Howdy Friends! I’m excited to be joining our hostess Marty from A Stroll Thru Life and lots of new friends this week for a 2021 Christmas Home Tour. Today I’m sharing a dining room and entryway with easy to do Christmas ideas. If you’re hopping over from Citrine Living, welcome! Tamara has such an elegant style that’s so pretty. Loved her entry! There’s a lot to see this week and I may have gone a little overboard with the photos so let’s get to the good stuff.
A Dining Room and Entryway With Easy To Do Christmas Ideas
If you don’t know much about me, you can check out the About Me Page or you can stick around and find out quickly that I like things to be simple, inexpensive and neutral in color. And I like my surroundings to be cohesive. For me, that’s using the same colors and theme throughout the house. This year is the second time I’ve not used red in my holiday decor. I’m loving the neutrals and so far I don’t regret not adding any red – so far.
A Dining Room and Entryway With Easy To Do Christmas Ideas
When you walk into the front door you see the dining room first on the left and the foyer on the right. I know, it’s a little weird. The roomiest part of the entry is behind the door. I think the builder should have turned the door to open the opposite way but you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. It’s quirky and difficult to decorate for a cozy feel. I made a coat rack from a vintage column and silver spoons so people wouldn’t forget their coats when they left and to help ease the fact that everything else is on the opposite side. And it helps balance that corner a little.
In all the years we’ve lived here, I’ve never figured out what to do with that gigantic area over the front door. If you have any ideas, please let me know in the comments. It’s hard to tell but you could fit a twin bed with a side table and a dresser up there. Anyway, that’s the dining room and entry so let’s get to those easy Christmas Ideas. But first if you’d like to see some of the other spaces in the house, you can click here for the 3 mantels tour and here for our bedroom.
Easy Christmas Ideas #One and Two
I always have books here next to the lamp. This Christmas I switched them out to green. That’s the easy idea #one. If I had red or any different color in my decor, the bindings would be the same. Adding a pitcher full of faux greens will always look nice and is the easiest of all the ideas.
Easy Christmas Idea #Three
I have to pat myself on the back for those little houses in the photo above. Y’all, I made them in my pottery class! I’ll put fairy lights inside soon. Idea #three is adding a napkin ring to any simple decor accessory to spruce it up or make it a little more festive. Like on the wooden tree. It’s cute as is but cuter with a napkin ring! You could add one to a lamp as well. The wooden bead and cloth tassel hanging on the lamp is also a napkin ring.
Easy Christmas Idea #Four
I like to add real and faux greenery and bows to my stair railings. If you don’t have stairs, you can add them to door knobs also. I simply curve the stems and use it to anchor them on the railing. Zip ties and twisty ties work just as well. Add a bow and voila, you have instant easy Christmas decor idea #four.
Easy Christmas Idea #Five
Adding a Christmas tree isn’t the idea although I do enjoy having more than one tree. Idea #five is adding the unexpected to the tree. This year I used new ribbon and a couple of new poinsettia picks from Decorator’s Warehouse but everything else is from the attic. The unexpected are my favorite “ornaments”.
We use vintage silverware, vintage creamers and their lids. I’ve tied pretty ribbon around the handles so they hang easily but with the spoons and forks, the hubs simply bent the handles. I tuck pinecones, candy or other small goodies inside some of the creamers. I love it and get a warm feeling every time I walk by or when someone finds a goodie.
Easy Christmas Idea #Six
Let’s move over to the “formal” dining room. You can see from the chairs and table, we are casual people. Nothing all that fru fru or formal about us. I kinda giggle at the thought of that. All I did in here was add fresh greenery to the chandelier which is a total game changer when you are sitting at the table. It’s sooooo cozy! Each Christmas, I add either greenery or ornaments or ribbon or something. That’s idea #six. Always add something to the chandelier.
To keep all of my live greenery looking fresh (as possible) I spritz it with water every day. I hold a piece of cardboard behind or underneath where I’m spraying to help with drips.
There are small trees, antlers and pinecones on the mantel so the centerpiece and decor on the table will mimic the mantel to keep it cohesive. You can use a lantern, a tray or even a bowl to get the same look. Just remember to add the same items from room to room, shelf to shelf or mantel to table.
I tucked real greenery into the letters of the Merry Christmas sign for a little dimension. I like it for now but when it starts to look dead, I’ll remove it and leave it bare. You can find antlers in antique stores, at flea markets and believe it or not, out in the woods! The first time I paid for antlers the Mister was appalled. He told me we could find them for free in the woods. I was skeptical but he was right. It’s crazy how many things you can find in the woods for Christmas decor!
