Jewel tones have been big this year from runways to hallways since Pantone kicked off the year announcing Viva Magenta was their chosen color for 2023. Magenta is a happy color that seems to pair well with lots of different styles. It can look elegant, royal and traditional, or modern, fun and sassy. “It’s joyful and bright,” says designer Marni Sugerman from Decorating Den Interiors based in Mamaroneck, NY. “Try it as a pop of color or as the foundation for a contemporary holiday palette.”
We’re seeing lots of iterations of it on the web this holiday, from a magenta-sprinkled garland from Cody Foster & Co. found at Neiman Marcus, to bejeweled Christmas ornaments from Frontgate, to a hot magenta dreidel serving tray from Society 6. “Magenta is such a bold and vibrant color,” says Amy Buchanan, creator behind attagirlsays.com, a lifestyle website featuring recipes, entertaining ideas, décor and crafts. “The color actually works really well with traditional Christmas green because they’re opposites on the color wheel.”
Mix it Up
So how do you work this playful color into your holiday decorating this year? You don’t have to start from scratch. “Maybe try a few special ornaments mixed in with ‘safer’ holiday choices,” says Buchanan. Magenta goes great with many different colors she adds. Try it with red, silver, gold or frosty white.
Go Vintage
For her tabletop vignette, Buchanan uses a collection of Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments she inherited from her grandmother paired with some silver tinsel trees. “I knew they would be perfect for displaying my growing collection of vintage Christmas ornaments,” says Buchanan. “This particular display is in our foyer, where I have a hand painted duck egg blue buffet and a boldly colored rug. While I do have vintage ornaments in other colors, for this vignette I limited myself to shades of pink, green, silver and gold. These colors complement the furnishings that were already in the space. I grew up in the 1980s and I joke that I never outgrew my love of preppy pink and green!”
Give Your Décor Longevity
Jewel tones are in this year. Mixing them into your décor with pillows, throws or bedding will change a room’s look to be more seasonal and festive and on trend, says Sugerman. “Consider updating your greens to a sophisticated peridot green for Christmas or add lush purples to warm up your blue Hanukkah décor.” For her collection of handmade holiday pillows, Sugerman mixes magenta with golds, blues, grays and greens for a look that works all winter long.
Keep Things Elevated
For a luxurious and high-end look, combine magenta with velvet and touches of gold advises Hilary Prall, content creator of the lifestyle blog and website H.Prall & Co. “If there’s ever been a free pass for going over the top with decorations or added richness, it’s Christmas time,” says Prall. “I love to add gold just about everywhere.”
Think Outside the Box
Holiday décor doesn’t have to be relegated to Christmas. A magenta poinsettia or Christmas cactus is a natural way to add a touch of the hot pink to any space. “If it looks good in the garden, it will look good in your home,” says Buchanan.
Magenta bows or ribbons can be combined with lots of different colored ornaments to add a pop of color. For this family room look, Prall mixed gold, white, light pink and magenta ornaments to pop against a velvet blue ottoman. “Ribbon tied to Christmas trees is all the rage this year,” says Prall. “You don’t want to get rid of everything you have when a trend shifts—just include a few new pieces to make them feel fresh and relevant.” She sometimes shops her house first and finds things she can repurpose, whether using it for seasonal home décor or for the holidays.
Colorful Gifting
Sometimes you can change the whole look of your Christmas tree by changing the gift wrap of the presents underneath it. “Change your gift wrap and bows, or holiday flowers,” advises Sugerman. “It’s a fun way to elevate your holiday and brighten your mood with magenta!”
Keep Evolving
Prall likes to decorate one room at a time and then tinker with her décor the whole season through. “I’m always on the hunt for more vintage Christmas,” says Prall, who is an avid collector. “I also try to get rid of things at the beginning of every season that I know I don’t love anymore,” she adds. She reminds us that we don’t have to hang every decoration every year. “If you have a year that you just don’t have the big decorating in you, give yourself grace!” says Prall. “Don’t turn it into something you dread. It should be fun, magical and bring you joy.”
