Get a 3-step formula for decorating a kitchen for Christmas, plus a peek at my traditional Christmas kitchen tour!
I'm so excited to share my kitchen, all decorated for Christmas this year! Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, it's always fun to add holiday decorations in here. There are so many fun ways to add Christmas kitchen decor without making it feel cluttered!
Festive Kitchen Sources (tap the image to shop):
SHOP THIS LOOK
The kitchen was one of the first rooms I updated when we moved into our current home. The bones were good, and the white cabinets and countertops worked fine. But I loved painting the walls, replacing the cabinet hardware, painting the pantry door and updating the decor!
The first year we lived in our home, I decided to decorate it for Christmas right in the middle of the kitchen makeover. And it looked pretty good!
But the next year, it was so much fun to finally capture all of the Christmas decor in the completed kitchen and eat-in kitchen area.
Christmas Kitchen Sources (tap the image to shop):
It was a challenge for me to figure out how to decorate this larger kitchen compared to my old one. All of my old decor looked very minimal in this space. So it's taken me a few years to find the right amount of decor, without it being too much or too little.
I started out with my usual blue and green Christmas plaid and all of the greenery I love. But it just got lost in this white and neutral kitchen. So I started adding pops of red, and it felt so much more cheerful and festive!
While figuring it all out, I found a really simple formula for adding Christmas decor to your kitchen. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me!
I love sharing all things Christmas decor! I've shared all about the best artificial Christmas trees, how to decorate a bedroom for Christmas and how to decorate with Christmas ribbon. My hope is that these articles inspire you to create a home you love for the holidays!
Three Easy Steps for Decorating a Kitchen for Christmas
1. Add Greenery
Christmas Wreaths on the Cabinets
First up is my favorite way to add cheer to a kitchen: hanging simple wreaths on the cabinet doors. I've done this for years, using a mini wreath and some holiday ribbon. I've had that ribbon for probably 8 years, so I don't have a link. But any pretty ribbon would do!
In the past I hung my wreaths on the cabinets with scotch tape. But this year I got fancy and hung them with command hooks. I cut a small slit in the ribbon and hooked them on. Ta-da!
I've left the command hooks up for two years now, and they still work great! It makes it so easy to put the wreaths back on the cabinets year after year.
Garland on the Stair Banister
Next up is my stair banister with greenery on it! I'd never had a banister to decorate before, so I didn't have any greenery or garland for this spot. Christmas garland tends to sell out quickly! So I learned my lesson the first year and stocked up early after that.
I've shared how to hang garland on stairs, but it's really just layering multiple garlands over each other until it looks right! You can embellish with ribbon bows, simple bells or floral holiday bouquets. The possibilities are endless!
Thankfully, I found some at a local store that I LOVE. I layered it over a cheap garland I already had and added red plaid bows.
The next year, I found this beautiful extra-long faux garland to add to the banister, and it already looks 100% better!
I used some of the same techniques I shared in my mantel garland tutorial post. Basically, I tied the cheap garland to the banister with decorative ties, then used the bendy branches to “grab” onto the nicer garland. Then I attached the bows with floral wire.
2. Swap Everyday Items for Kitchen Christmas Decor
After I decorated the stairs and added the wreaths, I swapped out our everyday items for Christmas ones.
Add Christmas Mugs to the Coffee Station
Then I love to switch our regular mugs for our Mrs. Claus and reindeer mugs. I have other holiday mugs I've collected over the years, too. It's so much fun for my girls and brings out the kid in me!
I love changing out my dish towels as well.
Christmas Mugs and Towels (tap the image to shop):
Change Out the Art
It's also the perfect time to swap out any art or wall signs. I took down the Puckett’s sign that normally hangs near our back door and replaced it with a “Merry Christmas” sign. I also switched some of the art frames in the corner of my living room for printable winter and Christmas landscape art.
See my Christmas Printable Collections HERE!
Add Christmas Pillows to Bar Stools and Benches
And you might notice that we got a new bench in front of the windows by the back door. I swapped out the pillows for some Christmas ones.
This back door in our kitchen leads to our garage, and it's where we come and go 95% of the time. So I needed to create a drop zone without much wall space. This storage bench is the perfect solution for storing our shoes and giving us a place to sit while we put them on!
