4 Tips for a Neutral Christmas

Small, white couch beneath a garland-adorned staircase and white shiplap wall, perfect for the neutral Christmas look.

Written by Autumn Krause

Photography by Karen Palmer

Styling by Jo Shetley

Instagram queen and interior designer, Jo Shetley, chooses neutral decor over colorful tchotchkes to create her Missouri farmhouse Christmas. Inside her snow-crusted pine tree and twinkle light wonderland, you’ll feel every comfort of home during the holidays. Jo’s Instagram account, @the_simple_farmhouse, showcases the balanced ebb and flow of her farmhouse decor inspiration throughout the seasons.

But how does she achieve a neutral Christmas without becoming boring? Too much decor becomes overwhelming, but too little has the opposite effect. Jo has more than one trick up her sleeve to master this look—four to be exact. Here’s how to take your farmhouse from bland to neutral wonderland!

Distressed dresser with sparkly mini pine trees on top. A black and white photo of a cow hangs above it, perfect for a neutral Christmas color scheme. — This little area of the living room lends a rustic note with a black and white “King of the Hill” print and a distressed dresser. Mini trees sit atop the white dresser to look like a grove of pines amid the snow.

Step by Step

1. Start Simple. Your Christmas décor doesn’t have to completely take over your house, or even come together in just one year. “Think and plan out your overall design to avoid buying random décor,” Jo says. Build up your Christmas collection over time to make it look cohesive.

2. Add Texture and Layers. As with any neutral palette, it’s important to add texture and layers to keep the interiors looking interesting and give your neutrals an extra pop. Christmas is a great time to add cozy texture with soft blankets, fluffy pillows and warm drinks on the sideboard.

3. Use Fresh Evergreens. “I use a lot of evergreen during the holidays,” Jo says. “It adds such a wonderful fragrance to our home.” And you don’t have to stop at the Christmas tree—add a garland to your staircase, a fresh wreath to the hall closet door and even place a few branches in a vase instead of flowers for your dining room table.

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4. Light Up Your Rooms. From candles to twinkling Christmas tree lights and fires in the hearth, light is essential to the cozy holiday feel of your home. Light an Advent candle with your family to celebrate the season and incorporate strings of lights into your Christmas trees and garlands in your various rooms.

Tour Jo’s whole Christmas home here! Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!