Holiday Trend: Decorate in Blue and Brown

Teal blue and cocoa brown remain trendy colors for the holiday season. Try these creative ideas to make festive decorations using these nontraditional colors.

Kissing balls last longer than mistletoe, and they're easy and fun to make. Cover foam balls with scraps of silk fabric embellished with trims and beaded pins. Hang them at various heights with lengths of ribbon and wait to see who walks beneath.

Handmade cone-shape ornaments have plenty of visual appeal but are even better filled with gifts. Roll card stock into a conical shape and cover the cone with metallic paper to form the basic ornament. Personalize the cone with ribbon, fabric trim, and metal letters. Glue on a satin-ribbon handle and fill the cone with tiny wrapped presents.

Give up your tired evergreen wreath, and opt for one in stylish silver. Spray any wreath with metallic silver paint; then attach small presents and a ribbon with hot glue.

Dress up plastic foam ornaments by covering them with scraps of pretty fabric in blue and brown. Decorate each globe with bits of ribbon and rickrack braid, including a loop for hanging.

Make an extra-large cone to hang on a doorknob and hold wrapped gifts for friends. Form the cone from a large sheet of card stock, taped together. Decorate the top edge of the cone with white paper cut to resemble icicles or melting snow.

A chic tabletop display of sweets has a teal, cocoa, and silver color scheme. Serve holiday favorites on classic silver trays and tuck in a few candles and wrapped presents. Don't forget to serve the chocolate!

Hot cocoa seems so stylish when served in tall glass mugs atop a glass cake stand. Use readymade icing to personalize store-bought chocolates with the initials of family members or guests.

'Tis the season for pretty gifts on display, so make sure yours look stylish. Wrap boxes with robin's-egg-blue paper; accent with coordinating brown ribbon. Spray recycled ice cream and yogurt containers in coordinating colors to hold homemade treats.

Kids of any age -- even adults -- are delighted with personalized stockings hanging behind their chairs. These are made with ribbons, woven together for fabric and decorated with metal letters stitched to the cuff.

Substitute regal white amaryllis blossoms for more traditional holiday poinsettias. Tuck flower stems into tiny water-filled florist's vials, and anchor them in larger glass tubes partially filled with faux snow. Suspend the tubes from the wall with ribbon hangers.

Leave bows behind and opt for understated elegance with a flat embellishment made from layered ribbon and paper, which is taped on the underside. These low-profile gift wraps are easier to mail and arrive looking perfect because there are no bows that crush.

Check out another unique color scheme for your holiday decorating.