Stepping away from the traditional red and green for Christmas feels like a decorating rebellion, and it’s lovely. Swapping classic crimson for a deep, rich navy blue might be the sophisticated update your holiday decor needs. Navy brings a depth and calm that can transform your home into a serene winter wonderland, a departure from the usual festive clamor.
Exploring a navy blue theme is an opportunity to create a refined and modern holiday atmosphere. It pairs beautifully with metallics like gold and silver, and it complements the natural greens of your tree and garlands. From subtle accents to statement pieces, here are ten ways to introduce this stylish shade into your Christmas decorating scheme.
1. Swap Tree Ornaments for Navy Ones
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The most direct way to introduce a new color scheme is on the Christmas tree itself. Replacing a significant portion of your ornaments with navy blue ones establishes the theme instantly. This doesn’t mean you need to get rid of all your sentimental favorites; create a dominant color that ties the whole look together.
Navy ornaments come in a variety of finishes, from matte to glossy to glitter, allowing for texture and visual interest. The tree is the centerpiece of holiday decor. By changing its primary color, you redefine the entire room’s holiday feel. The deep blue against the green branches creates a rich, layered effect that feels both festive and dignified. It’s a bold move that pays off with a polished, cohesive look.
2. Weave Navy Ribbon Through Greenery
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A roll of ribbon is a decorator’s secret weapon. Weaving a wide navy velvet or satin ribbon through the branches of your Christmas tree or along a garland adds a luxurious touch. The texture of the ribbon, velvet for softness, satin for sheen, contrasts with the pine needles, adding another layer of dimension to your decorations.
This distributes the color throughout your greenery in a fluid, natural way. Unlike ornaments, which are fixed points of color, a ribbon flows and connects different parts of the decor. It can make a sparsely decorated tree look fuller or add a pop of color to a simple mantelpiece garland.
3. Accent with Gold or Silver, Not Both
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
When using a strong color like navy, your choice of accent metal is important. To maintain a sophisticated and uncluttered look, stick to just one metallic partner. Navy paired with gold creates a warm, opulent feeling reminiscent of a starry night sky. Navy with silver offers a cooler, more modern look that feels crisp and wintry.
Using a single metallic accent creates a more intentional and harmonious design. Mixing too many colors and finishes can make the decor feel busy and unfocused. By limiting the palette to navy and one metallic, you create a look that is both striking and elegant. This discipline in color choice results in a more professional-looking outcome.
4. Add Navy Throw Pillows
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
For a simple and non-permanent holiday update, swap your everyday sofa pillows for navy ones. This is an incredibly easy way to inject your theme color into the main living area. You can find festive options with subtle snowflake patterns or stick to solid navy in interesting textures like velvet, chenille, or faux fur.
This technique is great for making the holiday theme feel integrated into your living space, not just applied on top of it. Pillows and blankets invite a sense of comfort and make the room feel complete. It’s a practical change that has a big visual impact, making your seating area part of the festive celebration. When the season is over, you can easily store the covers until next year.
5. Hang Navy Stockings
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Stockings hanging on the mantel are an iconic Christmas image. Trading traditional red or green stockings for navy blue versions is a simple switch that strongly reinforces your color theme. The unexpected color in such a traditional spot creates a pleasing visual surprise.
This swap targets a key piece of Christmas iconography. A row of deep blue stockings makes a clear statement and instantly modernizes the fireplace area. You can personalize them with metallic embroidery or simple initial tags to keep the family tradition alive within your new color scheme.
6. Set the Table with Navy Linens
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Extend the holiday spirit to your dining room by using navy blue table linens. A navy table runner laid down the center of the table, or a set of navy cloth napkins, can transform your Christmas dinner setting. It provides a dark, dramatic backdrop that makes your dinnerware and centerpiece pop.
Using navy on your table creates a formal and intimate dining atmosphere. It pairs exceptionally well with white plates and gold or silver flatware, resulting in a tablescape that looks thoughtfully designed.
7. Use a Navy Tree Skirt
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Don’t overlook the base of the Christmas tree, even if it will be surrounded by gift boxes. Wrapping your tree base with a navy tree skirt or even a simple navy fabric throw provides a solid color foundation for your tree. It hides the stand and creates a clean, finished look from top to bottom.
A navy tree skirt grounds the tree and anchors your color scheme. The dark color at the bottom creates a sense of stability and makes the lights and ornaments on the tree appear even brighter in contrast. You can even DIY one yourself for a touch of tacky Christmas decor that everyone will love.
8. Add Navy Bows as Accents
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Small touches can have a large impact. Tying navy ribbon bows to wreaths, stair railings, doorknobs, or even the backs of dining chairs is a subtle way to sprinkle your theme color throughout the house. This method helps connect different rooms and creates a cohesive decorating story.
This is a versatile and affordable way to spread the navy theme beyond the main living area. These little pops of color catch the eye and reinforce the holiday decor in unexpected places. It shows attention to detail and helps make the entire home feel festive, not just the room with the tree.
9. Display Ornaments in Glass Jars
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Don’t hide your extra ornaments in a box. Displaying navy blue ornaments inside clear glass bowls, jars, or vases is a chic and modern decorating trick. Place these arrangements on coffee tables, bookshelves, or entryway consoles for an instant touch of holiday flair.
This approach turns leftover ornaments into a purposeful decorative element. The combination of glass and deep blue feels clean and contemporary. You can mix in your chosen metallic ornaments for contrast or even add a small string of battery-operated fairy lights to make the display glow from within.
10. Choose the Right Lighting
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The type of light you use can dramatically alter the mood. When decorating with a dark color like navy, swapping bright, cool white lights for warm white ones is a good move. The softer, yellowish glow of warm lights prevents the navy from feeling too cold or stark.
This choice is all about atmosphere. Warm lighting enhances the richness of the navy blue and complements the warmth of gold accents. It creates an inviting and pleasant glow that makes the space feel more welcoming. The combination of deep blue and warm light is both elegant and relaxing, perfect for a peaceful holiday evening.
Bringing Your Navy Christmas to Life
Image Credit: Contact.TheFrugalNavyWife.com at Deposit Photos.
Adopting a navy blue Christmas theme is a fantastic way to refresh your holiday decor with elegance and style. The key is to commit to the color and use it with intention. Approach it step by step. Begin with the element that excites you most, whether it’s the tree ornaments or the table linens.
From there, you can layer in other elements. Use your chosen metallic accent consistently to tie everything together, and pay attention to textures to add depth. A navy Christmas is about creating a mood, one that is calm, sophisticated, and beautifully unique.