15 Ways to Cue Christmas Cheer in Your Kitchen

In most homes, the kitchen is the hub of daily life — especially during the holidays — making it the perfect spot to show off your Christmas spirit. Whether your idea of decking the halls is turning your home into Santa Central or your preference is for just a few nods to the season, we've got you covered.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

October 28, 2022

By: H. Camille Smith

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Derek Trimble; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Dave Greer

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Derek Trimble; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Derek Trimble; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Adam Albright

Photo By: CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE

Photo By: Derek Trimble; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Jo Gick

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn, FlynnsideOut

Photo By: Rennai Hoefer

Photo By: Rustic White Interiors

Photo By: Marian Parsons

Cheer Up the Heart of Your Home

Ahhh ... the holidays! From whipping up sweet treats to give as gifts to putting out a tasty spread for party guests, the kitchen is where the holidays happen. Give your home's holiday hub a merry makeover with our tips.

BUY IT: Amazon, $48.39

See More Photos: Our 100 Favorite DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas

From: H. Camille Smith

Create a Winter Wonderland on a Shelf

Open shelving is a great place to show off your favorite serveware or keep the plates you use every day handy — but it's also the perfect spot for displaying a Christmas collection. Whether you collect Christmas village figurines, vintage ornaments or a mix of old and new items, like these colorful bottlebrush trees, the holidays are the ideal time to put your passions on display. Take a tour of this holiday home that was featured in HGTV Magazine, below.

see more: Tour a Bright Missouri Kitchen That's Full of Cheer All Year Long

Perk Up the Coffee Station

A vinyl chalkboard decal and a few chalk markers are the easy way to give a kitchen hot bevvy station the charm of your corner coffeehouse. Add a single-cup brewer that can whip up everything from hot teas to cocoa, and stock the area with assorted sweetener options, mugs, and both dairy and non-dairy creamers. Get more tips for setting up a home coffee bar, below.

See More Photos: 30+ Coffee Station Ideas for Simple or Sophisticated Spaces

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Fill a Bowl With Glittering Baubles

For a free bit of holiday decor, fill a clear glass trifle or fruit bowl with glass or shatterproof ornaments in a color that complements your kitchen. Then, head outside with some clippers to snip a few evergreen sprigs to add a fresh scent and added pop of Christmas color.

From: H. Camille Smith

Be Savvy With Scale

When selecting an evergreen wreath for any space — either indoors or out — keep scale in mind. The nearly 3-foot, fresh evergreen wreath in this stunning showhouse kitchen is just the right size to dress up the custom powder-blue range hood. A smaller wreath could have disappeared or not properly matched the scale of the soaring, barrel-vaulted ceiling.

See More Photos: Top Designers Share What's Trending in Holiday Decor This Year

Add a Wee Tree

A Christmas tree in the kitchen? Why not? Small tabletop trees are perfectly sized to bring a holiday touch to kitchen countertops, shelves or an island. Best of all: Many mini trees come prewired with a battery pack that allows you to light them up at will, no outlet required.

BUY IT: Amazon, $154.83

From: H. Camille Smith

Brighten Up With Berries

A favorite of winter birds and holiday decorators alike, winterberry bushes are full of bright red fruit on flexible branches that can be twisted into beautiful, natural wreaths. Because the berries form in late fall, birds eat them throughout the winter, especially after a hard freeze when other food sources are scarce. So, if you want to harvest some for your holiday decor, you'll need to clip them before feathered friends settle in for a winter snack.

Take a Tour: Tour a Cozy Kitchen With All the Christmas Trimmings

Or, Add the Clean Scent of Citrus

Dried citrus slices give this evergreen garland maximum eye appeal while filling the kitchen with the clean scent of citrus. Drying orange slices is easy and you only need a sharp knife and your oven. Get all our tips for dehydrating oranges. And, for more DIY holiday decorating ideas from our friends at HGTV Magazine, tour the lovely home below.

See More Photos: Tour a Crafty Oregon Home Filled With Christmas Magic

Use a Tray to Corral a Collection

In most kitchens, prep space is at a premium. To make it easier to shift holiday vignettes around as needed, corral collections on a tray. This grouping, on a massive vintage brass beauty, can quickly be shifted into prime position on the island when it's time for dessert or easily set aside during dinner prep or cleanup.

See More Photos: Cozy Up Your Christmas Decor With Vintage and Antique Finds

From: H. Camille Smith

Light Up a Corner With a Cheery Village

Whether colorfully decorated or solid white, like these modern porcelain pieces, there's no denying the charm of a classic Christmas village. Mixed in with monochromatic bottlebrush trees, the tiny structures create a sweet scene in designer Jo Gick's kitchen.

See More Photos: 50 Christmas Decorating Ideas That Aren't Red and Green

Cozy Up Chair Backs With a Faux Fur

Encourage holiday guests to linger a little longer over cocoa or Christmas cocktails by draping hardback dining chairs with fluffy, faux-sheepskin throws. Pro tip: To get exactly the color, texture and size to suit you and your seats, shop for material by the yard and trim it to the perfect shape.

See More Photos: 45 Joyous and Clever Ways to Celebrate Christmas at Home

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Or, Add Small Wreaths to Chair Backs

If your kitchen features eat-in-style seating, give barstools or chair backs a quick and easy holiday touch by tying on a fresh or faux wreath.

See More Photos: 40 Black-and-White Christmas Decorating Ideas

Display a Treasured Family Heirloom

For homespun holiday charm, work hand-me-down pieces into your kitchen's Christmas decor. This antique wooden rocking horse may be missing the rockers, and some paint here and there, but it still offers up a lot of cottage-style charm with the addition of a jaunty red satin bow.

See More Photos: Cozy Up Your Christmas Decor With Vintage and Antique Finds

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Beautify a Buffet

Give freestanding kitchen furniture pieces, like a china cabinet, pie safe, buffet or server, a holiday touch with a potted live pine or a few fresh-cut evergreen branches laid along the surface. For an easy Christmas craft project you can make with the kiddos, give our pom-pom garland, below, a try.

get the how-to: Kids' Craft: Make a Pom-Pom Christmas Garland

From: Marian Parsons

And, Decorate Adjacent Areas

In her own home, designer Marian Parsons gives the small butler's pantry off the kitchen a merry makeover with a free, fresh greenery swag and antique teacups filled with votive candles.

See More Photos: 110 Farmhouse Christmas Decorating Ideas

15 Ways to Cue Christmas Cheer in Your Kitchen

Related To:

Shop This Look

Cheer Up the Heart of Your Home

Create a Winter Wonderland on a Shelf

Perk Up the Coffee Station

Fill a Bowl With Glittering Baubles

Be Savvy With Scale

Add a Wee Tree

Brighten Up With Berries

Or, Add the Clean Scent of Citrus

Use a Tray to Corral a Collection

Light Up a Corner With a Cheery Village

Cozy Up Chair Backs With a Faux Fur

Or, Add Small Wreaths to Chair Backs

Display a Treasured Family Heirloom

Beautify a Buffet

And, Decorate Adjacent Areas

11 Easy Ways to Add Holiday Cheer to Your Bedroom 12 Photos

12 Designer Ways to Dress Your Home for the Holidays 12 Videos

12 Ways to Add Handmade Holiday Flair to Your Front Yard 12 Photos

85 DIY Ways to Decorate Your Front Door for Christmas 85 Photos

16 Ways to Trim Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro 17 Photos

14 Easy Ways to Add Classic Christmas Charm to Your Home 14 Photos

Related Pages