WINTER WHITE & GREEN CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPE IDEAS

Now that both the interior and exterior of most homes are all decorated for Christmas - cards are written and sent, baking has begun and plans for entertaining have been made, it's time to give a little thought to what tablestyling to implement. Will you have a large family gathering, serving your Christmas dinner formal & family style? Or will you be hosting a friendly casual gathering and go buffet style? Even if it's only setting a table for two, a few simple details can create a magical setting to celebrate Christmas. Here are a few tablestyling ideas - from place-settings to chair details, using the very popular combination of natural linens, winter whites, antique silver, nature and fresh greens...

 

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Keep the table simple, crisp and clean - perfect for winter!

 

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Give guests a gift of nature...

 

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A simple olive wreath creates a low-profile centerpiece...

 

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Love this idea - especially for a Southwest Christmas:

A low bed of succulents + gold dipped wine glasses = casual elegance!

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Love this idea too and SO simple to do: Doilies as place-mat under a clear plate.

Great way to utilize your favorite letter-type to personalize your place-settings... and clear plates can be collected from the Dollar Store, a thrift store, even just the grocery store.

 

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Beautiful rolled napkins on a charger presentation for a buffet...

 

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A simple cedar wreath with ribbon for slip-covered chair backs...

 

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More casual elegance...

 

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twine + spruce + cinnamon sticks!

 

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No wreath? No problem! Create a margent to adorn chair backs

(A margent is the vertical arrangement that drops at the ends of festoons - aka a swag (garland).

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Simple table layers for a winter gathering... or be ready with a buffet too...

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 So many wonderful tablestyle ideas... I wish I had family here in AZ to do these for! (I miss doing tablescapes for family who would come to dinner in our FL home.)

All of the above images I gathered off Pinterest and pinned to my Holiday Inspy Board -- which after two years of pinning, has gotten out of control! I seriously need to create smaller categories (wish they had sub-boards!) and relocate some of these pin ideas. While scrolling through the board, and seeing all the ideas I'd love to do, it got me thinking: Do one Christmas pin project per month, which would equal 12 Days of Christmas to share next year.

Happy pinning and tablestyling!

Can you beilive, Christmas is now less than a week away!

Thanks for stopping by,

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

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Getting inspired for Holiday

Yes - it's hotter than HOT outside, but guess what? The holiday season is only five months away! A great way to keep cool while inside is to start planning for the upcoming holiday season. By taking some time now to plan, stress can be  minimized or avoided later. Take advantage of the time inside by taking an inventory of table linens, dishes, and even decor plus organize your ideas on Pinterest. After a recent garage clean-up I did here, I also took some time to review my holiday decor & boards. Most ideas I had pinned last year, so now I took the time to refresh and even add a few new ideas to the boards. Pinning is a great way to get inspired for holiday entertaining ideas such as cookie recipes, new meals to plan, or even party drink mixes. The boards can also help sort what types of gifts to give and to whom like baked goods, DIY projects to do, and even kids toys. Speaking of toys, if you've recently moved, now might also be a good time to figure out some hiding places for Santa's toys (wink wink) in your new place. To help get you started, inspired and organized, I've made five mini-boards with links (see below) to join me on Pinterest. Be sure to also check the Holiday and Seasonal tabs above here on the blog.

 

Lighting at the holidays takes center stage and can really set the mood and ambiance in your space. Above are some stunning and simple ways to create Christmas candles. LOVE the mix of organic elements + the glass shine.

SEE HOLIDAY INSPY 

 

Now is a great time to get your guest space in order - Saving you time later for some of those extra special details for gift wrapping. You can save money on extra linens by stocking up now during the Back To School Sales.

SEE HOLIDAY INSPY 

and for those coastal guests, also

SEE HOLIDAY at the BEACH

 

 Conceptualizing your holiday entertaining plans now can give you focus while out thrifting - Be on the look-out for embossed white plates to layer texture on your table, or spruce simple everyday white plates with.  Mix & match silverware or glasses for an eclectic look. Besides dinner parties, discover ways to add height  to a buffet gathering like a cookie swap.

SEE HOLIDAY INSPY

and also see

WAYFAIR CHRISTMAS

 

Speaking of cookies... Stock up on those fresh farmers market fruits now to create your own preserves for some special cookies. A loving gift to make for friends and family is a cookie basket - or even a simple brown bag with the recipe attached.

SEE HOLIDAY COOKIES 

and also 

SEE C is for CUPCAKE!

 

And now is also a great time to get inspired with the upcoming Fall & Winter trends like SPARKLE... and think of ways to merge your fashion style into the holiday decor of your home. If you create a wish-list now, you just may spot some of these trends while out thrifting or at a local vintage market.

SEE SPARKLE

SEE PEARLS

and also 

SEE FALL 2012

I'm also teaming up today with the lovely Kate Sessoms from Dabble in Chic. This working mom + wife will have some additional holiday thought starters to share PLUS she is also hosting a Stella & Dot Trunk Show - There is still time to snag a bit of style from the show plus it can be a means of starting some holiday shopping!

 

THANKSGIVING TABLE + ROOM ReSTYLE

(will switch to a holiday board after I create it this week)

 If you're needing help pulling together your holiday style: Contact me (Lynda Quintero-Davids) at nyclqd@yahoo.com.

I'm feeling cooler already with thoughts of the chill 

that will be in the air for the holidays!

Merry Christmas in July!

Thanks for stopping by!