Easy Christmas Idea #Seven
The other side of the dining room holds a cubby shelf. I keep the pottery I’ve made and a few greens inside. I don’t fill it up because I less is more for me. However, I do replace some of the greenery with live stems for the Christmas season. That’s idea #seven. If you can, replace your everyday plants or faux greenery stems with the real deal or stems with darker color. Like pine, spruce, fur stems etc. Anything that looks Christmasy.
Well that’s it for a dining room and entryway with easy to do Christmas ideas. I hope you found something inspiring but most importantly, something simple! No one should feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done or even think there needs to be a lot to do! When you go shopping for Christmas decor, keep in mind the colors you want to use and the theme. Stick to it and don’t even go down the isles of your favorite store if it doesn’t work with the plan! I promise, you’ll be much happier.
Thank you so much for the visit today. I really appreciate it.
Now it’s time to visit Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage then visit the rest of my friends.
The hop started on Monday so grab your favorite beverage and find a place to get comfy. Trust me – you don’t want to miss a thing!
Merry Christmas Friends and Happy Decorating!
Monday Dec 6th
A Stroll Thru Life – Up To Date Interiors – Our Southern Home – Southern Hospitality
This Is Our Bliss – Southern State of Mind – Inspiration For Moms
Tuesday December 7th
Making it in the Mountains – Decor to Adore – Pink Peppermint Design – Thrifty and Chic
Cuckoo4Design – White Arrows Home – Hymns and Verses
Wednesday December 8th
StoneGable – Whispering Pines Homestead – Worthing Court – Grace In My Space
DIY Beautify – Remodelando la Casa – LeCultivateur
Thursday December 9th
Designing Vibes – The Stonybrook House – A Pretty Life – Calypso in the Country
Clean and Scentsible – 11 Magnolia Lane – Chalking Up Success
Friday December 10th
Fox Hollow Cottage – Follow The Yellow Brick Home – Casa Watkins Living – Quarters One
Noting Grace – Citrine Living – County Road 407
Your entryway and dining room look gorgeous decorated for Christmas. I so much enjoyed every idea and picture that you shared. You did a great job making houses in your pottery class and you can enjoy decorating with them all year.
Author
Thank you Paula! I love those little houses. Planned to make more but time got away from me. Hope you have a great Christmas!
Cindy – your dining room is just so lovely! The greenery just pops in this gorgeous space. And your entryway is perfectly festive and so welcoming. What a joy doing this home tour with you! Wishing you and your family the merriest of Christmases.
Author
You are so sweet Jennifer, thank you! Happy Friday and Merry Christmas
Saving the best for last! Throwing the pottery down like a BOSS! Truly a gorgeous tour. I’d love to see it in person. 😉
Author
You are always welcome Laura! Let’s make a plan and do it before time passes us by! And thanks for the sweet comment. I love my pottery class!
Your dining room looks beautiful. Love the greenery i the chandelier and on the mantle. Merry Christmas!
Author
Thank you Julia. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too.
I love everything about your home tour, Cindy! I decorate with natural greens as much as I can too and love how it makes my home smell like Christmas. You were lucky to find those antlers, I walk through the woods regularly, collecting natural bits for my vignettes and have never once found any! Maybe someone was quicker than me! Merry Christmas!
Author
I didn’t think finding antlers in the woods was a thing either. If you can’t find them, do you have a deer processing business near you? I bet they have a huge pile of them too. Glad you loved the tour. I’m enjoying it. Merry Christmas!
It looks lovely! I love the little houses, the wreaths and well…everything! Have a wonderful weekend.
Author
That’s so nice to hear Elizabeth. Thank you so much. Happy Friday!
This might sound a little silly, depending on your decor style, but I picture a vintage wagon up there, in the space above your door, & maybe a large animal figurine. At Xmas, you could style a Xmas sleigh there with a Xmas tree & LED lights you can turn on with a remote. Or maybe if you have a special collection of things to display there, like woven baskets, or an antique.
Author
All of that sounds lovely Holly but I have none of it. I have thought of at least decorating it for the holidays but by the time I finish the rest of the house, I’m tired. LOL! Thank you so much for the great ideas! I really appreciate it. Merry Christmas. Glad you could visit today.
