50 Christmas Decorating Ideas That Aren't Red and Green

We talked to the holiday pros, and they dished their best fun, bright and colorful Christmas decorating hacks.

By: Caroline Alkire

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Let's Get Colorful

Who says Christmas decorations have to be traditional? We tapped our favorite bloggers for fun and festive ideas, and they gave us all-around amazing holiday decorating hacks saturated in unexpected hues. (This rainbow tree by organizing professional Clea Shearer of The Home Edit, for example.) Christmas trees, entry ideas, cool color schemes and more await.

From: HGTV Magazine

Make It Modern

Hot Pink Pineapples blogger Cyn dressed up her chic cane sideboard with a frosted mini tree and a sweet wreath. Evergreens add subtle saturated color, while abstract art gives the space a uniquely modern touch.

A Happy Little Village

Bright evergreen trees pop behind tiny white houses on designer Jo Gick's festive shelving. She strayed from the classic Christmas color scheme, instead weaving pink, orange and even navy into her decorations.

Black, White and Chic

An arched black mirror sets the stage for blogger Made by Carli's sleek entryway. Nixing red for darker shades, she layered a chalkboard advent calendar under classic garland. A black velvet lamp shade and hints of gold glam it all up.

see more: 40 Black-and-White Christmas Decorating Ideas

A Serape-Inspired Christmas

"Last year, I took a trip to San Diego and was inspired by all the Mexican and Spanish influences seen there, so my Christmas decorations were themed around that wonderful trip," says Casa Watkins blogger Stephanie Watkins of the tree she decorated with Kathy, author of Up to Date Interiors. "The serape inspired Christmas tree was one of my favorites!"

see more: 30 Creative Christmas Tree Themes

Minimal Yet Merry

Yes, you can maintain a minimal aesthetic and still get festive. Made by Carli placed a mini evergreen in a golden pot on the vanity in her bathroom, and it's adorable. Gold sink hardware gives the look an extra pop.

Christmas Blues

Throw some blue into the mix, like HGTV designer Brian Patrick Flynn did here in his sister's festive entryway. Knockout wallpaper by Thibaut and mini Evergreen trees in exuberant colors raise the joy factor.

see more: 50 Christmas Decorating Ideas That Aren't Red and Green

From: HGTV Magazine

DIY Rainbow Nutcrackers

Ashley Wilson, author of the At Home With Ashley blog, put a pastel spin on traditional Christmas nutcrackers. She used latex paint on wooden nutcrackers for a super-sweet effect, then she lined them up to create a rainbow.

see more: 35 Holiday Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces

DIY Gingerbread Doormat

Ashley's next DIY project? A gingerbread doormat. Yep, she made it herself (and you can, too) with a stencil and white paint. For the final look, she layered it over a pink patterned doormat.

see more: 75 Festive Holiday Front Porch Decorating Ideas

Festive Pastels

Pastels are pretty — even for the holidays. Vibrant mini evergreen trees and rainbow garland in Ashley's bright breakfast nook complement the pastel mini houses she used to decorate her kitchen shelves. A really cute dog pulls the whole look together.

DIY Advent Calendar

Check out Ashley's pastel Advent calendar. She created it using round paper mache boxes and pastel paints, then styled it under abstract art and a simple white banner.

A Fun Floral Tree

And the star of Ashley's living room is her Grandin Road Christmas tree, which she decorated with rainbow bulbs, colorful florals and a fringed tree skirt. Her pro tip: fluff the tree to make it as full as possible.

Don't Rein It In

When it comes to decorating her Franklin, Tennessee home for Christmas, HomeGoods style expert and home blogger Jenny Reimold likes to get creative. “I spotted an oversized metal reindeer punchbowl on HomeGoods.com that I styled at the base of my fireplace," she says. "Instead of filling it with punch, I stuffed it with faux greenery, glass and metallic ornaments, then wrapped presents to create the ultimate statement piece!” Then she added front door swags, faux greenery and ornaments top off her over-the-top look.

see more: Our Fave Christmas Wreaths, Garlands and Swags

Sweet and Simple

"I leaned into metal reindeer silverware, napkin holders and a smaller reindeer punch bowl on my kitchen table," says Jenny. "Similar to the presents at the base of the fireplace, I also incorporated faux fir and swags into the place settings to bring through that earthy energy!”

see more: Copy These Christmas Table Setting + Decorating Ideas

Frosted and Festive

Themed trees are Jenny's specialty. Her sweet frosted cranberry look boasts shades of red and white. And though it’s untraditional, she topped her tree first — then accessorized. "[It helps] determine the balance and proportion of ornaments that will be added," she says.

