors for years, but I'm seeing this wonderful return of those really nostalgic violet, aubergine and rich plum purples. And the combination that I'm particularly excited about is pairing these shades with rich chocolate browns and a yellow-undertoned, almost chinoiserie green.'

6. Powder Blue and Red

Typically, you'll find green and red sitting side by side in homes over the holidays. Blue and red, however, are a little less traditional, but just as festive an alternative if you're looking for a timeless yet trendy color palette that stands out from past holidays.

'The blue and red were already part of the room, so rather than fight them, we leaned in and gave them a holiday twist,' explains Heather French of French & French Interiors. 'Gingham bows, winter greenery, and extra-tall taper candles make the space feel special, and mixing brass and silver through vintage candleholders and our antique silver collection keeps it layered rather than matchy. Towers of citrus add freshness and break up the red and blue even more. We love using natural materials when decorating for the holidays, and weaving evergreens into the chandelier feels especially festive and whimsical. On the bookshelves, we nestled in nutcrackers and amaryllis, so the holiday spirit carries into every corner of the room.'

'They bring tension, and that’s what keeps a layered space from feeling too precious or too matchy,' adds Heather. 'Our core holiday pieces never change: inherited nutcrackers, antique Christmas pyramids, handmade glass ornaments. An unexpected color story lets us present them in a new way each year. Pairing pieces with story and staying power with something a little flashier makes the whole look feel collected and alive rather than static or overly traditional or overdone.'

7. All Green

Grasscloth walls set the tone in this green living room, but lush garlands and a statement wreath add real texture and seasonality to the space. Of course, some pops of red make an appearance, but the all-green backdrop creates a wintry, nature-inspired feel that's so fitting for this time of year. 'The color palette of this room, which is my own apartment, was inspired by my love of the color green,' explains interior designer Alexander D. Wilson. 'Living in New York City, it's nice to bring as much of the outdoors inside as possible, not to mention it makes decorating at Christmas time just a little bit easier!'

'Because my walls and fireplace mantel are already green, I wanted to keep the holiday decor's color palette relatively tonal. It wouldn't truly be Christmas without a little bit of red, so I included small touches with the grosgrain ribbon and vintage butterfly ornaments.'

While some may be less traditional, each of these seven color schemes couldn't be more striking, timeless, or festive. Whether your style leans traditional or a little more minimal, there's at least one palette that can guide how you decorate this year.

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