A (small) CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

In our Florida townhome, we had an average sized, all white kitchen with black counter-tops and grey metallic mini-subway tile back-splash. It was open to the great room, with a bar height counter, we frequently ate at, wrote holiday cards, served buffets, hosted get-togethers at, cut coupons and even played poker at. Although we don't have the white & bright kitchen or bar height counter we had in our home in Florida, we have made the best of our small kitchen here in AZ. We actually now use the dining table more (especially me with the laptop!) here in our rental home in Arizona. For holiday, I wanted to add a little holiday feel without adding "decorations" in this (small) kitchen. To add a holiday feel without clutter, I used more color vs the everyday black & white in our grey kitchen. To add the color I switched the B&W photos on the pantry wall to green chalkboard holiday art (I converted from black I got on Pinterest) and I used a green buffalo check runner on the table (actually, it's a repurposed window valance!) Adding a few green pillows to the off-white slip-covered dining chairs also gave the small kitchen space some holiday color without the clutter of too many decorations. More green came from a small wreath in the window, two small arrangements, and garland framing the dining space window. It sounds like a lot, but it's not - Here is my small kitchen for Christmas...

 

A few touches of trim plus color was all that was needed to add a little Christmas feel to our small kitchen, and still keep it functional for everyday - and especially extra holiday tasks like baking cookies, cooking special meals, making arrangements and writing holiday cards...

 

 The dining table (my mom gave us the set as a wedding / house warming gift in Florida) is getting used quite frequently here in the kitchen. I'm usually sitting here blogging, pinning, tweeting and facebooking. Most recently, I used the table and the island for making my holiday arrangements and it is also where we now sit to write out our holiday cards...

 The buffalo check runner - actually a window valance I picked up at Goodwill last year ($4!) gives the table just a touch of holiday and is easy to slide over when needed...

 

I've been drinking a lot of tea lately to stay warm - The fresh pine & red tea bags in the white mugs create just a hint of holiday as the small vignette on a tray (I also picked up at Goodwill last year)

 

Ribbon tied around a mercury glass bottle (I picked up at HomeGoods) dresses up an everyday accessory for holiday...  More tea, plus coffee and sugar and everyday dishes are stacked on the island shelves...

 

These everyday white plates are on the back side, just a turn away from the dishwasher, making it easy to unload. Just a few cedar branches are on the island to give it a touch of holiday...

 

  Keeping the holiday vignette small and on a tray makes it easy to move off the kitchen island to make holiday arrangements or bake cookies... Tea on the island and coffee across the way along with the out-of-sight-catch-all spot tucked in the corner...

 

 

Small white bowls stacked on the counter help brighten the dark kitchen, and they are left empty because we use them everyday - for mixing, for salads, and now with winter: for oatmeal or soup. Tumblers make great small vases more a petite arrangement of holiday greens...

 

 

 

Using this tray basket makes clean-up a cinch!  Pads, notes, pens and laptop all fit in the basket, which goes on the bookcase under the TV in the living-room. All the wires & mouse go into the gold mesh bag, and the table is cleared...

 

 

 I refreshed the small kitchen wall framed B&W photos for holiday chalkboard art printables I found on Pinterest - but I converted to green chalkboard - because there is already enough black in the kitchen everyday. I'll share how I converted the black to green chalkboard art next...

 SO even if your kitchen is small or your living in a rented space, you can create some Christmas charm in your kitchen without going overboard with actual decorations - Just use color and keep it simple.

Thank you for stopping by by Christmas kitchen. Visit my previous post Christmas Kitchen Decorating for additional ideas for yours.

Happy Holiday Decorating!

 

Sharing post at the 

HomeGoods - Design Happy Blog - Holiday Link-Party!

