My Cozy Dining Room With Simple Holiday Accents
Welcome to my cozy dining room, where English charm meets simple holiday accents. This Christmas, I wanted to create an inviting space with understated festive touches. From the cheerful pop of red of a single poinsettia to a small touch of greenery, the space celebrates the peace of this beautiful season.
Every year I have poinsettias in my home for Christmas. To me, this flower is as much of a holiday staple as a Christmas tree. I love all the varieties of poinsettias that are available, from creamy white to deep burgundy. You’ll find them in every room of the first floor of my home.
To be honest, I didn’t have a strong desire to decorate for Christmas like I usually do. I’m not sure why that is, but I’m happy with my decision to use simple holiday accents this year.
The mouse and fox on the wall got a simple yarn bow for a bit of whimsy. The little rabbit painting is an original oil. I found the artist on Instagram. She started painting animals when her 21-year-old son died as a way to work through her grief. Her artwork is so charming and sells quickly. You can visit her Instagram account at @sadnessandcloud.
The dining buffet is decorated with a bit of greenery, ceramic houses that hold a tealight so they light up at night, and wooden and bottle brush trees.
When you have a faux tree as part of your Christmas decorations, you don’t get to enjoy the smell of fresh evergreen in the house. So I added a live wreath to the dining room window but sadly, it doesn’t have much fragrance. It wears the same burgundy yarn as the animal heads.
Although I miss the abundance of Christmas decorations this year, I’m happy that I won’t have a lot of things to put away once the holiday is over. Decorating the house can be a lot of work and I’m content with my minimalist approach to simple holiday accents this year.
What was your approach to decorating this Christmas? Did you go all out or did you take a simpler approach?
If you missed it, you can see my pastel Christmas living room.
Dear Jennifer,
I love your simple approach and I think that your dining room looks beautiful! This year, I cleaned out and organized my Christmas decorations. I gave away several items to a woman in my area who collects gently used decorations for the elderly in nursing homes and other charities. It felt great to have a chance to do that, so I guess my decorations are a bit simpler this year too.
I wanted to also take this moment to say how grateful I am for your posts. I started reading them at least ten years ago. It was so wonderful to get ideas and find new blogs as well, all from you. But mostly, it is so validating to know that there are others out there who LOVE vintage items and decor, when it seems like so many trends just come and go so quickly. I’m glad to see that there’s room for everyone, and that we should use what we love in our decor, no matter what happens to be trending. Thank you and enjoy the holidays!!
Hilary, I LOVE your idea about donating Christmas decorations to nursing homes or other charities. I need to do that with some of mine. And wow – you’ve been reading my blog for 10 years?? Thanks so much for that, it truly means the world to me. I love a variety of decorating styles, some that I wouldn’t use in my own home but still enjoy seeing for the design aesthetic. I hope you have a warm and wonderful holiday season!
I, too, was not into decorating this year. I really don’t know why…nothing has changed in my life. I pulled out a 2′ tree and the nativity set and hung some bows. Simple.
Your decorations sound perfect, Mary. I enjoyed doing less while at the same time admiring what others on Instagram have done. I also went on some evening walks to see houses lit up for the season. So much easier than doing my own place! Have a wonderful holiday season!
Jennifer, your home looks absolutely lovely! Your colors are very soothing; the blue chair near your tree is so welcoming – a perfect spot to cozy up with a book! I also love poinsettias; they really make an area pop. I can also relate to taking the minimalist approach, as it’s always a little daunting taking everything down. Thank you for sharing photos of your gorgeous home along with your wonderful ideas! Enjoy your holidays!!
Thanks Linda! I completely changed my colors over the past year, from neutrals to lighter tones of green, blue, and pink. I think the thought of taking all the decorations down kept me from doing too much this year. Have a Merry Christmas!
I did the same! Idk why either!yours looks lovely! Merry Christmas n thank u 4 all your lfantastic postings!
Thanks, Kathy. This must be the year of “less is more.” Enjoy your holidays!
When you know that you are going away for Christmas it is hard to want to do much around the house. Thanks for sharing your sweet little space. No trees this year for me, but like you, I have found other ways to decorate. I’m using lots of rust colored ribbon and candles to warm up spaces. LOTS of fairy twinkle lights to brighten vignettes and, of course, my childhood 12″ tall Sears Nativity Set. Oh, THAT brings back wonderful memories and IS the REASON FOR THE SEASON! It’s going to be a calm Christmas and a promising 2025 and beyond! Thanks for always giving us ideas to make each day more lovely and beautiful in and outside our homes.
Rust colored ribbons and candles – that sounds very warm and cozy! That’s nice you saved your childhood nativity set. I wish I had saved my mom’s aqua and pink ornaments from the 60s! Have a wonder Christmas, Deb!
Love how you decorated your dining room. I didn’t do a lot either, since I don’t have family gathering at my house.
Thanks, Marlene! It’s refreshing not having to host anyone for the holidays. I prefer to go somewhere else (less work and worry). LOL.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays Jennifer!
I started out thinking that I wasn’t going to do much decorating. But as I got out the boxes and saw all of my decorations, I couldn’t resist. It was like seeing old friends. I enjoy seeing them around the house. I challenged myself to use the decorations differently than I usually do. It was fun. Nothing I used is”Christmasy” so I’ll be able to keep things up for a little longer.
I like your chunky yarn bows. You may set a trend over the floppy velvet ribbon bows that have been so popular the last few years!
Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your lovely home with us. I love your Christmas decor this year. I have also scaled down on our decor this year. Somehow, it just felt better to not have so much stuff around. It gives you a much more peaceful home — and yes, it is also easier to put away after Christmas!