Go contemporary this holiday season with black-and-white decor

During the holidays, red and green are two of the most common colors used on everything from holiday cards to ornaments and home decorations. While these two traditional hues will never go out of style, relying on the same shades every year can get tiring. Consider putting a twist on your holiday color palette this season with black and white. Black and white goes with everything, adds depth and texture to your abode, and helps other hues pop. Let me prove that you don’t need all bright colors in order for your home to be warm, welcoming and festive. Here’s how you can intersperse these contrasting hues in your interior decor:

Wrapping paper
Create a simple display under your Christmas tree by wrapping gifts in black-and-white paper. Opt for paper featuring bold stripes or fun polka dots. Whatever pattern you choose, the color combination will stand out beautifully against your green tree and colorful decorations. If you haven’t bought any presents yet, wrap empty boxes with the black-and-white paper for a dynamic display.

Holiday cards
Continue with your color theme by sending your family and friends black-and-white Christmas cards. Here are a few of my favorites:

Dots and Stars Tree: This card features a black background with a whimsical silhouette of a Christmas tree and stars.

Fun Funky Christmas: A chalkboard background, bold white text and red glittery ornaments make this card a trendy choice for the holiday season.

Polka Dotted Cheers: Live in the city? Then you won’t find a card more perfect than this one featuring a stunning black-and-white cityscape.

Three Decorated Ornaments: I love this card for its simplicity and modern flair. Three sparkling silver and gold ornaments hang from the top of the stationery next to the phrase “Happy Holidays.”

Pillows
Updating your couch has never been easier thanks to decorative pillows. You don’t need to purchase new pillows at the store though. Decorate plain old white throw pillows with black embellishments such as felt triangles or painted stripes. You can also use holiday stencils and some black paint to dress up plain pillows. Layer them on each end of your couch and toss a festive throw blanket over the top of the sofa for a finishing touch.

Ornament lamps
Light your home with holiday flair using fillable clear glass lamps. Place a mix of black, white and metallic ornaments inside the lamp to add some drama to your light source.