A Musical Christmas

For her vintage radio tree, Jenny took a “shove and stuff” approach. “Anything goes,” she says of her method. Here's how to tackle it: Pick out a decorative accessory about the size of your forearm (she went with mini plastic and metal retro-inspired radios from HomeGoods for under $15), separate the branches and place the item angled towards the tree. Be sure to secure each accessory with a hook or wire. If you’re going for the “shove and stuff” on a real tree, you’ll want strong branches. Jenny recommends a Cedar or a Spruce.

Sleek and Snowy

Designer Nicole Botsman went minimal with her holiday dining setup, featured in HGTV Magazine. Nicole dressed up her mod, DIY dining chairs (she spray painted them white!) with furry throws. The paper trees on her Design Within Reach dining table add color and texture.

Learn More: A Unique, Neutral-Chic Home Ready for the Holidays

From: HGTV Magazine

Go Bold

Christmas after Christmas, Kristina, author of the Easy Like Sunday Morning blog, dresses up her kids' playroom with bold colors and patterns. Here she decked out her kids' desk in bright red, hot pink, sea glass green and polka dots. And check out those handmade name tags from Chalk Designs by Me on Etsy. A custom Christmas setup!

Many Shades of Merry

Want a fresh color scheme this Christmas? Switch out red and green for red and pink, then layer in touches of mint — like Kristina did here for her Be Merry bar cart look. Snacks and candy complete the mood.

Stack on the Neutrals

Sarah Symonds, author of the Grace in My Space blog, went for a festive modern farmhouse look with her living room shelving. Leafy green plants punctuate the cozy neutral accessories perfectly — and we love all the stacked books.

Glints of Elegant Gold

And Sarah didn't stop with her shelving. She brought the neutral tones to her mantel too, using a color palette of gold, silver and white. Lush garland and a stoneware crock of firewood bring in natural textures.

Mix It All Up

"Our design aesthetic has always included lots of bright, bold colors so why stop with red and green at Christmas?" says designer Shauna Glenn. "We are always on the hunt for colorful decor and tabletop accessories and love the way the holiday decor complements the design of the room." She topped off her blue and pink table setting with one colorful ornament per plate.

Reindeer and Rainbows

While a bright, Christmas-y red dominates Shauna's entryway, she swapped out green decor for a bright blue stocking, pink and yellow mini trees and rainbow garland (to match the super-cool abstract art hung above her console).

Perfectly Pink

Shauna went for festive and glam in this girly dining space. A bright white tree makes her vibrant ornaments stand out.

DIY Holiday Sign

Why not DIY it? The editors at HGTV Magazine made that simple winter sign with felt. Poppy pillows and a patterned rug add punches of color.

See More Photos: 7 DIY Holiday Signs That'll Spread Some Serious Joy

From: HGTV Magazine

Bring On the Bright

A white Christmas tree is the best canvas for extra-bright Christmas ornaments and patterned wrapping paper. Jessica Tompane's cozy space, featured in HGTV Magazine, blends saturated tones and festive decor seamlessly. (And peep that pink Kravet couch!)

See More Photos: 21 Wowza Ways These Homeowners Made Their Coronado, California House Awesome

Traditional Whismy

Here, Jessica hung whimsical wreaths from Curious Blooms at the foot of each bed. Then she added a classic Christmas countdown calendar. Voila! Super-subtle holiday spirit — kid's room edition.

See More Photos: 21 Wowza Ways These Homeowners Made Their Coronado, California House Awesome

Chic Christmas Seating

Jessica made this super-organized nook extra cozy. Pink and turquoise pillows bring the comfort, while brightly wrapped presents give the whole look a festive glow.

See More Photos: 21 Wowza Ways These Homeowners Made Their Coronado, California House Awesome

From: HGTV Magazine

A Magical Corner

Blogger Amy Allen of A Little Love Designs created the coziest Christmas corner in her home. She decorated a skinny silver tree from Target with festive mini houses. And that wicker basket under the tree? Genius.

Warm, Wooden Dining

White, green and wood tones dominate Amy's dining room. She upped the ambiance with candles, soft lighting and a black and white blanket.

A French Vintage Tree

To give her blue spruce tree the French vintage vibes she wanted, Maison de Mings blogger Amy Mings followed a color scheme of pale pinks, coppers, whites and light blues. The result is a perfectly nostalgic vignette.

A Sweet Setting

And on par with her French vintage tree, Amy's Christmas table setting boasts softer holiday shades: blush pink candles, white bowls and copper accents.

Blue on Brick

Homeowners Brook and David LaRoche nixed traditional holiday colors. Deep blue decor and lush, green garland brighten up the cozy brick walls of their sunny breakfast nook.

