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    Home » Decor

    December 8, 2022

    Rustic Christmas living and dining room ideas

    Rustic Christmas decorating ideas

    It's time for another beautiful Christmas home tour and today, I get to share my rustic Christmas living and dining room ideas with you! As always, I'm using lots of greenery to create simple Christmas room decor that anyone can recreate.

    This Christmas home tour series was organized by Marty of a Stroll Thru Life. White Christmas or not, from your front door to your dining table, you're sure to find plenty of inspiration here, for creating holiday cheer in your own home.

    At the end of this post, you'll find links to all of the beautiful homes on the tour!

    2022 Christmas home tours
    2022 Christmas home tours

    If you are new here or coming over from Heather's at Southern State of Mind, welcome! I'm Jayne a Brit living in Germany. There's nothing I love more than celebrating a German Christmas with my family. There are so many lovely Christmas traditions here and I especially love the homemade ornaments, decorations, and Christmas cookies!

    Table of contents
    • Start with a color scheme
    • Christmas living room ideas
    • Christmas wreaths
    • Decorating ideas for behind the sofa
    • Green garlands
    • Nativity scene
    • Christmas table decorations
    • Fire place mantel
    • Conclusion
    • More Christmas ideas
    • Continue the Christmas home tour here!

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    Start with a color scheme

    Last week's post was all about styling your coffee table for Christmas. If you read that post, you'll know how much I love to create a color theme for my rooms during the holiday season.

    To create a cozy festive feel for my Christmas living and dining room ideas this Christmas, I've gone for rustic Christmas decorations and used lots of natural materials like moss, pine cones, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and fresh greenery.

    Christmas living room ideas

    Let's start the tour in the living room. We usually have a beautiful Christmas tree standing in the corner of this room but to make sure it stays fresh, we cut it fresh on the third Sunday in Advent. That means our Christmas tree won't be decorated by the time this post goes live.

    The coffee table is always the first thing you see when you enter the living room so, of course, it's the perfect place to decorate for the Christmas season.

    A wood and white coffee table decorated for Christmas
    The coffee table has been styled for Christmas

    Festive coffee table decor

    The main decoration on the coffee table is a long wooden bowl. You can use a dough bowl to create a similar effect.

    Mini bottle brush Christmas trees and baubles on the coffee table
    Mini bottle brush Christmas trees and baubles on the coffee table

    To create a festive feel, I've filled the bowl with Christmas ornaments. Natural accents like wooden stars and orange slices add to the rustic look.

    A wooden bowl filled with Christmas ornaments and baubles
    Make a simple coffee table display with a bowl filled with Christmas ornaments

    I've twisted some battery-operated fairy lights throughout the vignette, tucking the battery box under the decorations.

    Ribbons are a lovely way of adding festive cheer to your tables. Here I've placed a length of classic red wide-band ribbon along the center of the coffee table.

    A red ribbon running the length of the coffee table
    Red ribbon in Scandi style on the coffee table

    ★Tip★: Run ribbons along a plain tablecloth or runner to create an elegant look.

    This is the perfect place for taking a break with a cup of hot cocoa and my favorite holiday magazines! See my Instagram Reel here to see what I mean and to get a glimpse of my wood-burning fire!

    Coffee table books

    Coffee table books add a little height to a tiny festive display. Tiny trees sit atop a scrap piece of chippy wood with white paint!

    Stack of coffee table books topped with a Christmas vignette
    Use your favorite books to add height to a Christmas vignette

    Mini bottlebrush trees are very popular holiday decorations because they add an instant festive vibe to vignettes.

    You can read more about using coffee table books in your Christmas decorating in last week's blog post.

    A scrap piece of wood used to create a rustic coffee table display
    A scrap piece of wood brings rustic style to this Christmas vignette

    Christmas wreaths

    Green garlands can easily be twisted into small wreaths. Here, I've added some natural textures to a rustic-style wreath. I clipped some evergreen branches from the garden and found some faux ivy to make a mini wreath for the coffee table.

    A rustic Christmas wreath with white pillar candle
    A rustic Christmas wreath with white pillar candle

    A rustic Christmas wreath like this one would also make the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table.

    You'll see another DIY wreath on the dining table further down the page.

    ★Tip★: Here's a great tutorial for making evergreen wreaths.

    Decorating ideas for behind the sofa

    For the vignette behind the sofa, I've used more natural elements.

