Create a Timeless Ralph Lauren Inspired Christmas Home
- Danielle Nicole Enright
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
If you're here to learn how to create a Ralph Lauren style Christmas, you're in the right place! This is the only RL inspiration you'll need this holiday season! Having grown up in a 100-year-old Victorian style home in Vermont with a mom who decorated for Christmas very much like RL, this aesthetic feels like home. I also worked in the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory store in Plattsburgh, NY whilst attending college, so I have a little "insider" RL knowledge.
How to Create a Ralph Lauren–Style Christmas
There’s something about a classic Ralph Lauren Christmas that makes you want to pour a glass of cabernet, light a fire, and pretend you live in a snow-dusted lodge in, well, my home state of Vermont. It’s timeless, tailored, and impossibly cozy; like if old-money elegance and rustic Vermont charm had a baby wrapped in tartan.
And the best part? You don’t need to live in New England or own a horse stable in the Hamptons to pull it off. You just need the right layers, textures, and a little storytelling.
Here’s how to bring that Ralph Lauren magic home; wherever “home” happens to be.
1. Start with a Foundation of Neutrals
Ralph Lauren interiors always begin with restraint. Think warm whites, camel, chocolate brown, navy and deep forest green. The color palette feels grounded; like it’s been there for decades. This neutral layer sets the groundwork so that when the red plaid, black watch tartan and holiday sparkle arrive, it looks intentional, not chaotic.
Designer tip:
If your walls are white, anchor the room with texture like a jute rug, a wool throw, a velvet sofa. The goal is richness without clutter.
What can be more inspiring for an RL Christmas than photos from Ralph Lauren's own home? Scroll through some of the rooms inside his stately home in Bedford, NY. Credit: Architectural Digest
2. Add Plaid (But in Moderation)
There’s a fine line between “Ralph Lauren lodge” and “Santa’s tartan explosion.” The trick is to use plaid as an accent, not a takeover. Mix Black watch tartan pillows with solid velvet or leather pillows and drape a red plaid throw across a leather armchair.
Try this:
If you already have a neutral couch, add a plaid 18" x 18" pillow, a leather lumbar pillow and a chunky knit blanket draped on the couch. Just a touch of plaid, leather and texture gives the entire space that Highlands-meets-holiday feel without over doing it (or overspending).
3. Layer with Heritage Materials
A Ralph Lauren Christmas is all about materials that tell a story. Think aged leather, wool, velvet, crystal, and wood. This is the kind of layering that makes you want to stay inside all day. These pieces can be heirlooms or you can find a lot of these items at thrift stores. If you live in the Chittenden County, Vermont area, Five Corners Antiques is my favorite antique store.
Style recipe:
Wool blanket + polished silver tray + a stack of old books + a cut-glass decanter = one very RL-approved vignette.
4. Mix Masculine and Feminine Energy
The magic happens in the contrast: rough-hewn wood against velvet ribbon, dark leather beside twinkling lights. Don’t be afraid to pair a leather pillow with your heirloom crystal candlesticks. That duality of rugged meets refined is the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.
5. Dress Your Tree Like It’s Going to the Met Gala
Forget the kitschy ornaments from big-box stores (unless they have sentimental value, those stay). Instead, think equestrian chic: mercury glass ornaments, velvet ribbon bows, antique silver, pewter or aged brass details, and maybe a few pinecones. Yes, tinsel is accepted.
Quick DIY Idea:
Tie small leather or suede ribbons around the branches or hang a wreath with a leather strap to hang on the door. This is a subtle nod to the brand’s signature saddle-stitch heritage.
6. Incorporate Equestrian and Vintage Touches
Even if you don’t own a horse (hi, same), you can borrow the look. Frame vintage horse sketches, hang a leather strap wreath, or use riding boots or rain boots as entryway décor filled with greenery. Old books, wooden boxes, and brass accents instantly make a space feel storied and that’s the whole point. If you can't find a vintage horse sketch, print off your own and frame it! Besides the curated equestrian art I’ve included in this blog, I've designed a few printable horse designs below. Feel free to print these and use the DIY below as a guide.
Here's a really quick, easy and affordable Ralph Lauren Christmas DIY:
Print one of the below photos on matte paper;
Coat the picture with one layer of ModPodge and let dry. This will make the photo look like a painting.
Add it to a black frame and then use gilding wax or metallic paint to make the frame look vintage.
7. Light It Like a Holiday Film
Lighting is everything. Use warm bulbs, not cool white.
Layer your lighting too; a roaring fire (or a candle version), low table lamps, and sconces. If it feels like you could sip mulled wine while reading a love letter by the fire…you’ve nailed it.
8. Don’t Forget the Scent
A Ralph Lauren Christmas isn't complete without a signature scent. Think cedarwood, tobacco, and leather. Grab a candle that whispers “Aspen chalet in December.” (My go-to dupe? Anything with “fireside,” “cedar,” or “sandalwood” in the name.)
9. Cue the Soundtrack
Play a mix of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and Norah Jones.
Because ambiance isn’t just visual, it’s emotional. Ralph Lauren designs spaces that feel like memory, and that’s something you can recreate through sound, scent, and story.
Dress the part
I’ve curated a collection of Ralph Lauren looks; turtleneck sweater dresses with boots, a sweater with equestrian style hardware, old-money equestrian elegance with winter whites and a plaid coat and that highly sought after RL bear signature sweater that only Ralph Lauren can deliver. Whether you’re trimming the tree or toasting at midnight, these outfits remind us that class never shouts; it whispers, refinement and elegance.
Tell Your Story
A Ralph Lauren Christmas isn’t just about plaid and polish. It’s about nostalgia, craftsmanship, and meaning. Layer your décor with family heirlooms, handwritten tags, or ornaments from trips you’ve taken together. That’s what elevates a home from styled to soulful.
Because in the end, Ralph Lauren’s greatest design philosophy isn’t luxury; it’s longevity.
And that’s something you can absolutely DIY.
beautiful