Festive Holiday Decorating Ideas in Red, Green, and Gold
As the holiday season approaches, there's something unmistakably nostalgic and heartwarming about the classic red, green, and gold color palette. These colors have endured centuries, symbolizing festivity, joy, and tradition. In 2024, we’re seeing a beautiful evolution in how these timeless hues are used—bringing a fresh, modern twist to our homes while still honoring the warmth they’ve provided throughout history.
Red, green, and gold are deeply rooted in nature: the rich red of berries, the vibrant green of evergreens, and the warm glow of golden sunlight. These colors remind us of the natural beauty, grounding our holiday decor in something timeless and organic. This year, holiday trends emphasize textures and materials that bring nature indoors, with greenery garlands, velvet red ribbons, and brass or gold accents woven into spaces or table decor. For a contemporary twist, many incorporate touches of blue and olive green or pair classic gold with metallics for a layered, sophisticated look.
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In today’s world, red is more than just a traditional holiday color; it symbolizes resilience and strength. Amid societal shifts and challenges, this vibrant hue reminds us of love, courage, and the hope to push forward. Whether in bold red ornaments, lush poinsettias, or a beautifully wrapped gift, red adds a powerful warmth that connects us all, offering comfort and unity.
So, as you decorate this holiday season, consider how these timeless colors can create an inviting and hopeful atmosphere in your home. Whether you lean into traditions or try out new trends, these colors offer a festive beauty that’s perfect for the season and uniquely resonant for the world we live in today.
Festive and joyous. Red is a bold and energetic color, green is a calming and peaceful color, and gold is a luxurious and glamorous color. Together, these colors create a sense of celebration and joy.
Traditional and timeless. Red, green, and gold have been used to decorate for the holidays for centuries. This traditional color palette is associated with the nostalgia and warmth of the holiday season.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, red, green, and gold are symbolic in many cultures.
Red is often associated with love, passion, and excitement. It is also the color of Santa's suit, making it a popular holiday decoration choice.
Green is often associated with nature, growth, and new beginnings. It is also the color of the Christmas tree, which symbolizes hope and life.
Gold is often associated with wealth, prosperity, and royalty. It is also the color of the Star of Bethlehem, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ.
When used together, red, green, and gold create a festive and inviting atmosphere perfect for celebrating the holiday season. These classic colors can decorate your home, Christmas tree, and holiday table.
When decorating for the holidays using red, green, and gold, it's important to balance the colors. You don't want your décor to be too overwhelming, so it's a good idea to use one color as the dominant color and the other as accents. For example, you could decorate a tree with gold ribbon and ornaments and then add your other colors using throw pillows or even when wrapping your presents.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
When designing your holiday décor using these colors, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Balance the colors. You don't want your holiday décor to be too overwhelming, so balancing the red, green, and gold is important. A good rule of thumb is to use 60% of one color and 40% of the other. For example, you could use a red tablecloth with green and gold accents or a gold Christmas tree with red and green ornaments.
On this mantel, I used two different ribbons intertwined in the garland along with many types of evergreen allowing for greater textures and shades of green and red.
Use different shades of red, green, and gold. There are many shades of red, green, and gold, so don't be afraid to mix and match. For example, you could use a deep burgundy red with metallic gold and a bright lime green or a matte gold with forest green and cherry red.
Add texture. Adding different textures to your holiday décor can make it more visually attractive. For example, you could use a velvet red throw pillow with a gold sequin cushion and a fluffy green blanket or a matte gold vase with a glossy red hurricane candle holder and a wooden bowl of green pine cones.
Remember the details. The little details can make a big difference when decorating for the holidays. For example, add a red and gold ribbon to your Christmas wreath or place a green candy bowl on your coffee table.
All The Little Details
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
This present with an oversized velvet bow is such a showstopper. It’s elegant and adds the pop of color you want. Placed on a tablescape or under a tree, it brings a big bold color to your design.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Here is a simple dessert dish with a hand-made ornament and a velvet bow wrapped around the vase with winterberries.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Using festive colors of red, green, and gold can be displayed in your dessert or dinner presentations. What child or adult doesn’t love candy canes or Santa chocolates. This simple charcuterie board works perfectly for a festive dessert tray.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
This charcuterie board has red, green, and gold in it by adding holiday cookies, tiny gold ornaments and other delicious treats.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
This centerpiece's beautiful red roses hold evergreens, which create an elegant wow factor for your table design. Add winterberries, gold, and blue ornaments to give it a sophisticated twist to its look and feel.
