Red and Aqua Christmas Decor Ideas (Tree, Mantel & Gift Wrap)

Red and aqua Christmas decor ideas for your tree, mantel & gifts, plus how to pair red with aqua, teal or turquoise so it looks festive, not tacky.

I adore lots of color in my décor as it makes life interesting.  While farmhouse Christmas décor and buffalo check are great, I’ll take aqua and red Christmas décor all day long.

 

Aqua and Red Christmas Tree Decorations

This year I added large snowflakes and I like the way they look with my aqua blue Christmas ornaments.  I love that the tree looks classy but is still fun and whimsical for my daughter.

In my post How to Add Ribbon to your Christmas Tree, I show you step by step how I added the red and aqua ribbon so it looks like it’s weaving in and out of the tree.  You will be amazed at my one trick that makes it SO stinkin’ easy!

Aqua vs. Teal vs. Turquoise: Which Pairs Best with Red?

These blues get used interchangeably (I’m guilty!), but there’s a difference. Aqua is the lightest and brightest, like clear Caribbean water, and it gives red a playful, whimsical feel. Tiffany blue is a softer, robin’s-egg version of aqua. Turquoise sits in the middle. It’s a bolder, more saturated blue-green that makes red pop for a vibrant, retro look. Teal is the deepest of the three, with more blue-green depth, and it pairs beautifully with darker reds like cranberry or burgundy for a richer, more traditional Christmas. The good news? You don’t have to pick just one. Mixing shades, like I did with my tree, adds depth, especially when silver and white tie everything together.

Red and Aqua Christmas Tree Decorations

Glass or Plastic Ornaments?

A few of you have asked me if I prefer glass or plastic ornaments.  I prefer plastic honestly because of course they aren’t breakable but most of the time you can’t tell the difference.  This time I used plastic red and silver ornaments but used turquoise glass ornaments because that’s all Hobby Lobby had.

Red and Blue Christmas Tree Ideas

If you love a red and blue Christmas tree but want something a little less expected, try swapping navy for aqua! It keeps the classic red-and-blue contrast but feels lighter and more whimsical. Prefer a deeper blue? Navy or royal blue with red gives a cozy, traditional look, especially with burgundy accents.

Whichever shade you choose, silver and white are the secret to making red and blue work together. Silver ornaments, white snowflakes, or a white-flocked tree give your eye a place to rest so the colors don’t compete. For a finished, designer look, weave ribbon in both colors through the branches like I did on my tree. [See how in my post on how to add ribbon to a Christmas tree.]

See How to Decorate a Christmas Tree by clicking HERE.

Aqua and Red Christmas Décor for the Mantel

I recently whitewashed my mantel to give it the look of a mortar wash or german schmear but with paint.  You can see how I painted it here.

Now I love decorating what was once a drab eyesore.  I hung my boxwood wreath from a mirror with the same red and white striped ribbon I used on the tree. (You can make your own boxwood wreath like I did here but I highly suggest you buy one like this – check the current price here).

Red, White and Aqua Gift Wrap Ideas

Wrapping your gifts to coordinate with the tree’s red and teal Christmas décor gives even more visual impact.  I saw on Pinterest how someone wrapped their gifts in all white and then used fancy ribbon for a touch of color to coordinate with my red and aqua Christmas decor.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked wrapping my gifts this way.   Yes, it’s super cute but I also loved that I got out one big roll of white paper to wrap my gifts.  I didn’t have twenty rolls of half cut wrapping paper and it just makes gift wrapping so much simpler.  Also, I don’t think it took away from the beauty of gifts but the simplicity added to it!

I like my galvanized bucket of red, silver and Aqua blue Christmas ornaments as it adds another touch of bling to the base of the tree.

Aqua and Silver Christmas Decor for the Dining Room

I love how the aqua blue ribbon looks with the snowflakes and silver and aqua Christmas ornaments.  It gives the dining room a touch of color and bling with elegant accents including my DIY Rustic Glam Christmas wreath you can see HERE.

Driftwood and silver really complement one another so I made wood slice place cards that also double as personalized wooden ornaments for my gifts.   See how easy they are to make HERE.

I also included some silver and teal Christmas ornaments in my advent wreath. You can read more in my post Modern Advent Wreath Ideas.

Tips for Decorating with Red and Aqua

Where to Find Aqua Christmas Ornaments

Aqua isn’t always easy to find since most stores stock traditional red and green, so it pays to shop early. Hobby Lobby is where I found my turquoise glass ornaments, and their Christmas section often carries blue and aqua options.

Michaels, Target, and Walmart are also worth checking, though their color selections change every year. For the best selection, Amazon has aqua and teal ornament sets in every size and finish, which is perfect if you have kids or pets. If you want something one-of-a-kind, look for vintage or handmade aqua ornaments on Etsy. And don’t forget to stock up during after-Christmas sales!

You can also see how I made a super cute Christmas sign on a budget here:  DIY Letter to Santa Sign

More Christmas Decor Ideas

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Step-By-Step

The EASY Way to Add Ribbon To A Christmas Tree

How to Give an Outdated Nativity Set a Stunning Makeover

Rustic Glam Christmas Decor on a Budget

Did you like this post?  Be sure to share it and comment below to let me know what your favorite Christmas decor includes!

His,

Karin

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