Red and Green Should Never Be Seen… Unless It’s Christmas (and Home Alone 1): How Colours Shape Our Perception Without Us Realising It.

If you’ve ever watched Home Alone 1 during the holidays (I mean, who hasn’t?), you might think the magic comes purely from the mischievous antics of Kevin McCallister or the chaos of the Wet Bandits. But there’s a subtler, smarter trick at play. A trick in clever brand building: colour.

From the very first scene, nearly every frame of the film is infused with shades of red and green (look here). Did you notice this? The Christmas tree ornaments, the wrapping paper, the decorations, and even the everyday items around the McCallister house like the carpets and curtains, not just holiday décor reinforce the holiday palette. It’s so seamless that you probably didn’t consciously notice it, but once you do, it’s impossible to unsee.

This deliberate colour scheme does more than evoke a festive mood; it builds a deep, subconscious association between Home Alone 1 and the feeling of Christmas. Red and green aren’t just “Christmas colours”, they trigger warmth, nostalgia and joy. Over decades, this clever visual strategy has cemented the film as a holiday classic, so much so that nearly 30 years later, whenever those colours appear, our minds instantly flash to Kevin, booby traps and holiday cheer. And of course, “keep the change, ya filthy animal!”

For marketers, this is a masterclass in subtle branding: you don’t always need overt messaging. Consistent visual cues, like a colour palette, can forge emotional connections that last a lifetime. Just as Home Alone 1 uses red and green to anchor us to the season without a single word of explanation, your brand can create powerful, lasting impressions through design, colour and visual storytelling.

Next time you watch a film, or even scroll through a website, pay attention to the colours. Are they telling a story without words? If so, you’re experiencing the marketing equivalent of cinematic genius.

My favourite clip from Home Alone 1, with red and green in all their glory