I love the lift that holiday decor gives to rooms during this otherwise cold and dark month of the year. 

Since most of us spend a good deal of time in the kitchen, and the kitchen is considered the heart of the home…I mean we all gotta eat, right?… it only makes sense to add some holiday decor to this room!

I am quite late getting to my inside holiday decor, and especially to the kitchen since my kitchen makeover finally finished the last details just this week (stay tuned for some new pictures of the whole finished space in the coming weeks).

Today I’m sharing some pictures of my kitchen holiday decor.  Some areas to consider decorating:

Doors and windows

Doors are a natural for wreaths and greenery.  I added a boxwood wreath to my kitchen door that leads to my back porch, and I embellished it with a custom black, white, and gold bow in checks and polka-dots

If you have no door and an ordinary sash or casement window, that is another obvious location for a wreath.

I have a new bay window which is home to plants I am trying desperately to keep alive. Because of this, I have a nice window ledge.  I can’t really move my plants, so I added a straw bird to one of the pots, and a mercury glass star-shaped bowl filled with glittered and gilded pinecones for a bit of festive sparkle.

Open Shelves

I have a few open shelves in my kitchen.  And while these have to be functional - I USE the dishes and serving pieces stored on them frequently - a little faux greenery and pine cones tucked between around the dishware is a nice embellishment for the season.

The open cabinets that are backed with wallpaper got a sprinkling of giant faux snow-flocked pinecones.

Countertops

Depending on your counter space, a few nods to the season are a delightful addition against a backsplash.

I used this pair of beribboned gilded metal deer on the counter near my stove.

An empty canister filled with snow-flocked faux hydrangeas and a pedestal cake plate layered with faux greenery, faux juniper, and giant black jingle bells tied with polka-dotted ribbon graces the baking counter.

Tables and Islands

The most obvious place for centerpiece type holiday decor is on a breakfast table or kitchen island.  My kitchen is too small for an island, but I do have a table.

I created a centerpiece arrangement in a white wicker sleigh (putting it in a container makes it easy to move out of the way if the space is needed for cooking or eating).

This arrangement contains a live plant, faux evergreens, gilded pinecones, and more black jingle bells.  A wide checked black and white ribbon is woven through the sides of the sleigh and tied in a bow at the back.

Light Fixtures

Light sconces and chandeliers can be embellished with ribbons, greenery, or ornaments.  These little chef nutcracker ornaments were a thoughtful hostess gift to me many years ago and I love tucking them into my chandelier.

Other Seasonal Ideas

Set up a winter beverage station

Make a hot chocolate station on a tray or counter in your kitchen so family and friends can indulge in this winter treat (make your own delicious cocoa mix and even homemade marshmallows, recipes here!)

Set up your coffee station with seasonal flavored beverages or add special touches like honey straws, peppermint sticks, and chocolate coated stirring spoons

Keep a pot of seasonal potpourri simmering on the stove - not only will the kitchen, and the house smell wonderful, it will humidify the drying winter air.  A pot of water with some slices of citrus, cinnamon, cloves, or whatever other scents appeal to you is fast and easy.

Add fairy lights, Christmas lights, or battery candles to windows, shelves or cabinets for a festive glow.

I’m off to start my baking marathon in our freshly decorated kitchen for our upcoming dessert party!

Happy Holidays!