Love non-traditional Christmas decor? Consider a gold, blue, and brown holiday color scheme this year — a warm, elegant palette that creates a cozy, modern look for your home.
Over the years I’ve experimented with many Christmas decorating themes. I don’t overhaul every room each season, but I almost always change the color story in the living room. I enjoy following color trends and borrowing inspiration from other seasons to craft fresh holiday palettes that feel personal and stylish.
I tend to avoid decorating heavily with red, preferring softer or unexpected shades instead. While I’ll add a touch of red on occasion, I usually favor blues, greens, golds, and neutrals. Last year I did a very red-focused scheme and, to be honest, by December 26 I was ready for something different.
Christmas Tree Decor from the Past
A few years ago I created a nostalgic plaid tree that struck the right balance of traditional charm without overwhelming red. It was one of my favorite setups because it felt classic and cozy without feeling dated.
This season I’m returning to my favorite blues and greens while introducing warm neutrals like camel, caramel, brown, and even dried orange slices for natural texture. I’ll mix in staples of gold and white to keep the look bright and festive.
Brown and other warm neutrals are trending in home decor, so emphasizing those tones in holiday accents — ribbon, velvet ornaments, and wooden elements — feels timely and inviting. I’ll also reuse white, gold, and blue ornaments from previous years and add new blue and brown pieces to broaden the palette.
I’ve already ordered a few items. A key decorating tip I follow is to shop early for holiday decor: pieces tend to sell out or increase in price as the season approaches. Planning ahead lets you gather the specific textures and shades that will make the design cohesive.
I love sharing practical decorating ideas: how to add garland to a staircase, ways to style a Christmas kitchen, and creative Christmas card holder displays. These projects are meant to inspire you to create a home that feels warm and intentional for the holidays.
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Plans for Brown and Blue Christmas Tree Decor
My process usually starts with the tree. I create a design board so I can see the colors and textures together before I buy everything. Once I lock the color story — in this case gold, blue, and brown with accents of white and orange — I choose ribbon, ornaments, and a tree topper that complement one another.
Here is the design concept I’m using in the living room this year. The mood is warm but fresh: blue velvet and linen, caramel and brown velvet ribbons, gold mercury glass ornaments, and natural touches like wooden bowls and dried orange slices to add depth and contrast.
SOURCES: White & gold stockings | Blue cable knit stockings | Real-touch garland | Gold bells in garland | Mini wreaths (similar) | Extra-wide console table | Christmas TV art | Lamp | Wood framed mirror | Console table basket | Ginger jar | Boxwood topiary | Brown ribbon bows | Sectional in neutral fabric | Embellished tree pillow | Blue linen pillow | Orange plaid throw pillow | Bronze cable knit pillow | Frosted tree embroidered pillow | Blue storage ottoman | Wood bowl/tray | Metallic ornament candle | Gold bow tree topper | Artificial evergreen tree | Brown velvet ribbon | Caramel velvet ribbon | Brown velvet ornaments | Chinoiserie Christmas tree | Blue and white nativity | Blue velvet ornaments | Flocked copper ornaments | Gold mercury glass ornaments | Navy & brown wrapping paper | Basket tree collar (similar) | Blue antique-style rug | Dried orange slices
I focus on a few anchor items first: ribbon, a handful of new ornaments, and maybe a signature piece like an embellished pillow or unique topper. I’ll reuse familiar white and gold ornaments and add blue and brown finishes to tie everything together. Quality blue ornaments with velvet ribbon give the tree a luxe, curated feel.
Once the tree palette is set, I coordinate wrapping paper and small accents around the room. I found a blue-and-brown floral wrap that fits the scheme perfectly and helps the presents feel like part of the overall design.
I also picked up remote-controlled clip-on candles for the tree. They add a cozy glow and can be set on a timer, making them both beautiful and practical.
I’ll return to update this post with photos of the finished living room once everything is styled and photographed — stay tuned for the full reveal!
Other Rooms Decorated for Christmas
I won’t be changing many other rooms this year, but if you’d like ideas for decorating other spaces, here are examples I’ve shared previously:
- Christmas Kitchen
- Christmas Bedrooms
- Christmas Dining Room
- Christmas Office
More posts you may enjoy:
- How to Decorate with Winter Decorations for Christmas
- The Most Beautiful Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
- The Best Artificial Christmas Trees this Year
- Best Christmas Tree Collar Ideas
- How To Decorate With Christmas Bells (7+ Must-Try Ideas)