Your Guide to Using Holiday Color Schemes in Your Home

I know many of you are making your holiday decorating plans, and some have already started. I’m struggling a bit this year. It’s also tough for me to think of Christmas decorating when the sky is blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. The temperature is 52 degrees and I have the window open. But….a lot of you are ready to dive in, so it is my pleasure to welcome my guest, Jessica. She’s sharing, ” Your Guide to Using Holiday Color Schemes in Your Home”

It’s never too early to start discussing holiday decor ideas! There are so many design styles you might be drawn to, making it difficult to pick a holiday theme for your home. No matter your design preference, you can enhance spaces in your home and make them feel like a true extension of your personality by utilizing a holiday color scheme. Below are some tips and ideas to get you started:

Modern Metallics
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And not just because of the parties, gifts, and time spent with the people you love. But because, during the holidays, it’s totally acceptable to transform your home into a sparkly, dazzling wonderland—if you’re into that, of course.

Color Theory Considerations Feeling chic? Festive metals—we’re talking gold, silver, chrome, copper, and brass—are an excellent choice if you want to achieve a modern, glamorous holiday style inside your home. The thing to love about decorating with a metallic color theme is that you can mix different types to add depth and interest to a room.

Pro tip: When mixing metals, choose one dominant color and one accent color. Pair a warm-colored metal (like gold) with cool-colored metal (like silver) to create a balanced and cozy atmosphere—without looking messy.

Key Design Elements
Before you dive right in, you should come up with a plan. Choose which room (or rooms) you plan on decorating or updating. Consider both small-scale updates, cosmetic upgrades, and design and decor. During the holidays, the kitchen is usually a popular spot. Since you spend many hours entertaining and cooking in this space, it makes sense to give it some festive attention.

If you have enough time, consider taking on a small-scale remodeling project to benefit guests and your family—like adding a built-in eatery for cozy breakfasts. Or, improve the look over your kitchen with cosmetic updates. Consider projects like:
• Installing new backsplash
• Painting kitchen cabinets
• Adding wallpaper to the back of your kitchen island.

Updating small elements in your kitchen can add value and really wow your guests. Plus, the typical installation costs for these kitchen features are pretty affordable—especially if yours is on the smaller side. Short on time or money? No problem! You can really nail the modern metallic look with some simple DIY projects and decorative accents.

Consider purchasing new light fixtures with a metal finish. Metallic accent lighting is perfect for both the holiday season and for staying on-trend all-year-round. Get into the holiday spirit with a DIY project that’s sure to make your kitchen shine, like updating kitchen hardware. Painting cabinet handles with a metallic finish is a fun and easy way to make your kitchen pop.

Complete the room with decorative accents that complement your theme. Gather metallic ornaments of various shades in a mason jar and use this as a centerpiece for your kitchen island—or, for those with open-shelving, place the jar on a shelf next to decorative plates or reflective candles. Complete the vibe by adding copper string lights alongside windows. The warm mix of metal tones and ornate pieces will surely bring a beautiful glimmer to this space.

Pastel Wonderland
When people think of the holidays, most think of decorating with traditional red and green tones. But if you’re looking to make a statement this year, try incorporating pastel hues into your home. Trendy, milky pastels can bring a touch of personality to your holiday color scheme, without overwhelming guests.

Color Theory Considerations Combine soft pink with mint green for a unique and soft look in your home. You can rely on neutrals—like gray or wood tones—to balance it out. If you prefer to use only one pastel color, consider adding various shades of that color to make accent pieces and furniture pop! Maintain a consistent look and feel with your chosen pastel hues, adding similar shades to holiday decor (like a pink Christmas tree, peach wrapping paper, or mint green stockings).

Key Design Elements
If you want to go all out, start by painting an accent wall in your living room using a soft pastel wall paint, like pink or peach. The pop of color is fun, bright, and welcoming—a great alternative to an all-white space. Pastel hues will surely bring holiday cheer and joy to guests and family, making this room a cozy space for holiday activities and photos.

On the flip side, you might prefer less of a commitment when it comes to using holiday color schemes in your home. And that’s okay! You can still achieve a pastel wonderland that’s less permanent using stylish removable wallpaper. Get creative with existing furniture, like a media buffet or display cabinet, and use removable wallpaper to line the outside of drawers. Invite family and kids to join in on a DIY project the wallpaper—children will especially love the chance to add their personality to a room, and it’s a unique way to bond and make memories as a family.

The holiday season can be a bit chaotic at times. It’s important to manage holiday stress in a healthy way, and in a happy environment. And what’s happier than whimsical, playful pastels? Go all out with living room accessories, like accent rugs and cozy pastel throws—perfect for snuggling up on the couch and binging holiday movies.

Harmonious Neutrals
Now that you’re well-versed on all things colorful and shiny, let’s talk neutrals. If you’re drawn to earthy tones and soft materials, consider decorating your home with a neutral color theme. Organic holiday decor consists of natural elements, mixing neutrals, whites, and wood.

Color Theory Considerations Neutrals are timeless and cozy. When thoughtfully designed, neutral colors create a harmonious balance and warm environment, perfect for the holidays. If you want to add interest to traditional decor, combine styles—like rustic and boho.

Rustic elements and organic textures (think raw wood and stone elements) pair well with natural bohemian pieces (think decorative macramé wall hangings and textured rugs). When combining these styles, think about how you can emphasize existing pieces using neutral accents and don’t be afraid to layer multiple accessories or materials.

When choosing neutral hues for your holiday decor, consider using an analogous color scheme. It might sound complicated, but this simply means picking out colors next to each other on the color wheel that vary slightly in pigment. For example, to nail the neutral look while maintaining an analogous scheme, you might choose to incorporate black, brown, and tan tones.

In addition, with an analogous color scheme, you need to pick one color as the dominant shade (which sets the tone and grounds the look), one supporting shade (which enhances the look with textures), and one “accent” shade (which pops against the other colors). If you choose black, brown, and tan as your holiday color scheme, make black the accent shade and use it sparingly—this will ensure your earthy and warm environment remains intact.

Key Design Elements

Picture this: An earthy tablescape, decorated with natural wood elements, like pinecones, warm string lights, and soft white, faux fur seat cushions. Are you in holiday decor heaven? If yes, a cozy, luxurious dining room design might be exactly what you need this year.

When envisioning this space, be sure to keep your theme in mind. Your dining table might already act as a supporting shade, like brown, so enhance the overall look using a dominant shade, like tan. Include earth-toned placemats and dishware, and consider adding minimal black accents, like a pendant light or in wall art.

The way you choose to decorate your home for the holidays will vary from others, but the most important takeaway is choosing a theme that evokes peaceful and joyful feelings and enhances your home environment.

Written by Jessica: As a content writer (and a homebody), Jessica loves sharing tips to help people create and maintain well-designed spaces that feel like home.

Thank you so much, Jessica, for sharing your Guide to Using Holiday Color Schemes in Your Home.

Have you picked a color for your holiday decorating? Maybe you will share it at the party on Thursday! TFT ( Thursday Favorite Things) the blog party for blog writers and blog readers. It is the place to be every Thursday-Saturday.