    A mini Christmas tree on the left balances the clear glass bottle display on the right. The glass bottle is filled with more organic elements like green moss, pine cones, and orange slices. I've added some pine branches and pheasant feathers for more festive cheer.

    A simple rustic Christmas vignette behind the sofa
    A simple rustic Christmas vignette behind the sofa

    For me, there's no better way to decorate than with fresh greenery. Not only does it look great but the smell of fresh pine needles always gets me in the holiday spirit! Last year, I decorated with lots of mini evergreen trees but because of my foot, I haven't been able to get out to the garden supply store to get them!

    That's not to say I only use fresh greens because I don't. I also understand that some people either can't get fresh evergreens or don't want to deal with the mess and that's fine too.

    The pine wreath hanging over my vintage mirror is faux. It looks so real, you'd only know it was faux if you felt it with your fingers.

    Of course, I've added more candles here too. Can't beat candles for creating a cozy vibe!

    Green garlands

    Christmas living and dining room ideas with garlands

    This year, I've draped a green garland underneath the picture shelf. String lights create a bit of festive cheer because you know how much I love my twinkle lights!

    A living room decorated for Christmas in a simple rustic style
    The living room decorated for Christmas in a simple rustic style

    In the dining room, both the vintage secretary desk and buffet have been dressed up with green garlands - and string lights of course!

    Sofa pillow in festive design
    Sofa pillow in festive design

    Nativity scene

    I love this little nativity scene. It's made from bakelite and is really old. Last year, one of the pieces broke but thankfully, I managed to glue it back together!

    Nativity scene
    Nativity scene

    Christmas table decorations

    This has to be one of the easiest Christmas Day dinner table designs I've ever created. I know I say that every year but it's true!

    Dining table decorated for Christmas dinner
    The dining table is decorated for Christmas dinner

    Place settings

    Carrying on from the green themes, I've added a mini Lindt chocolate Santa Clause to each place setting. I think I might even earn a few bonus points from my boys for that haha! Mini snowmen or candy canes would also make great additions to your place settings especially if you have kiddos at the table.

    Place settings on a Christmas tablescape
    Place settings on a Christmas tablescape

    Christmas table centerpiece

    I always think the important thing is not to go overboard with festive decor in the dining area. Guests need to be able to talk to each other and should not have to compete with the table decorations!

    Simple rustic Christmas table decor
    Simple rustic Christmas table decor

    For this year's festive tablescape, I've used more natural elements. A rustic wood slice creates the base for the centerpiece.

    A simple Christmas dining table centerpiece
    Mini Christmas baubles add a bit of glam to a simple Christmas dining table centerpiece

    For the base of my Christmas table centerpiece, I made a simple evergreen wreath from some of my garden clippings, some naturally dried seed pods, pine cones, and orange slices.

    Orange slices on a festive dining table
    Orange slices on a festive dining table

    The vase in the center of the wreath holds a bunch of evergreen clippings together with some dried seed pods from 'love in a mist'.

    Dining table decorating for Christmas
    Dining table decorating for Christmas

    To create a bit of bling, I've hung some Christmas ornaments around the top of the vase. I've used mini metallic ornaments in neutral colors but you could easily use different colors to suit your personal style.

    Fire place mantel

    The fireplace mantel has been decorated with paper stars. Paper stars are easy to create and make beautiful living room decorations. If you'd like to make some, you can find the paper star tutorial on my blog here.

    ★Tip★: Get creative with your Christmas decor. Learn how to make some gorgeous paper stars that you can use year after year!

    Conclusion

    I hope you've enjoyed my Christmas living and dining room ideas! There are lots more ideas on the blog, take a look at some of the Christmas posts mentioned below.

    Don't forget to visit all of my friends' tours where you'll find lots more beautiful Christmas decorations and decorating ideas!

    It's the most wonderful time of the year so get those jingle bells out and start your decorating today!

    Now hop on over to Tamara at Citrine Living. I love the color scheme Tamara has chosen for her home and just wait until you see her beautiful Christmas tree - it's a stunner!

    Merry Christmas!

    More Christmas ideas

    A hand holding a DIY air dry clay Christmas ornament with a pattern of evergreen leaves.
    Air dry clay Christmas ornaments DIY
    Side view of a round Amaretto Bundt cake with white icing and raspberry and pistachio topping
    Decorated Amaretto Bundt cake
    Christmas Advent centerpiece with candles
    Christmas Advent centerpiece with candles
    Rustic Christmas decorating ideas
    Rustic Christmas living and dining room ideas
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Don't forget to subscribe to my weekly newsletter through the form at the end of this post. You'll receive more creative ideas and DIY projects directly into your inbox by signing up. Additionally, you will gain access to our free e-books and printables library.

