Magical Holidays: Embrace The Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree Decor Aesthetic

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

In this holiday decorating guide, I’m taking a closer look and focusing on how to nail the Ralph Lauren Christmas tree decor for a magical holiday season.

Obsessed with the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend? Join the club! In this holiday decorating guide, I’m taking a closer look and focusing on how to nail the Ralph Lauren Christmas tree decor for a magical holiday season.

Embrace The Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree Decor Aesthetic

I’m completely obsessed with the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend! It’s such a magical style that blends everything I love about holiday decorating.

Sure, it’s trending now but when breaking down the elements you’ll see it’s a timeless style that has simply been rediscovered.

And one of the main elements that just steals the attention is of course, the Christmas tree!

Y’all know the look when you see it: Deep burgundy velvet ribbons wound through pine branches, tartan patterns that reference Scottish countryside estates, ornaments that could’ve been collected from antique shops across New England.

It’s the kind of Christmas tree decor that isn’t overly staged. There’s a lived-in and almost nostalgic quality to it. The decorations are obviously stunning, but they also tell a story about craftsmanship and taking the time to do things beautifully.

So, let’s break it down!

In this post, I’m breaking down exactly what makes Ralph Lauren’s Christmas tree styling so distinctive, and more importantly, how you can capture that same sophisticated holiday spirit in your own home.

We’ll look at specific decorating ideas, the key elements that define the look, and practical ways to adapt this timeless style to fit your space and budget! Whether you go all-in or just borrow a few signature touches, you’ll end up with a Ralph Lauren Christmas tree that feels both special and genuinely yours.

Read on for tips and tricks!

The Ralph Lauren Christmas Aesthetic

Walk into any Ralph Lauren holiday display and you’ll notice it immediately—this isn’t your standard red-and-green Christmas setup.

The brand’s holiday aesthetic draws heavily from English manor houses, American heritage, and a worldly sensibility that comes from traveling and collecting beautiful things.

The color palette is all about rich and saturated tones. Deep burgundy, dark forest green and navy for a style that reads sophisticated but inviting.

These jewel tones get lifted by metallic accents—but not the modern shiny kind. We’re talking aged gold, antique bronze, polished silver and milk glass finish for a vintage touch.

Now, in the texture department is where things get really interesting.

Ralph Lauren holiday decor is all about layering patterns and textures. Velvet ribbons and tartan fabric bring pattern while natural elements like fresh pine branches, pine cones, and dried florals breakout the formality with an organic feel. A Ralph Lauren Christmas tree decor aesthetic embraces the idea that your holiday decor should look collected over time.

There’s an intentional curated quality, like you’ve been gathering special ornaments over years of travels and family traditions. Each piece has its own story and contributes something unique to the overall tree decor look.

Another unique touch is that the brand usually brings its signature equestrian influences into holiday styling, too. You’ll see nods to English riding culture. Ornaments shaped like riding boots, stirrup motifs, leather accents, metallic finishes that reference stable hardware.

It’s an unexpected masculine touch that balances out the softness of velvet and florals!

What I really love the most about this aesthetic and makes it stand out from the rest is how it manages to blend formal and rustic elements. A tree might feature delicate hand-painted porcelain ornaments alongside chunky wooden pieces. Refined silk tassels hang next to natural burlap ribbon.

This high-low mixing creates visual interest and makes the whole thing feel magical.

Ralph Lauren-Inspired Tree Decorating Ideas

The overall effect channels an English countryside manor during the holidays—grand enough to feel special, but cozy enough that you’d actually want to spend a snowy evening there.

The Classic Tartan & Velvet Ribbon Tree

Let’s start with ribbon, because this is where the Ralph Lauren magic really begins! Deep burgundy velvet paired with traditional tartan creates incredible depth on your tree.

Velvet catches the light in this gorgeous way—it can go from rich wine to almost black depending on the angle, and when paired with tartan patterns, it looks even more stunning!

Now, you’ll want your ribbon to be large. At least around 2-3 inches wide, so it makes a statement as it winds through the branches.

You can cascade it loosely from top to bottom for a romantic feel, or create structured bows at intervals for something more formal. I like mixing both techniques on the same tree—loose cascading on the sides with a few strategic bows near the front.

Equestrian-Inspired Ornament Collection

Now, this might sound unexpected, but incorporating riding boot ornaments, horse motifs, and stirrup designs looks absolutely perfect once you see it.

These pieces bring an elegant masculine energy to your tree, and they usually come in brass, copper, or burnished gold finishes that reference all that beautiful stable hardware you’d find in English tack rooms.

The metallic finishes work beautifully against evergreen branches—there’s something about that warm metal-against-pine combination that just reads as luxurious.

You can take it further by adding leather accents or leather-look ribbon.

Maybe a few leather strips woven between branches, or leather cord used to hang certain ornaments instead of traditional hooks!

Heirloom Ornament Display with Mixed Metals

Here’s where you get to break the rules a bit. Forget sticking to one metallic finish—mixing gold, silver, bronze, and copper ornaments on the same tree creates that “collected over generations” aesthetic that makes your tree look curated and uniquely yours.

The trick is choosing ornaments in vintage shapes—elongated drops, oversized spheres, classic finials.

Glass ornaments catch and reflect light differently depending on their metallic coating, so you get this beautiful play of warm and cool tones throughout the tree.

I encourage you to shop your own home for unique ornaments or find ones that need some TLC at thrift stores.

Fresh Greenery and Natural Element Touches

Now y’all, this is one of my favorite tricks for adding dimension.