3. Create Special Christmas Moments Throughout the Room
The next thing I did to add some Christmas cheer to my kitchen was create little moments or zones. If I just spread Christmas decor all over the kitchen, it wouldn't make nearly as big an impact as creating little zones. I try to do this with my everyday decor, so it's easy to do with holiday decor, too.
The Mini Christmas Village
I made a mini Christmas village on the counter where I keep our utensil canister, knives, flour and sugar. I've had the little figurines for years, but this year I added ceramic mini Christmas trees, mini wooden houses and a bottlebrush tree candle. I love it!
Ceramic Trees | Candle with Bottle Brush Tree Topper | Brass Cabinet Knobs | Butter Bell (similar) | Wood House (Target dollar spot) | Figurines (old from Walmart) | Similar Utensil Canister (with ribbon tied around it)
When you group a bunch of smaller festive touches together like this, it makes a much bigger impact!
These ceramic trees are one of my favorite finds this year! I found them in a small boutique shop, but tracked them down online so I could share them with you here. I'm very tempted to get more! (Get a different version of the trees here.)
Christmas Moment at the Sink & Window
Then at the window, I added some faux paperwhites next to the sink and a “JOY” sign beside the lamp. I'll talk more about this corner behind the sink when I share my kitchen reveal, but I LOVE giving this space a purpose in the kitchen.
Marble Pothos Plant | Good Tidings Candle | Wood Pedestal | Lamp (similar) | Hand Cream | Hand Soap | Marbled Tray | Faux Paperwhites
The soap and hand cream set in the marble tray is one of the best luxury gifts I ever gave myself. I LOVE it! The soap is thankfully back in stock, but in case it sells out again, here are some other options that would be just as cute.
And did you catch that glimpse of my new roman shade?! It's what makes my heart go pitter-patter. I'll share more in the kitchen reveal, but the first day I hung it up, I just stared at it for hours. It's my favorite!
Marble Pothos Plant | Good Tidings Candle | Wood Pedestal | Lamp | Hand Cream | Hand Soap | Marbled Tray | Paper Towel Holder
Christmas Ornaments Hanging from the Chandelier
Over at the kitchen table, I added some whimsy by hanging gold ornaments with red velvet ribbon from the chandelier. I really wanted to find red ornaments, but I think the gold ornaments with red ribbon turned out even better than I'd envisioned.
Then I cut some cedar branches from our yard and wove them through the middle of the chandelier. I think this is hands down my MOST favorite moment in the kitchen.
Brass Chandelier | Storage Bench | Bench Cushion | Dining Chairs | Table (old from Craigslist) | Calendar | Wall Hooks | Gold Ornaments | Red Velvet Ribbon | Magnolia Wreath | Hanging Bells
Gingerbread House Village as a Centerpiece
And of course, the gingerbread house village the girls and I made together is the perfect centerpiece for the kitchen table.
Add Vintage Touches to the Kitchen Desk
I added some new plates and Christmas salt and pepper shakers above my desk in the glass-front cabinets. I definitely plan to grow my collection over the years. But swapping out everyday items like salt shakers and plates is an easy way to decorate a kitchen for Christmas.
Then, using command strips, I hung a frame on the side of the fridge with some winter printable art. The fun thing is that it isn't Christmas-specific, so it can stay up through February! Learn more ways to decorate for wintertime at Christmas HERE!
I also added some faux paperwhites to my desk and a beautiful gold stag to the top of my fridge.
The Christmas Coffee Bar
I already talked about swapping out my mugs for the holiday season, but I love adding the mugs and my little “Milk & Cookie” sign to this spot. My girls love having hot chocolate out of special mugs this time of year, and I love making it magical for them!
Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar
Make decorating a kitchen for Christmas functional by creating a hot chocolate station! We did this in our dining room, but you can make one in the kitchen too!
I think that's about it! Thank you so much for touring my kitchen with me. It's always a joy to share my spaces with you! And I hope my ideas for bringing Christmas decor into the kitchen inspire you in your own space!
Closing Thoughts
Remember, it's really simple to decorate a kitchen for Christmas with these Christmas kitchen decorating ideas:
- Add Greenery
- Change out Everyday Items
- Add Moments or Zones
It really is easy, though it can feel overwhelming in a kitchen of any size! So I hope these ideas help you if you're struggling to decorate your Christmas kitchen, too!
More Christmas Decorating Ideas You Will Love:
