Fresh Christmas Colors: 12 Combos You've Never Tried

Colors seen together in nature always work well in decorating, so don't be afraid to take a cue from Mother Nature. This is especially true when pairing brown and green, two of the most-popular earth tones used in home decor. For sophisticated simplicity, try decorating a green tree using only brown ornaments. Consider using several different shades of green for a layered, multi-toned look when decorating walls and hallways.

Neutrals are a safe bet in interior design, and they can work just as well for holiday decorating. For understated elegance, consider pairing white with parchment. This less-is-more approach is timeless and easily adaptable.

Design tip: For greater dimension, throw a metallic into the mix — whether it's silver, gold or bronze. The introduction of the metallic will help break up the tone-on-tone appeal and add layered depth to the overall color scheme.

White and brown is simple, elegant and gender neutral. This combination is also incredibly versatile; add a few accents of blue or red to make it masculine, or add pink for a feminine touch.