A few years ago, I had a holiday decorating epiphany! After pouring through magazines and looking online at beautiful holiday homes, I realized that the most noteworthy ones worked with their everyday decor (not against it) when decorating for Christmas. This realization has changed how I approach decorating for the holidays over the years. Instead of grabbing and using every holiday item I see and love (which…is a lot of them!), I pick items that either match or compliment my existing decor. This approach creates a more seamless transition into the holidays AND keeps my home from having a Christmas-themed identity crisis. Earlier this week, I shared how to incorporate 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 some of my favorite of all time!

White present with turquoise bow on a chair.

Blue is not exactly a traditional Christmas color, but it’s definitely one you see more and more these days! Not only can blue stand on its own when complimented with neutrals and metallics; but it also pairs quite charmingly with a variety of bright colors such as green, red, and pink.

When To Consider Decorating with Blue for the Holidays

Based on my own experience and “research,” using blue in your holiday decor works best in these circumstances:

A Neutral Home

Without a doubt, blue makes a stunning statement when added to a very neutral home. This includes homes that primarily use layers of whites, greys, browns, and blacks. Without a strong competing accent color, the blues will stand out beautifully and create a dazzling (and quite festive!) display.

Blue and copper bead garland on bookcase with dear and a sleigh.

A Blue-Themed Home

Blue Christmas decorations also work really nicely when you have a blue color scheme in a room or (as is my case!), throughout the whole house! By matching your blue Christmas decorations to the blue scheme all over, you will create a space that feels layered and magical instead of busy and cluttered.

Nativity scene against a navy blue wall with silver stars

Rooms with Complementary Colors

Finally, don’t consider blue off limits if your home isn’t done in neutrals or blues already. As I mentioned before, blue is a gorgeous complementary color to reds, pinks, and greens; and it makes for a festive palette if you’re looking for something non-traditional!

Green, red, turquoise, and pink Christmas trees and ornaments on a bookcase

Picking the Right Blue Scheme for Your Space

These days, Christmas decorations come in pretty much every shade of the rainbow. As such, there are several different hues of blue you can add into your holiday decor. From light blue and royal blue to an array of turquoise shades, here are some combinations that work beautifully together:

Blue + White

Everything goes with white, right?!? And blue is no exception. While light blues and turquoise can work, the most stunning combination is royal or navy with pure white. Even though this will create a very cool-toned display, the contrast is stunning and vibrant!

Royal Blue + Kelly Green

This sophisticated combination feels both classic and modern and would work lovely in rooms that have lots of warm neutrals (beiges, whites, browns) or an all-blue scheme. As much as I love this combination, I’ve actually never used in our homes. I might have to remedy that one holiday season!

Royal Blue + Red

Quite obviously, blue pairs gorgeously with red and white, although it does create a patriotic feel (which you may or may not want). This combination is a great way to bring in the very festive red to a blue-themed room; and you can temper the patriotic feel by adding metallic neutrals (silver, gold, white) and fresh greenery.

Christmas Rainbow

One of my favorite ways to use blue…especially turquoise…is in a rainbow scheme. When paired with reds, pinks, and greens, blues help create a youthful, modern, and fresh look. With so many different colors at work, the “rainbow Christmas” scheme works best in rooms with really neutral foundations.

White, Silver and Blue Christmas Decorations

While all these blue Christmas decor ideas are lovely, my favorite way to use blue in our holiday decor is to pair royal blue, with shades of turquoise, silver, and white. Like the other schemes mentioned above, this works best in a neutral space…especially one that already has cool undertones such as whites, blacks, and greys.

Here is how I incorporated this magical combination into our North Carolina home a couple of years ago!

Outside

Turquoise, royal blue, and white ornaments on a pine wreath

At the entryway, an ornament wreath and  fresh evergreen tree in a bright turquoise party pail set the tone for the whole blue scheme waiting inside.

Mini Christmas tree in a turquoise bucket with white lanterns.

