A few years ago I had a holiday decoration epiphany! After combing through magazines and searching online for beautiful vacation homes, I found that the most notable ones worked.comYour everyday decoration (notagainstit) while decorating for Christmas. This realization has changed my approach to Christmas decorations over the years. Rather than picking up and using all of the Christmas items I see and love (of which there are many!), I select items that complement or complement my existing decor. This approach creates a more seamless transition to the holidays AND keeps my home from having a Christmassy identity crisis. Earlier this week I sharedhow to integrate green into your holiday home; and today I want to share ideas for using blue Christmas decor. As a lover of all things blue, these ideas are among my absolute favorites!
Blue isn't exactly a traditional Christmas color, but it's definitely a color that's being seen more and more often these days! Blue can't just stand on its own when complemented with neutrals and metallics; but it also pairs charmingly with a variety of bright colors like green, red, and pink.
When to Consider Decorating in Blue for the Holidays
Based on my own experience and "research", using blue in Christmas decorations works best in the following circumstances:
a neutral house
Without a doubt, blue makes a stunning statement when added to a very neutral home. This includes homes that primarily use layers of white, gray, brown, and black. Without a strong competing accent color, the blue stands out beautifully, making for a dazzling (and quite festive!) display.
A blue themed house
Blue Christmas decorations also work really well if you have a blue color scheme in a room or (like me!) throughout the house! By coordinating your blue Christmas decorations with the all-blue scheme, you create a space that feels layered and magical, rather than busy and cluttered.
Spaces with complementary colors
Finally, don't consider blue taboo if your home isn't already decorated in neutral or blue tones. As I mentioned earlier, blue is a beautiful complement to red, pink, and green; and creates a festive palette if you're looking for something non-traditional!
Choose the right blue scheme for your space
These days, Christmas decorations come in pretty much every shade of the rainbow. As such, there are many different shades of blue to add to your holiday decor. From light blue and royal blue to a variety of shades of turquoise, here are some combinations that go beautifully together:
blue + white
Everything goes with white, right?!? And blue is no exception. While light blue and turquoise can work, the most eye-catching combination is royal or navy with pure white. Although this creates a canvas with very cool tones, the contrast is impressive and vibrant!
Royal Blue + Kelly Green
This sophisticated combination looks both classic and contemporary, and would work great in rooms with lots of warm neutral tones (beige, white, brown) or an all-blue color scheme. As much as I love this combination, I have never used it in our homes. I may need to remedy this holiday season!
Royal Blue + Red
Of course, blue pairs beautifully with red and white, although it does add a patriotic feel (which you may or may not want). This combination is a great way to bring the very festive red into a blue-themed room; and you can tone down the patriotic feel by adding neutral metallic tones (silver, gold, white) and cool greens.
Christmas rainbow
One of my favorite ways to wear blue...especially turquoise...is in a rainbow scheme. In combination with red, pink and green tones, blue contributes to a youthful, modern and fresh look. With so many different colors to choose from, the "Christmas Rainbow" scheme works best in rooms with truly neutral backgrounds.
White, silver and blue Christmas decorations
While all of these blue Christmas decorating ideas are beautiful, my favorite way to use blue in our Christmas decor is to combine royal blue with shades of turquoise, silver, and white. Like the other schemes mentioned above, this works best in a neutral room...especially one that already has cool undertones like white, black, and gray.
See how I installed this magical combination in our North Carolina home a few years ago!
For a
at the entrance,a wreath of ornamentsand a fresh evergreen tree in a bright turquoise party bucket set the tone for the entire blue scheme that awaits inside.
not lobby
In the foyer, a combination of royal blue, turquoise and silver embellishments form a stunning wreath.
Learnhow to make this wreath!
Note the simple fur garland strung along the blue ornaments. This creates a visually interesting combination of textures, evoking a sense of warmth and coziness amidst the cool tones!
Under the crown are a handful of iridescent shades of royal blue, turquoise and silver.shiny pine cones. Not only are they easy and inexpensive to make, but they also make perfect filling material for bowls, trays, and other surfaces around the home, including shelves, cabinets, or mantels.
I've already mentioned that light blue decorative items work beautifully against a neutral color. Below is a great example. Against the gray walls and dark wood + white bookcase, the blue decorations just stand out!
On the tree
Upon entering the playroom, the blue, turquoise and silver theme is taken straight to the Christmas tree.
Check out my top tips for creatingmagical turquoise, blue and silver Christmas tree here!
Under the tree, simple white gifts are wrapped in a row of pretty blue ribbons.
Again, mixing and matching glass ornaments in different shades of blue on a white (neutral) Christmas tree really lets the combination shine without looking too busy.
on the walls
Not everything in your house has to follow the blue theme!
Below, large cut blue felt snowflakes fall onto the wall to create a coordinated display around our mismatched socks.(I will never part with our homemade socks, no matter how well they go together!). The silver and white Christmas decor brings together the stockings and blue accents to create a cohesive look!
On surface spikes
In the living room, the blue color scheme blends seamlessly into the existing decor with a few simple touches.
One of my favorite DIY Christmas projects I've ever made is this blue Christmas tree ornament. They are nothing more than a bunch of Christmas ornaments in different shades, threaded and stacked on wooden sticks and topped with a pretty bow. Not only are they easy to make (full instructionsHERE), but they fall apart easily for storage year after year.
On either side of the TV is a blue tree with a few more glowing pine cones; but these trees would also make a stunning centerpiece on a dining table!
I find wrapped gifts to be one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective decorations, and they're used again and again in this festive space. Just use a single roll of white wrapping paper and pretty ribbon to wrap all your shipping boxes. Then place them on coffee tables, chairs and other surfaces where more color is needed.
One last idea to add a touch of blue to your holiday home is candy! Candy canes, lollipops and other sweets can be placed in jars, clear containers and bowls to integrate the color scheme into dining areas such as the dining room and kitchen.
The key to using blue in your holiday decor is nicely summarized in the image below. Against a neutral background, a variety of tones, textures and elements can come together to create a truly stunning display. While not the traditional color, I think this blue Christmas decoration is really festive!
I hope the tips and inspirational photos I've shared here today give you lots of great ideas on how to confidently incorporate blue into your vacation home. Hope you give blue a try, if not this holiday season then next!
See you soon!
Megan