“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.
”
Table Décor
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A gold charger on top of a fabric placemat adds contrast and a festive look and feel. It adds a layer of texture and color to your tablescape. You can choose a red tablecloth or table runner or a different color or pattern to add some contrast.
Red ribbons to tie the holiday napkin add a little unexpected detail.
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The added detail of using a beaded runner with simple winterberries, small gold ornaments, and some evergreen adds festive touches and elegance to the tablescape.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Beautiful white and gold mixed with touches of red go a long way when designing a tablescape for the holidays. The base color palette is gold and white allowing for adding other pops of color.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
In this tablescape, evergreens were placed in the middle of the table to give it a natural feel and additional color. The present wrapping in a beautiful velvet bow brings elegant details to the table design.
Christmas Tree
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A red, green, and gold Christmas tree is a classic holiday look. You can decorate your tree with red, green, and gold ornaments, garland, and ribbon. You can also add some white, silver, and blue ornaments and lights to create a contrasting effect.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Here is an example of adding an additional color to your red, green, and gold decor. Blue is such a lovely contrast and brings another dimension of depth to the design.
Photo and Design: Meze Lifestyle
Ribbon is always my go to for decorating for the holidays. I love this red silk ribbon with gold applique on it. I also added another ribbon that was a green, red, and gold tartan. Of course, I love ornaments of all kinds. This is one of my favorites.
The angle tree topper is a vintage Lenox that has been used every year since I was first married.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Candy Cane Stripped decor is really trending for 2023!
Mantel Décor
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The winterberry wreath in the window carried the red throughout the living room space. The gold runner adds a touch of elegance. Within the tree, I have hand-made ornaments my daughter made as a little girl. It’s all about tradition in my home.
Decorate your mantel with red, green, and gold stockings, garland, and ornaments. You can also add a wreath or mirror above the mantel.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
The different shades of red go well together with the checkered silk ribbon. The red and blue stockings have been hanging on this mantel since my daughter was born.
“The true spirit of the holidays is love.
”
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Decorative items such as the champagne reindeer and leaves add a sparkle to the mantel.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Winterberries, pinecones, magnolia leaves and other objects are in keeping with the red, green, and gold decor.
Natural Elements
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Using natural elements such as pine cones, holly, and berries, can add a touch of elegance to your holiday décor. You can use these elements in your wreaths, centerpieces, and garlands.
Front Door Décor
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Hang a red, green, and gold wreath on your front door to welcome guests to your home. You can also place a pair of red and green planters on either side of your door.
Photo by Merze Lifestyle / Design by Riverside Nursery
This beautiful wreath is from Riverside Nursery in Collinsville, CT. I love the evergreen wreath with light gold ribbon against the red door.
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Even a simple sled can play off of your front or back door giving it a pop of color. I have used this sled a few times to decorate my front door to highlight the joy of the holidays.
Festive Home Bar
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Bring in colors of the season using fresh ingredients for your beverages. Cranberries and rosemary are always great choices. To find the recipe for this delicious RED SANGRIA RECIPE, follow the link below:
Festive Red Sangria for the Holidays: A Delicious and Easy Recipe for Your Next Party
Source: Headstands and Heals
Photo and Design: Merze Lifestyle
Festive details such as decorative drink coasters is aways a good idea. They add instant cheer and color to your bar.
“Be able to set a table so that you feel like you’re dining, not just sitting and eating.
”
Here are some final thoughts on festive holiday decorating ideas using red, green, and gold:
Don't be afraid to mix and match.
Use natural elements.
Don't forget the outside.
No matter how you choose to decorate, the most important thing is to have fun and create a space that you and your loved ones can enjoy during the holiday season.
With a little planning and creativity, you can create a festive and inviting holiday home using the classic colors of red, green, and gold.
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment, or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining, my friends!
Mary