In the Foyer

In the foyer, a combination of royal blue, turquoise, and silver ornaments create a stunning wreath.

Learn how to make this ornament wreath!

Blue, white and turquoise Christmas ornaments wreath above bookcase.

Notice the simple fur garland strung throughout the blue ornaments. This makes for a visually interesting combination of textures, while also invoking feelings of warmth and coziness amidst the cool tones!

Blue, white and turquoise Christmas ornaments wreath.

Under the wreath, is a smattering of stunning royal blue, turquoise, and silver glittered pinecones. Not only are these easy and inexpensive to make, but they are the perfect fillers for bowls, trays, and other surfaces throughout a home, including on bookcases, hutches, or a mantle.

Navy and turquoise glittered pinecones on mantel.

I mentioned before that bright blue decor items work beautifully against a neutral color. Below is a great example. Against the grey walls and dark wood+white bookcase, the blue decorations simply pop!

Blue, white and turquoise Christmas ornaments wreath above bookcase.

On the Tree

Moving into the playroom, the blue, turquoise, silver, and while theme is carried right onto the Christmas tree.

Check out my best tips  for creating a magical turquoise, blue and silver Christmas tree here!

White flocked tree with blue, silver, and turquoise Christmas ornaments. White flocked tree with blue, silver, and turquoise Christmas ornaments.

Under the tree, plain white presents are wrapped in a variety of beautiful blue ribbons.

White Christmas tree skirt with white and turquoise presents.

Again, mixing and matching glass ornaments in different shades of blue onto a (neutral) white Christmas tree really allows the combination to shine without feeling too busy.

White flocked tree with blue, silver and turquoise Christmas ornaments.

On the Walls

Not everything in your home has to follow the blue theme!

Below, large blue snowflakes cut from felt cascade down the wall to creating a coordinated display around our non-matching stockings (I’ll never part with our homemade stockings no matter how badly they match!). The silver and white Christmas decor tie the stockings and the blue accents together to ultimately create a cohesive look!

Blue felt snowflakes on wall above Christmas stockings

On Surface Tops

Over in the living room, the blue color scheme is seamlessly incorporated with the existing decor through a few simple touches.

Grey family room with blue, silver, turquoise, and white Christmas decorations.

One of my favorite DIY holiday projects I’ve ever made are these blue Christmas tree decorations. They are nothing more than a bunch of Christmas ornaments in various shades, threaded and stacked onto wooden stick and topped with a beautiful bow. Not only are they easy to make (full instructions HERE) but they easily come apart for storage year after year.

Blue, silver, and turquoise ornament tree with silver bow on top.

There is a blue tree displayed on either side of the TV with some more glittered pinecones; but these trees would also make for a stunning centerpiece on a dining room table!

Blue, silver, and turquoise ornament tree with silver bow on top.

I find wrapped gifts to be one of the easiest, cheapest, and most effective decorations, and they are used repeatedly throughout this festive space. Simply use a single roll of white wrapping paper and some beautiful ribbon to wrap up all those delivery boxes. Then place them on coffee tables, chairs, and other surfaces where more color is needed.

White present with turquoise bow on a chair.

One final idea for incorporating blue touches to your holiday home is via candy! Candy canes, lollipops, and other sweet treats can be loaded into jars, clear vessels, and bowls to incorporate the color scheme into eating areas such as the dining room and kitchen.

Blue candy canes next to a silver reindeer.

The key to using blue in your holiday decor is summarized quite nicely in the image below. Against a neutral backdrop, a variety of shades, textures, and elements can come together to create a truly dazzling display. Although not the traditional color, I think these blue Christmas decorations are quite festive indeed!

Turquoise and blue Christmas decor in a grey room.

I hope the tips and inspiration photos I shared here today give you lots of great ideas for confidently incorporating blue into your holiday home. I hope you give blue a try if not this holiday season, next!

Holiday Living Room 2013-007

See You Soon!
Megan