'Tis the season: 2024’s top Christmas colour palettes

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year - is it that time of year already?? It won't be long until we hear Christmas songs everywhere we go, and while it may be a tad too soon to start playing them in the office (I'd personally be all for it), it's not too early for you to be thinking about your festive packaging. But if you haven't started yet then have no fear - we'll help you avoid a Nightmare Before Christmas by breaking down a few different colour palettes for 2024...

From classic reds and greens to bolder blues and pinks, or a more minimalist kraft palette, there’s loads of different tones and shades to choose from, and plenty of mixing and matching to be done too if you like. Dive in and take a closer look here!


1. Classic Reds and Greens

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose... Okay, I'll stop with the Christmas songs, but when you think about Christmas colours, what comes to mind? Red, right? And green? They're easily the most classic choices when it comes to Christmas decorations - and while other trending colours may change over time, I think it’s safe to say that, unless Santa himself decides to change up his wardrobe, these classic colours are here to stay.

It’s well worth incorporating these colours into your seasonal packaging - either with the usual bright shades, or you could shift towards some deeper, richer tones like claret red and forest green. These can evoke a lovely sense of warmth and nostalgia (who doesn't love that?), while also adding a touch of sophistication to your range.

Both radiant red and astro dust also just happen to be trending colours for 2024, as are forest green and cyber lime, so there's plenty of options to include, whether you're looking at gift boxes, bags, advent calendars etc, or accessories like tissue paper and ribbon, or all of the above!

Green tones also have the added benefit of being closely tied to eco-friendly packaging, so why not take advantage of this colour palette to promote your sustainable products this Christmas? You could even take a more earthy route with your chosen colours for max environmentalness - more on this a bit further down…

Colour Palette: Red, Green
2. Metallic Golds and Silvers

We all love a bit of sparkle, right? I know I do, and Christmas is a great time to add a bit of shine to your packaging. Gold and silver are timeless choices that, to quote Taylor Swift, never go out of style, and look great on simple black and white packaging.

Add some shimmer and shine (see the gift tag above!) with foil printing - either pre-printed or personalised just for your brand - to create a sleek and minimalist look that's perfect for high-end and luxury products. (Or, you could add some metallic foil to some green or red boxes or bags to combine these two colour palettes and elevate the festiveness even more!)

Design ideas to make your gift boxes and bags extra Christmassy include bauble, bells, and reindeer, or why not dabble with some pretty gold stars, or snowflakes? See more on going for a winter wonderland palette a bit further down...

Colour Palette: Gold, Silver, Black, White


3. Playful Blues and Oranges

"But what about if I'm looking for a more fun, playful vibe for my packaging?", I hear you ask. Well, if your products are perhaps aimed at a younger market, or your brand just likes a bit of whimsy, you could consider a palette with some light or navy blues, pinks, and oranges. These inject a bit of fun while serving as a break from tradition, but still keeping up the Christmassy vibe if you incorporate some snowy designs or bright and colourful baubles - see the advent calendar below!

In fact, fondant pink and apricot crush orange are also trending colours for 2024, as are elemental blue and cobalt blue - so again, there’s a few different options to try and incorporate this playful vibe into your festive packaging while staying bang on trend.

Christmas after all is about joy and excitement, and this palette is all about embracing the joy of the season and making the unwrapping experience as exciting as the gift itself!

Colour Palette: Blue, Pink, Orange, Green


4. Winter White with Blues and Greens

Ohhh the weather outside is frightful... (sorry, another Christmas song) - but snowy packaging is still pretty! We're all used to seeing wintry landscapes during Christmas time, even if we don't quite always get that weather in the UK, so why not Let It Snow this festive season? The vibe we’re going for here is a peaceful winter wonderland, with frosty blues and turquoise thrown in.

How about using soft, icy blues, or a sage green, combined with crisp white? Think of a design like freshly fallen snow on a Christmas tree, or some snowflakes dotted around, adding a bit of Elsa's magic in a very simple but still pretty way. Or maybe there could be an appearance from good ol' Frosty the Snowman?

This palette is particularly suited for products that aim to evoke freshness or a sense of tranquillity - we’ve actually got a handy blog on colour psychology and its impact on packaging, why not give it a read while you're here?

Colour Palette: White, Blue, Green


5. Earthy Kraft and Greens

Going back to what we said earlier about green being great for sustainable and eco-friendly products - why not take this even further with your Christmas packaging? Sustainability is continuing to influence design trends, and 2024 has certainly been no exception - with earthy krafty colours reflecting a growing consumer preference for eco-friendly and minimalist designs. You know what they say, right - less is more!