Choosing a Color Theme for Christmas Tree Ornaments

Choosing a Color Theme for Christmas Tree Ornaments - O tannenbaum, o tannenbaum! Decorating a tree for Christmas is a great tradition. All the children and grown-up children look forward to the finished result. This year you'd like to make your tree look planned and a little less haphazard. Here are ten tips for choosing your Christmas tree ornament color scheme.

Classics. Classic Christmas colors are red, green, blue, and gold. These colors will be in everything from Christmas tree bulbs, ribbon candies, Christmas Cards to sweaters. Match your tree with ornaments of these colors.

Metallics. Gold, silver, and bronze can be paired with any color. Metallics can give your Christmas a rustic or modern look depending on how you use it (picture wrought iron versus chrome). Use a favorite piece of jewelry, sculpture, or figurine to give you combinations of colors with metallics on your tree.

Monochromatics. Use one color in different depths, textures, and sizes. Choose your favorite color and find it in lighter and darker versions. Find the colors in smooth glassy textures and brushed textures to add interest. Also use small, medium, and large sizes. Ornaments are easy to find in these variations.

Match your home. Use the same colors you decorated your house with. Using your house colors to decorate the tree and trim will make your home look pulled together.

Childhood. Pull colors from your favorite Christmas memories. If Christmastime reminds you of your Grandma's house, decorate in the same colors that she used.

Fabrics. Match decorations to the fabric of your favorite Christmas tablecloth, tree skirt, or tapestry. If your favorite tablecloth is white with red polka dots, you can create the same look buy painting red dots onto white bulbs. Candy canes would go well with red polka dots, as well as red and white ribbons.

Magazines. Pictures in magazines are great inspiration for Christmas tree decorating. Browse through your favorite magazines and get ideas for what to look for.

Gift Wrap. Match your tree to your gift wrapping. If you found a wonderful silver wrapping paper with a white snowman pattern you could use the same colors to decorate. Use silver bulbs and icicles on a snow white tree.

Ribbons. Ribbons come in a wonderful array colors. Take cue from ribbons used on Christmas boughs, trimmings, and gifts. One of my favorite ribbons is Burgundy with gold Christmas patterns and trim.

Winter. Borrow color combinations from winter. White, blue, and gray are wintery. A white tree with blue and silver decorations is one way to decorate with these colors.

Your decorations. You may already have great decorations. Those decorations are in your attic for a reason. Your favorite beaded apples, old-fashioned ribboned glass bulbs, and glittery candles are great sources for color inspiration.