Tucking fresh pine, cedar, or eucalyptus branches into your artificial tree (or layering them into a real one) adds texture and that delicious seasonal scent.

It is an extra step that really pays off! It helps to add more fullness to your tree, creates a more organic feel to an artificial one and breaks up any structured branch patterns for something more relaxed.

From there, scatter pine cones throughout the branches to bring in a woodland element. You can leave them natural or give some a light dusting of metallic paint for subtle sparkle.

Dried hydrangeas in muted burgundy or cream add unexpected softness, while berry picks introduce little pops of color.

Sophisticated Monochromatic Scheme

Going tonal might seem limiting, but it actually creates the most refined elegance. Choose a single color family—cream, champagne, and gold for something luminous, or deep forest green with bronze accents for drama.

Going for a more restrained color palette lets you really appreciate form and texture.

Plus, if you’re not comfortable going with the classical Ralph Lauren color palette, it’s a nice way to gently introduce those moody jewel tones without going overboard.

To really pull off this look y’all need to pay attention layering different textures within that color family. So if you’re going with cream and gold, include matte ceramic ornaments, glossy glass ones, velvet ribbon, silk tassels, and maybe some natural wood pieces in a light finish.

Each material reflects light differently, which keeps things interesting even though everything reads as the same color.

Statement Topper with Oversized Bow

Your tree topper sets the tone for everything below it, and an oversized bow makes a dramatic impact. I’m talking luxe velvet or wire-edged ribbon in burgundy, forest green, or even a rich plum.

The bow becomes almost sculptural, especially when you use 4-6 inch wide ribbon that can hold its shape.

What I love doing is incorporating multiple ribbon types in complementary tones—maybe burgundy velvet with a tartan pattern, or navy silk with gold metallic trim.

Then let the ribbons cascade down from the top, with some cut shorter for structure near the bow and others trailing almost to the middle of the tree. This creates movement and helps connect the topper to everything below.

Botanical Prints and Floral-Patterned Ornaments

If you want something a little different, blue and white chinoiserie-inspired ornaments bring unexpected refinement very much on brand with Ralph Lauren Christmas tree decor.

Mix these painted ceramic or porcelain pieces with clear glass ornaments for beautiful contrast. The detailed patterns stand out against simpler spheres, and the blue-and-white palette feels fresh within the traditional evergreen context.

This approach works especially well if you already have botanical elements in your home—floral wallpaper, pressed botanicals in frames, or rooms that open onto gardens.

Heritage Plaid Display with Traditional Accents

And finally, there’s the classic plaid approach. Black Watch tartan or traditional red-and-green plaids immediately communicate heritage and timelessness.

What’s great about using plaid ribbon as your primary decorative element is that the pattern does so much work—you actually need fewer ornaments because those geometric lines and color blocks add structure as they wrap around the tree.

Pair the plaid with wooden ornaments or vintage-style picks to reinforce that cabin-in-the-countryside feeling.

Think carved wooden stars, simple turned wood spheres in natural or stained finishes, or wooden nutcracker-style figurines. Then add brass or gold ball ornaments for just enough sparkle without overwhelming the rustic foundation.

The Gift-Wrapped Tree Base: Elevating Your Display

The presentation of gifts under your tree matters just as much as the tree itself.

If we look at Ralph Lauren lookbooks for the holidays, we can see the brand treats the styling of the tree base as an extension of the Christmas tree. This is so important to create a cohesive design! Beautifully wrapped presents become part of the room’s decor, adding layers of pattern, texture, and color that complement everything above.

Try looking for papers with something special—botanical prints in blue and white toile, equestrian motifs, classic stripes, or William Morris-inspired florals.

These patterns have the same heritage quality as the ornaments on your tree. You can also use solid papers in rich jewel tones like deep plum, forest green, or cream to create a sophisticated foundation.

How you arrange the packages matters too! Stack some boxes instead of lining them up in rows. Place larger packages toward the back with smaller ones in front.

Let a few presents nestle partially under the lower branches so they feel integrated with the tree rather than just sitting nearby. This creates depth and makes the whole presentation look more collected and natural.

Get The Look: Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree Decor

I’ve pulled together some pieces that capture this aesthetic at different price points—because nailing that Ralph Lauren Christmas tree decor aesthetic shouldn’t cost a fortune!

These are things I’d actually use myself, from splurge-worthy statement pieces to budget finds that look way more expensive than they are.

Tree Topper | Beige Velvet Ribbon Bow | Velvet Christmas Balls | Horseshoe Ornament |  Jingle Bell Ornaments | Brown Ornaments | Snowflake Leather Ornament | Green Velvet Bows | Plaid Wired Ribbon | Thin Tree Bows | Buffalo Plaid Bows | Glass Christmas Ornaments | Metal Sleigh Bell | Burgundy Velvet Ribbon | Pre-Lit Christmas Tree | Khaki Pre-Tied Velvet Bow | Newspaper Wrapping Paper | William Morris Wrapping Paper

There you have it—everything you need to create that sophisticated Ralph Lauren Christmas tree look in your own home! Start with what speaks to you, build your collection over time, and most importantly, have fun with it.

Now I’d love to hear from you! Which of these decorating ideas are you most excited to try? Drop a comment below and let me know how you’re styling your tree this year.

Happy decorating! 🎄

Deck the Table: Creative Christmas Tablescape Ideas You’ll Love

10 Simple Family Christmas Traditions to Start with Your Kids

Cozy Fall Decor on a Budget: Texture Layering & Organic Accents