Welcome to the next stop on my Christmas home tour: the dining room and my large Christmas tree. This is the first year I truly love this tree. It finally reflects the rustic glam vision I had in mind when we first bought it—now that I’ve collected the right ornaments and learned how full to fluff it.
This year I used vertical burlap ribbon instead of the usual horizontally wrapped style, and I added a special burlap ribbon with jingle bells I found at Hobby Lobby. I picked it up in early November, which was a smart move—the best seasonal ribbons tend to sell out quickly.
Here you can see how the tree has evolved since we bought it in 2012. One of my favorite budget-friendly additions is the scrapbook paper garland that cost nearly nothing yet adds texture and color. It’s a simple DIY that dramatically improves the tree’s layered look.
Last year I only had a few empty boxes under the tree, but this year the gifts are real—and wrapped. I finished my Christmas shopping early and wrapped everything before my baby’s arrival next week, which feels like a huge win. Wrapping early lets me enjoy the season instead of scrambling at the last minute.
All of my gifts are topped with the cutest printable gift tags from a friend—simple, charming, and free. A small touch like a lovely tag makes wrapped presents feel extra special and ties the table and tree styling together.
If you look closely you’ll notice the DIY Christmas crate stand made from pallets beneath the tree—I absolutely adore it. It lifts the tree and adds rustic charm. I’ve shared a full tutorial on how to build a crate stand, and it’s a great weekend project if you want a sturdy, farmhouse-style base.
To personalize the tree I added tin roof ornaments, a few photo ornaments featuring my daughter, and paper-scrap-covered ornaments I made a couple of years ago. A snowflake ornament with a missing flake and other vintage-style pieces add to the tree’s eclectic, rustic glam aesthetic.
I also included chalkboard wood-slice ornaments and glittery mercury glass balls for contrast. The mix of natural wood, burlap, glitter, and metallics creates that rustic glam balance I love: warm, tactile, but still festive and a little bit elegant.
I tracked down a few silk-screened deer ornaments at Target earlier in the season; shopping early gave me the best selection. Little finds like these deer ornaments add personality and complete the curated look.
Now for the full dining room, where we’ll host Christmas brunch. My husband’s family joins us on Christmas morning and we enjoy a cozy meal around our DIY farmhouse table that’s been dressed for the holidays.
This year I kept the table decor very simple: a burlap runner, a few bottle brush trees, cinnamon-scented candles, and neutral accents. The result is understated, warm, and perfectly suited for a relaxed holiday meal—simple rustic decor that still feels special.
Most of these decor pieces were sourced from seasonal retailers earlier in the season. The bottle brush trees came from a sale in October, the burlap runner from Hobby Lobby, and many small accents were found in stores like Target. A few candle and vase styles were available online, but the best finds were in person.
I have plans for the mirror on the wall and hope to add more decor and furniture to this dining room over time. For now, the farmhouse table doubles as my craft workspace and serves well for holiday gatherings when needed.
My everyday round beaded white dishes pair nicely with accent plates I found on sale last year. Those accent plates are a seasonal favorite: pretty enough for holiday tables but easy to store with the rest of the seasonal decor.
Thank you for touring my rustic glam tree and simple, rustic dining table. I’ve enjoyed sharing these holiday decorating ideas and a few favorite DIY touches. I’ll share a couple more spaces next week as I finish up holiday preparations—can’t wait for Christmas!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a joyful holiday season.
