Holiday Color Palettes (That Still Work After January)

If you’re the type who loves to go all-in when it comes to holiday decorating, you don't hesitate to change your home’s entire color palette. You’ll happily paint walls and choose furniture based on how things will look for about four weeks of the year. But during the other 48 weeks, things can feel a bit confusing, so you need a holiday color palette that works all year long.

Warm neutrals, shades of white, earth tones, and subtle greens are good picks for a holiday color palette that lasts all year. These options allow you to layer holiday decor and festive touches without overwhelming the space when the season comes to an end. Other color schemes are classic black-and-white, navy blue and similar moody neutrals, and burgundy and blush.

When the tree comes down, and you pack the lights away, you need your home to feel like it makes sense. Luckily, holiday decorating doesn’t mean you have to commit to a color scheme that only works one month out of the year.

Transitional Color Palettes To Solve Your Holiday Decorating Dilemma

There’s a definite line between creating a seasonal showcase and maintaining a home that feels stylish and pulled-together all year long. Transitional color palettes help you avoid the visual whiplash that comes with centering your entire design scheme around one holiday.

The Advantage Of A Transitional Color Scheme

Typical holiday decor often relies heavily on novelty, showcasing bright red, vibrant green, kitsch patterns, themed accessories, and tons of sparkle. These picks are undoubtedly fun and festive, but they can also clash with certain color palettes.

For example, imagine if you choose a contrasting, dramatic color scheme for your home that includes bright orange with touches of cobalt blue. It likely looks amazing, but pile a bunch of red and green Christmas decor on top, and well, things start to get a bit muddled.

On the flip side, what if you decide to create a full-on holiday house, committing to red furniture and holly green walls? This combo likely looks fabulous for the Christmas season, making your home the place to be for holiday fun. But when the holidays are over, these bold color choices could leave your home feeling a bit overwhelming.

Transitional color palettes anchor holiday decor using colors that already belong in your home. Think of it as layering decor onto your existing design instead of simply piling random things on top of it. You end up with a look that feels intentional and cohesive, and it’s a lot easier to work with, too.

Seven Holiday Color Palette Ideas That Work All Year

Here are a few examples of color palettes that work well any time of year, setting the stage for festive, holiday charm.

1. Warm Neutrals

A neutral palette never fails when it comes to flexibility and versatility. Use taupes, warm grays, soft whites, creams, and beiges to create a calm foundation for year-round design. During the holidays, these tones lend your seasonal scheme an elevated look, and they continue to be a timeless choice afterward.

To make these neutrals work for your holiday vibe, layer lots of textures to ramp up the cozy factor. Think things like faux fur throws, velvet pillows, woven baskets, and linen tablecloths. 

Warm neutrals also blend well with wood tones, natural materials, greenery, and metallics. They’re an excellent pick if you gravitate toward a more subtle holiday display.

2. Subtle Greens

Green is one of the big color kings when it comes to the holidays, but it’s also easy to overdo it. The best way to create a green-centric holiday color palette that works after January is to use more subtle hues instead of ones that scream Christmastime.

Opt for colors like sage, deep olive, or a mossy, forest green to keep things grounded. These shades work well with leather, wood, and other natural textiles throughout the year. During the holidays, they serve as an excellent base for seasonal decor, allowing you to layer smaller pieces, lights, ribbons, and more.

Another way to incorporate green into your holiday look is through fresh foliage or high-quality faux florals. Look for potted evergreens, use branches, or even create some DIY garlands. Add a few lights or ribbons to them during the holidays, and leave them unadorned the rest of the year.

3. Navy, Charcoal, And Other Moody Neutrals

Moody neutrals can be surprisingly festive, especially if you prefer deep, rich tones. Navy with silver and gold accents can become a sophisticated, elegant holiday color palette. Even deep charcoal or a soft black works well as a dramatic backdrop for your design.

Since these colors are neutrals, they work well with pretty much anything. Therefore, you can layer on an accent color for the holidays, or simply play up the existing tones and add punch with metallics, candles, and lights.

4. Burgundy And Blush

Instead of vivid crimson or an obvious Christmas red, take a different approach with a rich burgundy softened by a pale blush. This color combination tends to give off a more romantic feel, which is an easy feeling to design around during the holiday season.

To make this duo work for the holidays, layer fresh greenery and warm lighting, low-key metallics, and some textural elements. A few accessories in white deliver an especially pretty result. For example, a faux fur white throw blanket and a few white velvet pillows provide contrast and coziness.

5. Classic Black And White

If you prefer a more minimalist approach to design, then a black and white color palette is a classic. It has built-in contrast that also serves as an adaptable base to many other styles.

When the holidays roll around, it’s all about layering pieces that work with your personal sense of style. You can go bold with colors or keep it minimal by simply adding some evergreen garland or wreaths.

Build on top of the palette with seasonal decor. Then remove the decor when the holidays end to reveal a palette that remains intentional and relevant.

6. Multiple Shades Of White

Does the idea of a winter wonderland holiday display make you think all sorts of warm and fuzzy thoughts about Christmastime? Undeniably, there’s something magical about an all-white holiday palette, likely because it stirs up visions of sparkling snowflakes and snow-covered landscapes.

An all-white palette also feels clean, calm, and quietly festive. But the key is to use multiple shades of white, including creams and ivories, to keep things interesting. These light hues also keep spaces feeling fresh and bright.

Maintain an elegant holiday look by adding twinkling lights, glass ornaments, and natural greenery when you want things to get festive. Another way to keep this color scheme from becoming boring is to introduce more variation through plenty of textures. 

7. Cozy Earth Tones

Earth tones, including warm browns, clay, terracotta, rust, camel, and tan, are popular choices that work for the holidays and beyond. They blend well with natural materials like wool, leather, stone, linen, and wood.

These colors also tend to be very inviting and warm, which are good feelings to evoke during the holidays. To increase the seasonal sensation, add candles, greenery, and metallics, layering them for an intentional feel.

Tips For Using Year-Round Metallics In Holiday Color Palettes

Metallics aren’t just for the holidays, but you need to choose finishes that feel timeless instead of trendy. Skip things covered in glitter and glitz and go with classics like brushed brass, matte bronze, or a soft silver.

Pairing candles and twinkling lights with these metallics intensifies the sparkle effect that’s often synonymous with holiday decor. But after Christmas, take down the lights, and you have a space that reads as elegant and polished.

You can introduce metallics throughout your design in several ways that don’t have to be holiday-specific. For example, use candle holders, mirrors, picture frames, and vases instead of oversized holiday accessories.

How To Make Any Color Palette Feel Less Holiday-Specific

Regardless of the color palette you choose, keep these key principles in mind to avoid creating a look that’s too holiday-specific. First, avoid patterns that scream holiday whenever possible. For example, plaids, novelty prints, and themed graphics can lock your decor into a specific season. Instead, opt for solid colors, subtle textures, and classic patterns.

Second, focus on swapping small items instead of large ones. Pillows, throws, table linens, and accessories are easier to change than rugs and furniture. Then you can add seasonal touches without committing your entire space to a single look.

Finally, let your home’s existing palette lead the way. Think of your holiday decor as an extension of your home’s usual style instead of as a costume it’s going to wear for a month. When December ends, you want your home to still feel like it’s yours.

Holiday Color Palettes With Staying Power

Holiday decorating doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You just need to be intentional with color choices. Then your home can celebrate the season and stay stylish long after the ornaments and tinsel are packed away.

Related Guides:

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• Holiday Decorations That Make Your Home Look Tacky
• 16 Decorations That Work For Any Winter Holiday