Your entryway and dining room are gorgeous Cindy! I love the neutral colors you used this year!
Author
Aww, thanks so much Michelle. That makes my day. Merry Christmas!
A beautiful entry and great tips for decorating. I’m very impressed with the houses you made. They’re so cute! And I can sympathize with you on the space above the door. I have one of those too and all it does is collect dust. We just leave ours empty. Anyway, I loved the tour – Merry Christmas to you!
Shelley
Author
For years I thought we’d close it in and add a door to my sons room since it’s right next to it. Well we’ve been here 12 years and it’s still there being useless. I do love how much light comes in but wow, the amount of dust! Glad you liked the tour. Merry Christmas to you as well.
You are doing very well in that pottery class your taking , love your houses. Thanks for all these ideas and I like all your pretty areas decorated for Christmas.
Author
Thanks Marlene. I really enjoy my pottery class. I’m looking forward to one day making an entire set of dishes. #goals! Hope your season is wonderful so far.
Hi Cindy! What a beautiful home! I love the unique additions to your Christmas tree! Also, those adorable little houses you made in class… Love them! I had a space just like that over our front door in our last house. I agree with you, it is a most difficult space to decorate… much less get up there to dust it! Hubby had grand ideas of putting a Christmas tree there. It didn’t happen. I wish I had an idea to help you, but I was just as stuck as you are…. 🙂 Happy to join the tour this year! Merry Christmas! Blessings, Lori
Author
We only clean it twice a year and since December isn’t one of those months, the dust is so thick that it looks like the floor is painted a dingy gray. LOL! A Christmas tree is a great idea but the steps it would take to get it up there is overwhelming. Another reader suggested a sleigh. Um, nice idea but that would require a pulley system and that ain’t happening. Wait! I just thought of something… We could draw a snow scene in the dust! Like finger painting! Thanks for the visit Lori. Merry Christmas
i love all of your tips for decorating at Christmas. So fun and so easy. Your home looks so festive and so inviting. I especially love the special Christmas tree in the entry. How fun to add little treasures and treats for people to find. Thanks so much for joining the tour this season, your home is amazing and filled with tons of inspiration.
Author
Thank you Marty. If I don’t keep things easy, I get overwhelmed and grouchy. That’s no way to start off the season. 😉 Glad you found some inspiration too. Have a great weekend.
Cindy, I am loving the neutrals you have for Christmas! Your tip for spraying the live greenery is brilliant! Now I am off to spray my fresh greenery! thanks 😊
Author
Yay! I’m so glad you found something useful. Merry Christmas!
Cindy, your home looks lovely and those are indeed some great tips. I need to put those napkin rings to good use! 😊
Author
Aww, thank you Christina. You’ll be amazed at how many places you can use a fun napkin ring. I’ve even used the typical wooden ones for bases. Just dropped in a little tree. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
This is such a gorgeous, entry and dining room area, Cindy! Wow, I’m totally blown away! I love all your greenery and antler touches and don’t even get me started on your beautiful tree – it’s amazing. If you need anything, I’ll be over here pinning away. Thanks for all the great tips. Big hugs, CoCo
Author
You sure know how to put a smile on my face, thank you so much. This is how every Monday morning should start. Merry Christmas my Florida friend. Wishing you snow. 😉
I love your neutral holiday decorating style, and you totally deserve a pat on the back for those precious houses. I love how they turned out. Such a pleasure touring with you. 🙂
Author
Thanks so much Erica! I hope to make more of those little cuties soon. Hope you have the merriest of Christmases!
Lovely tour of your dining room, and entry with your gorgeous tree Cindy! I love the idea of decorating with old silver pieces on the tree which I just have to remember for next year. Every view you shared of your home is so beautiful my friend! Pinning!
Author
Awwwwww, thank you. You made my week. I’m extra critical of our home. Probably because I know the trim needs to be painted, the tile grout is stained (the list goes on) but I’m thankful to have it. We like the neighbors and everything a person could possibly want is within 2 miles. It’s a good life. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with those grandbabies. 🙂
I love your holiday decor, Cindy! Your dining room is just so beautiful and I always love greenery on the chandelier. Love this!
Author
Aww, Merry Christmas Kim. I’m loving it too. Tired of the spritzing but still love it. 😉
Cindy your home is just gorgeous! I love all of your Christmas details so much, so many fabulous ideas – love the greenery on your chandelier! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Author
Tamara, you are so sweet and made my day. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas. Only 3 more sleeps!