A daring and unexpected holiday hue.

A mix of magenta, silver and cool turquoise adds a shot of colour that can’t be ignored. The daring palette pops perfectly against this home’s handsome grey interior. The saturated-cerise faux Christmas tree is balanced by a mix of bedazzling balls and vintage-style pieces.

Find more inspiration in our photo galleries of Christmas Decorations, 3 Holiday Decorating Styles and Bold Holiday Colour Combinations.

Give small ornaments big presence by clustering them.

Reflective pieces like mercury-glass urns, candy dishes and an antique mirror draw attention to a collection of vintage decorations. Grey and pink combine for a historical touch.

Dress gifts in rich hues of purple, gold and brown to bring a lush warmth to holiday packages.

Feathers soften this regal palette and add a luxe signature touch. For a more varied palette, deck out box tops and bottoms in two different papers, perhaps a solid and a pattern. Consider a similar palette for your tree and wreaths.

Pile the mantel high with sparkly Christmas balls.

On this crisp white mantelpiece, a collection of new and vintage blue ornaments blend with glistening white “snowballs” (Styrofoam balls coated in clear glue and rolled in glitter). A triptych depicting a snowy scene, painted by homeowner and designer Ian McLeod, ties in with the baubles’ cool colour palette.

For more, check out our Christmas Decorations photo gallery. Plus, see more festive interiors in our White Holiday Decorating gallery.

A twig candleholder does double duty, offering a spot to hang pretty necklaces and a few small Christmas ornaments.

Lindsay Mens, a senior designer with Sarah Richardson Design and offscreen member of the HGTV show, Sarah’s House, credits her grandmother for her taste for blue. “She had something blue in every room of her house.” The refined silver, off white and blue palette works beautifully during the holidays and year round.

See more photos in our Christmas decorations gallery. Enjoy more shots of Mens’ space, also, or view the entire apartment in our November 2008 issue.

Jewel-toned ornaments with shiny and matte finishes show brilliantly against a feathery white faux tree.

Instead of going for an overly coordinated tree, mix and match new and vintage decorations in a variety of shapes, sizes and saturated hues to achieve a playful feel — the more colour, the merrier! Use a graphic patterned giftwrap — here, it’s stripes and polka dots — to amp up the drama of the tree.

Find more inspiration in our photo galleries of Christmas Decorations, 3 Holiday Decorating Styles, Bold Holiday Colour Combinations and Designers’ Holiday Decorating Tips.

A new twist on a traditional colour scheme.

Red and gold are Christmas classics that can easily be kicked up a notch with a frosty blue accent. Keep the look elegant with silk ribbons and simple knotted bows.

For seasonal sparkle, incorporate silver and gold accents such as a gilt-framed mirror or strings of metallic beads.

Christmas is the most colourful time of year, so why limit yourself to red and green? A pink and blue palette is equally festive. Drape a pale blue throw over a chair or stash utilitarian items in decorative pastel baskets and bags.

Thick black-and-white stripes pop when paired with an apple-green grosgrain ribbon.

Using the same elegant striped paper for gifts year-round means no last-minute runs to the store and a unified, tailored look under the Christmas tree.

Group decorations in an analogous scheme like hot pinks and reds.

Fluted cake stands and pedestal plates are an easy way to show off ornaments. Snowy porcelain is the perfect backdrop for a punch of colour, so be bold. Finish with a satin ribbon in a matching hue for added glamour.

Traditional tree trimmings such as shiny ornaments and beaded garlands look just as delightful in a fresher setting.

Here, a pink pipe-cleaner tree draped in jewel-toned pearls has the charm of Charlie Brown’s favourite evergreen. A footed pot adorned with mini rosettes gives it a grand foundation. Nearby, a gold-winged angel normally placed atop a tree adds an ethereal element.

See more photos in our Christmas decorations gallery.

Recast footed cake plates into centerpiece pedestals with birchbark-wrapped candles and whole walnuts.

Inexpensive elements add up to a delicious display that elevates an informal get-together. Create a singular statement by tucking a tree branch or resin antler among the pedestals. A modern porcelain pendant light keeps the look fresh.