How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays Using Non-Traditional Colors

I love decorating for the holidays, and usually, I stick to the traditional red, green, and gold color palette for my Christmas decor—but this year, I wanted to mix it up a bit. I found a super cute Christmas wreath that was covered in bright pom-poms, and I loved the non-traditional colors on it so much I decided to use that as my inspiration for this year's holiday decor.

What I love most about the colors in the wreath is that they're bold enough to make a big statement, but the red and green poms tie the wreath to some of the traditional decor I already have, so I don't have to totally start from scratch.

Here's how I used this unexpected piece of inspiration to decorate for the holidays in non-traditional colors.

Related: How to Decorate with Blue for Christmas

Emily VanSchmus

The Wreath

When I spotted this pom-pom wreath ($14, Bed Bath & Beyond), I knew I wanted to use it as the inspiration for my holiday decor this year. I wanted to display the wreath indoors, so I hung it over the fireplace and started decorating the mantel.

The Mantel

I didn't want to draw too much attention away from the wreath, so I added an assortment of packages wrapped in white paper to the mantel that add dimension without overwhelming the space. I also added a red and white striped ribbon to a few of the packages, to match the hanging ribbon on the wreath.

Then, I hung my stockings. The red and white stripes are more traditional, but they pair perfectly with the primary colors in the wreath. To complete the look, I found ribbons in colors that matched the poms on the wreath and added a bow to each stocking.

Related: 41 Ways to Decorate Your Mantel for Christmas

The Tree

Next, I tackled the tree. I took the non-traditional color scheme one step further and opted for a unique decorating style too. I started with the usual lights and ornaments (I always use shatter-proof ornaments to protect the tree from our very curious cat), and then covered the tree in ribbon bows that match the colors of the poms on the wreath. I love how this turned out, and tying classic bows on the tree was such a quick and easy way to decorate.

Related: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree