Creating Fresh Holiday Traditions with Modern Style and Personal Flair

The moment Halloween decorations come down, stores across Canada explode with an overwhelming array of Christmas décor. From singing reindeer to blinking Santa figures, the traditional holiday aesthetic dominates every aisle. But what if your home’s style doesn’t align with conventional red-and-green Christmas themes? What if you live in a modern, minimalist space filled with clean lines and neutral palettes?

For many Canadian families, the challenge isn’t finding holiday decorations—it’s finding ones that complement their home’s existing aesthetic while still creating that magical holiday atmosphere children (and adults) crave. The good news is that breaking away from traditional holiday colours doesn’t mean sacrificing festive spirit. In fact, it opens up a world of creative possibilities that can make your celebrations feel more authentic to your family’s unique style.

Embracing Colour in Neutral Spaces

When your home features a foundation of whites, greys, and other neutral tones, the holidays present a perfect opportunity to introduce vibrant, unexpected colours. Jane Francisco, editor-in-chief of Wish Magazine and mother of two-year-old Greydon, has mastered this approach in her contemporary Toronto home.

“Because our space is very neutral, I like to pull in very vibrant colours: magentas, bright yellow-oranges, bright blues, reds,” Francisco explains. “The holidays are a great excuse to play with colours.” This strategy works particularly well because neutral backgrounds act like a blank canvas, allowing bold holiday hues to pop without overwhelming the space.

Choosing Your Holiday Colour Palette

Moving beyond traditional red and green doesn’t mean avoiding these colours entirely—it means using them more strategically and incorporating them into a broader, more sophisticated palette. Consider these modern approaches:

Jewel Tones: Deep emerald, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, and ruby red create richness without feeling cliché when used together rather than in traditional combinations.

Metallics with Pops of Colour: Gold, silver, or copper as your base, accented with one or two bright colours like fuchsia or turquoise.

Monochromatic Schemes: Various shades of blue, from navy to ice blue, or different tones of purple from lavender to deep plum.

Winter Whites: Cream, ivory, and pure white with touches of silver or pale blue for a sophisticated, wintry feel.

Shopping Your Own Home First

One of the most budget-friendly and cohesive approaches to holiday decorating involves repurposing items you already own. This strategy ensures your holiday décor feels integrated with your existing style rather than looking like it was simply added on top.

Creative Repurposing Ideas

Gather Vessels for Displays: Francisco collected white vases from throughout her home to create a stunning mantel display. Look for:

• Vases of varying heights
• Decorative bowls
• Candle holders
• Even interesting jars or containers

Toys as Décor: Children’s colourful toys can become part of your holiday display, adding whimsy while making kids feel involved in the decorating process. This works especially well with:

• Building blocks arranged in festive patterns
• Stuffed animals in winter scenes
• Art supplies displayed in beautiful containers
• Books with colourful spines stacked decoratively

Textiles and Linens: Summer napkins in bright colours, throw pillows, and blankets can all be repurposed for holiday entertaining. Francisco used vibrant solid-coloured napkins left over from barbecue season to brighten her holiday table.

Strategic Editing for Maximum Impact

To avoid a cluttered look, Francisco recommends temporarily storing some year-round decorative items to make room for holiday touches. This approach has several benefits:

• Creates visual breathing room for new elements
• Prevents overwhelming the space
• Makes your regular décor feel fresh when you bring it back after the holidays
• Allows holiday decorations to feel more intentional and impactful

Building New Family Traditions

Creating holiday traditions that reflect your family’s values and aesthetic preferences becomes especially important when you have children. These traditions become the foundation of their holiday memories and often influence how they’ll decorate their own homes someday.

Technology-Enhanced Celebrations

Francisco’s family has embraced their love of film by making holiday movie nights extra special. They project movies onto the wall, creating a cinema experience at home. This tradition works particularly well because:

• It creates a cozy family gathering space
• The large screen makes classic holiday films feel more magical
• It’s an activity that can grow with children as they age
• It doesn’t require expensive decorations or elaborate setups

Simplified Tree Solutions

Not every family needs to trek to a tree lot and spend hours selecting and hauling home a Christmas tree. Francisco’s family opts for tree delivery and setup, choosing convenience over tradition. Their 9½-foot tree (which they later realized was almost too large for their space) arrives and is professionally installed, allowing them to focus on decorating rather than logistics.

This approach recognizes that modern families often have different priorities and constraints than previous generations, and there’s no shame in adapting traditions to fit your lifestyle.

Cohesive Gift Wrapping Themes

One tradition that creates visual impact while being relatively simple to execute is themed gift wrapping. Francisco changes her approach annually:

• Brown kraft paper year: All gifts wrapped in kraft paper with varied ribbons and embellishments
• Solid brights year: Vibrant, solid-coloured wrapping papers in different hues
• All white year: White paper with colourful ribbons and decorative elements

This strategy creates a cohesive look under the tree while being more interesting than standard Christmas wrapping paper. It also provides opportunities to:

• Shop end-of-season sales for next year’s theme
• Involve children in selecting ribbons and decorations
• Create anticipation as family members guess which theme you’ll choose
• Use leftover materials for other projects throughout the year

Making It Work for Different Home Styles

Contemporary and Modern Homes

If your home features clean lines, minimal furniture, and lots of open space:

• Focus on a few high-impact pieces rather than many small decorations
• Choose decorations with interesting shapes and textures
• Incorporate metallic elements for sophistication
• Use lighting strategically to create ambiance

Traditional Homes with a Twist

For families in traditional homes who want to update their look:

• Keep familiar elements but change the colour palette
• Mix vintage pieces with modern accents
• Focus on natural materials like wood, pinecones, and branches
• Add unexpected pops of contemporary colour

Small Spaces

In apartments or smaller homes:

• Emphasize vertical space with tall, narrow decorations
• Choose multi-functional items (decorative storage, for example)
• Use mirrors to reflect light and decorations
• Focus on one main focal point rather than decorating every surface

DIY Elements That Make a Difference

Adding personal touches through simple DIY projects can make your holiday décor feel more meaningful while staying within your aesthetic preferences.

Simple Craft Projects

Custom Ornaments: Create ornaments using materials that match your colour scheme. Consider:

• Felt shapes in your chosen colours
• Clear glass ornaments filled with coordinating materials
• Photo ornaments featuring family memories
• Natural elements like pinecones painted in metallic finishes

Garlands and Swags: Make garlands using:

• Paper in your chosen colours
• Felt balls in coordinating hues
• Natural materials like cranberries or popcorn
• Fabric scraps tied together

Centerpieces: Create table centerpieces using:

• Branches collected from your yard, painted if desired
• Candles in varying heights
• Seasonal fruits arranged in bowls you already own
• Plants or flowers in your colour scheme

Involving Children Without Compromising Style

One of the biggest challenges parents face is creating holiday décor that’s both child-friendly and stylish. The key is finding ways to incorporate children’s contributions that feel intentional rather than chaotic.

Age-Appropriate Involvement Strategies

Toddlers (Ages 1-3):

• Let them help arrange unbreakable decorations
• Provide safe materials for simple crafts (large buttons, felt pieces)
• Give them their own small tree or decorating area
• Include their favourite toys in holiday displays

Preschoolers (Ages 3-5):

• Involve them in choosing ribbon colours for gift wrapping
• Let them help arrange holiday books or create simple garlands
• Give them responsibility for specific decorating tasks
• Create a special ornament together each year

School-age Children (Ages 6+):

• Involve them in planning the colour scheme or theme
• Assign them specific decorating responsibilities
• Encourage them to create gifts or decorations for family members
• Let them help with more complex DIY projects

Shopping Tips for Non-Traditional Holiday Décor

Finding decorations that fit a modern, non-traditional aesthetic can be challenging, but knowing where to look makes all the difference.

Best Places to Shop

Craft Stores: Francisco recommends scouring craft stores for small ornaments and decorations that can work as gift wrapping additions or unique tree ornaments. Look for:

• Basic shapes in interesting colours
• Natural materials you can customize
• Ribbon and trim in non-traditional colours
• Supplies for DIY projects

Home Décor Stores: Many home stores now carry modern holiday collections that move beyond red and green:

• Look for metallic elements
• Seek out geometric shapes
• Find pieces that could work year-round
• Consider items from non-holiday sections that could be repurposed

Online Retailers: The internet offers access to more unique and modern holiday décor:

• Etsy for handmade, customizable pieces
• Modern design websites for contemporary options
• Specialty retailers focused on specific aesthetics

What to Look For

Versatile Pieces: Choose items that could potentially work for other occasions or seasons.

Quality Materials: Invest in a few high-quality pieces rather than many cheap ones.

Coordinating Elements: Look for items that work together even if they’re not from the same collection.

Timeless Appeal: Avoid pieces that feel too trendy and might date quickly.

Budgeting for Holiday Décor

Creating beautiful, unique holiday décor doesn’t have to break the bank. Strategic planning and creative thinking can help you achieve the look you want while staying within budget.

Money-Saving Strategies

Start Early: Begin shopping for next year’s decorations immediately after the holidays when everything goes on sale.

Invest Gradually: Build your collection over several years rather than trying to do everything at once.

DIY Strategically: Focus your crafting efforts on high-impact pieces that would be expensive to buy.

Shop Your Home First: Always start by seeing what you already have that could be repurposed.

Quality Over Quantity: Buy fewer, better pieces that will last for years.

Creating Lasting Memories

Francisco notes that “Christmas is what you get used to,” referencing her own childhood memories of loving her mother’s multi-coloured Christmas lights until they were switched to white. This observation highlights an important truth: children will love whatever traditions you create, as long as they’re made with care and consistency.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect magazine-worthy display—it’s to create an atmosphere that brings your family joy and reflects your values. Whether that means projecting movies on the wall, wrapping everything in white paper, or filling your neutral space with vibrant jewel tones, the “right” way is whatever works for your family.

Building Flexibility Into Traditions

As families grow and change, traditions should be flexible enough to evolve too. What works when you have a toddler might not work when you have teenagers. The key is maintaining the spirit of what makes your celebrations special while adapting the details as needed.

Consider documenting your holiday decorating journey with photos each year. This creates a visual record of how your family’s style and traditions develop over time, and it can be wonderful to look back on these memories as your children grow.

Making It Personal

The most important aspect of holiday decorating isn’t following the latest trends or creating Instagram-worthy displays—it’s creating an environment where your family feels comfortable and joyful. Francisco sums it up perfectly: “You make your own Christmas when you have kids, and that’s what’s so great about it.”

This freedom to create new traditions can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re moving away from familiar childhood associations. But it’s also an incredible opportunity to build something that truly reflects who your family is becoming.

Whether you choose bold jewel tones, sophisticated metallics, or an entirely different approach, the key is committing to your vision and executing it with confidence. Your children will grow up with these new traditions as their “normal,” and someday they might even rebel by choosing traditional red and green for their own homes—and that’s perfectly fine too.

The holidays are ultimately about connection, joy, and creating positive memories together. Everything else, including the decorations, should serve that primary purpose. When you approach holiday decorating from this perspective, focusing on what brings your family together rather than what looks perfect, you’ll create something much more meaningful than any store-bought display could ever be.

Remember, there’s no timeline for getting this right. Each year offers new opportunities to refine your approach, try different ideas, and build on what worked well the year before. The Francisco-Faulkner family’s approach shows that it’s entirely possible to create holiday magic that feels authentic to your family’s unique style and values, no dancing Santas required.