Traditional red and green, or going for the latest Christmas decoration trends? Natural or artificial? If artificial, why not pick one in an entirely different color than green? So many questions arise when it comes to choosing just the right color scheme for your Christmas tree and decorations this season. Recent StorageCafe research looked into this year’s holiday décor trends – and it looks like Americans are foraying into new territory.
Metallic accents and minimalistic black and white color combinations are all the hype right now
Rose gold, black/white and red/white are at the top of Americans’ preferences in terms of Christmas colors this year. Unconventional? Possibly, but one thing they have in common is that they ooze creativity and spark emotion.
Rose gold as well as metallic colors can bring a bit of glamour to your home – something we probably all need this time around, after last year’s holiday season when many things got toned down.
Although the trend for metallic shades might look like a new, modern idea, some people actually found inspiration for this type of décor in old decorations they stumbled upon while thrift shopping. “This year, the majority of the decorations are matte gold and matte ruby red ball ornaments,” explained Stefan Bucur of rhythmofthehome.com. “We were inspired by an old nutcracker that we found at a secondhand shop. The nutcracker is the star of the home decorations this Christmas.”
Metallic decorations can be very festive against the backdrop of a natural Christmas tree. “We went with a natural tree this year, specifically the Nordmann Fir, because it’s my favorite. The tree is a green needle color with white stripes. Our Christmas tree decorations are silver and gold,” said Krissy Hadick, founder of The Hadicks, about her family’s festive décor this year.
Minimalism as an interior design trend – and even a lifestyle – has been around for a while now, and it looks like Christmas trees are next in line to get the treatment. The black and white combination is inherently minimalistic, and, even if it sounds like a peculiar choice for a Christmas tree, it can be really striking – and rather attractive. When the actual tree is also unconventional, now that’s a statement of poise and style.
“This year, I’ve opted for a completely different type of tree (which has resulted in a lot of giggles and even some dismay from my family. Safe to say it’s a very controversial tree). I’m a huge environmentally conscious person, so I’ve chosen to go with a Black Metal Cone Tree by Cox & Cox,” said Nadia Charif, health and wellness advisor at Coffeeble.
“While it may seem like a strange choice, I think it’s actually a really beautiful one. It doesn’t require any water or care, and it will last forever. I’m also a minimalist, and I think this tree perfectly represents that. To decorate, I’ve opted to go with the same theme as the tree, black and metal. First, I hung up a couple of stained-glass ornaments that glint in the sunlight and give off an ethereal glow; then, I added a set of three steel nutcrackers. Finally, I put a few black ribbons on the tree to really tie the look together,” she concluded.
Red, of course, shouldn’t be missing when it comes to top Christmas color choices – there’s Santa’s hat and Rudolf’s nose, for a start.
“I believe the green and red provide the most ‘Christmas-y’ perspective, and the white lights make the tree glow all season long,” says Kyle Tobin, whose company Christmas Lights Toronto decorates homes for the holiday season. “Because I went natural, my tree is (obviously) green but I’ve gone mostly red when decorating it, with white lights. I have red Christmas balls and ribbons interlaced around the tree as needed to fill it out because I love the look of the red on top of the very green tree.”
Artificial trees are in high demand – and all white ones get extra love
Even if natural trees are the traditional choice, artificial trees have their own fan base, largely due to convenience but also to aesthetics. In addition, they are full, plump and well-balanced, which is an essential quality, particularly for pet owners. “This year we are using an artificial tree from previous years. We love the ease of using an artificial tree and reusing something multiple times. Don’t get me wrong, a real tree is fantastic, especially the fresh pine scent, but having a rambunctious and curious cat makes for a disaster waiting to happen,” adds Stefan Bucur, detailing the tribulations of pets and Christmas trees sharing the same space.
Moreover, artificial trees don’t lose needles, you can use them for several years in a row, and it’s easy to find them in just the right size for your space at home. “My husband and I are going with an artificial Christmas tree this year, celebrating the third consecutive year of the best and largest Christmas tree we’ve ever had,” says Karen Condor from clearsurance.com.
“As recent first-time homeowners, we finally have the space to showcase a full-size tree behind our living room windows and on the first floor of a home. So, we purchased a 7 ½-foot pre-lit Hayden Pine from Lowe’s, and we’re still receiving compliments about it after posing in front of it for our first Christmas card in our new home,” Karen added.
Many Americans also showed interest in artificial trees in other colors than the classic green, with white Christmas trees being the most popular choice. “We are very excited about a brand new white colored Christmas tree, we have been planning this for so long,” said Mathias Ahlegren, career coach at Website Rating.
There’s always room for family traditions and nostalgic decorations
Beyond trends and fashion, some prefer to decorate their Christmas trees with ornaments they have owned for years, whether they are family heirlooms, lucky finds in thrift stores, beautiful ornaments created by artisans, or even DIY creations. There’s something charming and soothing about a Christmas tree decorated with quaint, unique ornaments that have been in your family for ages.
“All of my ornaments are one of a kind, selected by me or for me. I always get lots of compliments for my trees and have been collecting decorations all my life,” said Alina Clark, co-founder of cocodoc.com, about her Christmas tree decorating preferences.
For others, it’s important to purchase unique ornaments that were made by talented people, and to stick to all the Christmas traditions. These include going out to select the tree and then decorating it with the entire family — have some hot chocolate handy to ensure a cozy time.
“I have fully thrown myself in to everything Christmas this year, after being separated from each other last year. I’m using a real tree because it is simply something I prefer – I like the event of going to select your tree, getting it home and spending the day decorating.
My color theme follows less of a single road this year as I just want things that make me smile and celebrate the joy of the holidays. I love picking up handmade little ornaments from market stalls and knowing that each one is unique, and helping out a small business, while adding a different personality to each of my tree branches as we get closer and closer to Christmas,” explained Michelle Halpern, founding editor of livelikeitstheweekend.com.
How to pack and store your holiday decorations for the next season
Regardless of what color scheme and type of tree you picked this year, one thing is for sure: sometime in January, you’ll have to pack and store everything for the next 11 months. Christmas decorations are fragile items, so it’s important you pack them properly and store them in a safe place. This is what you need to do:
- Pack glass ornaments individually, in paper sheets or bubble wrap, then place them carefully in larger, sturdy boxes.
- Make sure you detangle all the lights before packing them. A useful trick is to wrap them around something – a piece of cardboard, empty paper towel rolls, and so on.
- Use watertight, lidded boxes for your Christmas ornaments to protect them properly from environmental factors.
- You can use old egg cartons to organize small ornaments, before putting them in the larger boxes.
- If you have an artificial tree, place it inside a durable storage bag or box.
- Make sure you label you boxes properly.
- Don’t store the ornaments in areas you use every day, such as your regular closet – the chances of breaking or damaging them would grow exponentially. You could use a self storage unit for the ornaments and other items that take up too much storage space at home.
What colors did you choose for your Christmas tree this year? Let us know in the comments!