Linked post to:

Christmas Extravaganza - Setting For Four

CHRISTMAS KITCHEN DECORATING IDEAS

The holidays are here and most people LOVE decorating for Christmas! They want to share their festivous with the rest-of-us by displaying holiday trim on every wall, tabletop, entry and mantle - which is wonderful! However, in a kitchen, that can get a little tricky. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, it also gets the most traffic and needs to remain safe & functional - especially at the holidays. Keeping in mind the need for kitchen surfaces for all the extra holiday baking, cooking, entertaining, gift wrapping and even crafting happening in the kitchen at Christmas, here are some festive ways to add a little Christmas charm without causing a fire alarm. A great place to start is at the kitchen window...

 

Double wreaths + gingham + buffalo check prints...

 

Mini wreaths + ribbon - great to make from herbs, boxwood or evergreens...

 

One large wreath + a rosemary tree...

 

Wreath option: Pinecone + Garland...

 

Wreath + urn with paper-whites... 

Besides windows, a hutch or built-in displaying your favorite collection of dishes can be dressed for the holidays, and still be accessible, by framing it with garland to create a festive focal point...

Eating areas can be simply decorated allowing space for gatherings, buffets, crafting and card writing...

 

Have a banquet breakfast nook without windows? Add charm & light with salvaged architectural windows, converted to mirrors. Hang wreaths with simple ribbon + bow...

 

Galvanized pails are great containers for the kitchen table - looks festive, fresh, and easy to move...

 

Even a kitchen cart can get dressed for the holidays: Just use everyday items in holiday colors to keep this small space clutter free...

Speaking of everyday items - This is probably the best way to keep your kitchen clutter free and functional while still being fun and festive for the holidays...

 

Great to make and give as gifts, PLUS display and use in your own Christmas Kitchen: 

Hand Stamped Wooden Spoon Utensils

(learn how to do at The Idea Room)

 

Switching Kitchen Textiles to green or RED (especially in a white kitchen!) can be a small change that creates a crisp Christmas look...

 

Williams-Sonoma has tons of beautiful ticking prints to work in almost any kitchen for Christmas... Add festive flair with aprons, mitts, pot-holders and/or tea towels!

 

A simple white ceramic pitcher  with fresh rosemary also looks wintry and wonderful...

 

Other kitchen containers and jars can create unique vessels to add charm to your Christmas Kitchen...

 

Another way to add charm in the kitchen for Christmas is to use cookie cutters en lieu of ornaments, mixed with fresh cut greens...

 

The kitchen door is another place to decorate, with-out interrupting to flow & function of your Christmas Kitchen...

 Scents are another important piece of the Christmas presentation puzzle...

 

This looks like it would smell HEAVENLY and a must to try!

 

 Dried citrus and small oranges can create a bountiful wreath arrangement for the kitchen...

 

Small Laurel Wreaths can add a pleasing aroma  plus they are easy to hang on handles of a built-in cabinet or hutch...Learn about the laurel and How to Make a Laurel Wreath at About Garden...

 

A small arrangement for the kitchen table - with mixed citrus + cloves + fresh greens - can also be a simple way to add a fresh & festive look to your kitchen for Christmas!

Top Three Safety Tips: 

1. IF you are using any candles in the kitchen (or your home) be sure they are either flameless OR if they are wax - Keep candles away from fresh greens, branches, decor & trim: Place wax pillars inside of glass containers, and decorate the outside of that container (with your ribbons & greens).

2. Keep holiday trim - like heavy trimmed garlands or wreaths - away from heat sources (for example: keep greens, wreaths, and ornaments away from the stove back-splash or countertops on either side of the stove).

3. IF you decorate your chandelier over the kitchen island or kitchen table, make sure it's far enough away from heat sources like candles on the table or an island cooktop.

Hope you're inspired to create a festive, and safe Christmas Kitchen. Keep it simple, fun and fresh! Now it's time to put together a gathering + menu and entertain!

For additional Christmas Kitchen Decorating Ideas, please visit my 

Christmas Kitchens board on Pinterest - which is where all the above images  were sourced.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Holiday Decorating!

 

Sharing post at the 

HomeGoods - Design Happy - Holiday Link-party!

Also linked post to:

 Christmas Extravaganza - Setting For Four