Learn More: This Warm and Woodsy Kitchen Has Lots of Holiday Flair

From: HGTV Magazine

A Rainbowed Mantel

Mini ROYGBIV evergreens, rainbow garland and candy-cane-striped stockings make Studio DIY blogger Kelly Mindell's living room pop. As a final bright touch, she accentuated the room's pointed archway with glistening garland.

All Wrapped Up in the Kitchen

It's rainbow in the living room, but pink and red in Kelly's gasp-worthy kitchen. Each year, she carries on her mom's tradition of wrapping the cabinets like Christmas presents. She uses ribbon from her local craft store (it's easier to pull off than you'd expect).

Starry Windows

Jess and James Milburn's airy dining room, featured in HGTV Magazine, says "Happy Holidays" in the simplest way. Bright blue stars, backlit against a wall of windows, bring fresh cheer to their space.

See More Photos: This 1800s Home Has Wall-to-Wall Christmas Cheer

From: HGTV Magazine

Sparkly Surprises

Sure, the Milburns' deep green fireplace surround is oh-so traditional Christmas, but those bold hanging stockings sure aren't. And that sparkly tree hides a surprise: a glass pickle ornament for the kids to find — a quirky tradition.

See More Photos: This 1800s Home Has Wall-to-Wall Christmas Cheer

From: HGTV Magazine

Ombré Cool

Spray paint on a white faux tree created this dramatic winter wonderland. Blogger Angie Ramirez used Satin Black, Matte Deep Gray and Pewter Gray (all by Krylon), from the bottom up. “To keep the focus on the ombré, I matched ornaments to the paint, with clear plastic ones on top,” she says.

See More Photos: Supercool and Colorful Christmas Tree Looks We Love

From: HGTV Magazine

Crisp and Clean

We love designer Elizabeth Bear's super-neutral table setting. Layers of white (check out those mini evergreens) and a little bit of light green bring cool Christmas spirit into her dining room.

An Earthy Entry

Subtle hints of brown — those cool tree toppers — ground Elizabeth's earthy holiday entryway. Garland gives it a traditional twist, while the mini tree in a clear glass pot makes it modern.

DIY Giant Lightbulb Wall Decor

Believe it or not, Kara Whitten, author of the Kailo Chic blog, made those light bulbs using foam core and spray paint. Then she hung them over her Christmas bar cart setup for maximum colorful cheer.

see more: Our 100 Favorite DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas

Mint and Pink, Please

Tired of green and red? Go for a girly look like Kara did: mint and pink. This cool combo looks chic on her living room shelving (complete with wrapped presents and a bowl full of ornaments).

Punchy Pastels

Keeping with her pastel theme, Kara decorated her flocked tree with metallic ornaments in shades of mint, blush, magenta and red.

see more: 85 Easy DIY Holiday Ornaments for All Ages

DIY Balloon Garland

Pink, orange and blush balloons wrap themselves around Kara's white Christmas tree. The best part: Her whimsical design is DIY-able.

Want to make a Christmas statement with color? Try decorating a dresser with saturated accessories — rainbow banners, brightly wrapped presents, metallic mirror balls — like Kara did here.

A Special Pink Space for Santa

Kara went above and beyond with with her cookies for Santa. She created a pink home (mini wreath and all) and left some rainbow treats inside.

Irresistibly Iridescent

Here, Kara brightened up a mostly white space with tons of accessories in pinks, purples, yellows and blues. Iridescent streamers add a fun glow, and we can't stop staring at her rainbow tree topper.

A Rainbow of Evergreens

If you want to include every color of the rainbow in your decor this year (we don't blame you) try lining up glass Christmas trees ROYGBIV style, like Kara did on this mantel. She even hung candy canes above and snowflakes below to match.

Christmas Village

To create this version of the classic Christmas display, blogger Kelli Mullins of Lolly Jane painted cardboard houses, tacked on itty-bitty wreaths made out of pipe cleaners and nestled them in with bottlebrush trees. “We don’t get much snow here in Arizona,” she says, “so I like that they look as if they’re surrounded by snow.”

See More Photos: Supercool and Colorful Christmas Tree Looks We Love

From: HGTV Magazine

Sunny, Sweet and Christmas-y

Yes, you can still leave your yellow rugs out during the holiday season. Homeowner Beth Snyder did in her kitchen, which was featured in HGTV Magazine. She balanced out the bright gingham pattern with muted mini evergreen trees, which she lined up above her sink.

Learn More: Tour a Bright Missouri Kitchen That's Full of Cheer All Year Long

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