Okay, so picture this: last December I decided I was going full “Ralph Lauren Christmas” in my living room. I had this dramatic moment where I stood in front of my tree, hands on hips, thinking, I am about to make this house look like a Colorado lodge in a holiday catalog.
Cut to… five minutes later, I’m tangled in garland, a pine needle stuck in my hair, and the dog sprinting away with a velvet ribbon like his life depended on it.
Anyway—here’s everything I learned while attempting to fake a Ralph Lauren photoshoot in my very non–Ralph Lauren home.
Start With Your Color Story
1. Trade Bright Red for Deep Burgundy
You know that old-school, bright Crayola red? Yeah… Ralph Lauren politely declines. Think burgundy, oxblood—the kind of red that feels rich and lived-in. When you mix those deep tones with hunter green and navy, it starts to feel like you should be sipping mulled wine by a stone fireplace.
You probably have something in these shades buried somewhere—pull it out before buying new decor. (I unearthed a set of burgundy candles from 2017 that were literally begging for attention.)
2. Let Tartan Do the Heavy Lifting
Tartan is the backbone. The star. The Beyoncé of this entire aesthetic.
Choose one pattern—Black Watch, Stewart, whatever—and use it consistently throughout the space. I once even swapped out a lampshade for a tartan one and honestly? No regrets. It delivered that “heritage, but festive” energy.
Repeating the same plaid makes everything look coordinated instead of chaotic.
3. Invest in One Really Good Tree Skirt
The tree skirt is the unsung hero. A quality tartan one instantly makes your tree look like it belongs in an Aspen mountain lodge.
Spend just a little extra—it’s holiday heirloom territory. Future-you will thank you.
Texture Is Everything
4. Velvet Everywhere You Look
Velvet is the fabric equivalent of a slow, satisfied sigh.
Get velvet ribbon, velvet stockings, velvet pillows—velvet anything.
When the lights hit it, the effect looks expensive—even if you bought it in a frantic moment at the craft store during a checkout line that felt eternal. (Been there.)
5. Pile On the Plaid Blankets
I’m not saying cover every chair, but… go ahead and cover every chair.
A wool plaid over the sofa, flannel on the armchair, something cozy on the ottoman—suddenly your home feels like the kind of place where someone hands you hot cocoa before you even ask.
Bring In the Metals
6. Hunt for Brass Candelabras
There’s something about brass candelabras that just screams Ralph Lauren.
I found one at a thrift shop covered in dust, and after a bit of polishing, it looked like it had lived in a fancy New England estate for decades.
Add deep red candles and wow—instant atmosphere.
7. Mix Your Metals on the Tree
Don’t match them. Trust me.
Gold + brass + mercury glass + touches of silver = depth and character.
It’s like wearing multiple rings that don’t technically “go together,” but somehow look perfect.
The Equestrian Element
8. Add Horse Motifs Strategically
This is where it reaches peak Ralph.
A brass horse figurine here, a trophy cup there… suddenly the room whispers, “I casually own a horse,” even if the only horses you’ve ever met were at the state fair petting zoo. (Just me?)
9. Work in Some Leather
Use old leather belts as garland, leather straps for hanging ornaments, or a stack of leather-bound books tied with ribbon.
It all brings warmth—like the decor equivalent of a vintage saddle bag.
Keep It Natural
10. Use Real Greenery
Fresh pine and cedar garland transform a room. The scent alone is incredible.
Drape it everywhere—but keep it loose and a little wild. Ralph Lauren Christmas isn’t about perfection; it’s about “I gathered this from the woods outside… kind of.”
11. Display Berry Branches Dramatically
Tall berry branches in a brass vase? Absolutely yes.
They make everything look intentional and dramatic, even if the rest of your home is… let’s call it “festively lived-in.”
Set the Mood With Lighting
12. Warm White Lights Only
Warm. White. Lights.
Not cool white. Not multicolor.
The warm glow hits the velvet and brass and suddenly your living room looks like it’s been waiting to be photographed for years.
Add Vintage Character
13. Display Old Winter Sports Gear
If you’ve ever seen vintage wooden skis at a thrift shop and thought, “I love these, but where would they even go?”—THIS is their moment.
Prop them in a corner. Hang antique ice skates on the mantel.
It’s nostalgic in a charming, storybook way.
14. Create Layered Vignettes
This is where it starts to feel less “decorated this morning” and more “collected over decades.”
Crystal glasses, tarnished brass, a slightly crooked stack of antique books…
Let things be imperfect. Lean into it.
The Finishing Touch
15. Coordinate Your Gift Wrap
Your presents are part of the decor—so let them look beautiful.
Tartan paper, velvet ribbon, maybe even a tiny brass bell tied on top if you’re feeling extra.
Anyone sitting near the tree will say, “Wow… did you do all this?”
(You did. And you should absolutely be proud.)
Honestly, that’s the magic of a Ralph Lauren Christmas—luxurious but effortless. A bit of velvet, a glint of brass, plaid everywhere, and suddenly your home feels like the kind of place where someone might pour you bourbon into a crystal glass while snow falls outside.