    Join my Facebook group here: Organize, Decorate, Create. I'd love for you to join our community!

    Connect with me on Instagram here.

    Continue the Christmas home tour here!

    A Stroll Thru Life - StoneGable - Thrifty and Chic - Southern Home and Hospitality - Worthing Court

    Tuesday December 6th

    Our Southern Home - This is our Bliss - The Stonybrook House - A Pretty Life In The Suburbs - Up To Date Interiors - Shiplap and Shells

    Wednesday December 7th

    Whispering Pines Homestead - Calypso in the Country - White Arrows Home - Designing Vibes - Decor to Adore - Clean and Scentsible.

    Thursday December 8th

    CitrineLiving - Pasha is Home - County Road 407 - Simply2Moms - Southern State of Mind - Chalking Up Success

    Friday December 9th

    Hymns and Verses - Eleanor Rose Home - Dimples and Tangles

    More Decor

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    • How to make clay heart ornaments
    • Simple Valentine's wreath DIY ideas to love

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    1. Tamara says

      December 08, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      So many fabulous ideas, Jayne! I especially love that gorgeous rustic centerpiece! Merry Christmas xo

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 08, 2022 at 3:17 pm

        Thank you, Tamara! I needed to keep everything simple this Christmas that's why I went for an easy-to-make table centerpiece.

        Reply
    2. Marty says

      December 08, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      Oh so pretty. Even without a tree, you home is full of Christmas charm and cheer. I love how you've used items from nature mixed with shiny ornaments and tons of pretty twinkly lights to create magic in every room. Thanks so much for joining the tours again this season. I love visiting your home.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 08, 2022 at 3:13 pm

        Thanks so much, Marty! I can't wait to get my tree but in the meantime, the twinkly lights bring the magic for sure!

        Reply
    3. Mary Anne Russo says

      December 08, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      Beautiful Christmas Home Tour! Love the dough bowl decor, and the pretty mercury glass bulbs. Your home is lovely!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 08, 2022 at 6:27 pm

        Thanks so much, Mary Anne! I can't get enough of mercury glass bulbs!

        Reply
    4. Janet says

      December 08, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      Oh Jayne. As usual your home is beautiful. You managed to create a cozy atmosphere with a great Christmas feeling, even without a tree.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 08, 2022 at 6:26 pm

        Thanks, Janet! It's nice to finally be able to decorate for Christmas. I've missed this so much!

        Reply
    5. Cindy@CountyRoad407 says

      December 08, 2022 at 7:07 pm

      You amaze me with all of your tips and ideas. Like adding little ornaments to the container in your centerpiece. That's so clever and so pretty! Love all of the rustic yet very glamorous touches around your home. The mercury glass always has a soft spot for me. Merry Christmas Jayne!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 08, 2022 at 8:09 pm

        Thanks, Cindy! Merry Christmas to you too!

        Reply
    6. Anne | Simply2Moms says

      December 09, 2022 at 1:08 am

      Beautiful home! Love all of your great rustic decorations! Happy Holidays, pinned!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 12, 2022 at 3:33 pm

        Thanks so much, Anne! Happy Holidays to you too!

        Reply
    7. Calypso in the Country says

      December 09, 2022 at 4:26 am

      So many gorgeous ideas! I love all the rustic touches mixed with the sparkle of the lights. Such a lovely tour!
      Shelley

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 12, 2022 at 3:32 pm

        Thanks, Shelley! Fairy lights for the win!

        Reply
    8. Laura Ingalls Gunn says

      December 09, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      This post fills my heart with delight! I adore all of the gorgeous vignettes. It is such a joy to be on tour with you.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 12, 2022 at 3:32 pm

        Thank you so much, Laura! Christmas vignettes have to be my favorite to create!

        Reply
    9. Rachel Harper says

      December 09, 2022 at 8:17 pm

      Jayne
      Your tour is stunning. I loved your table centerpiece and plan to share a link to your tour on my Sunday Dirt Road Adventures. So creative and fun.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 12, 2022 at 3:30 pm

        Thank you so much, Rachel!

        Reply
    10. Michelle | Thistle Key Lane says

      December 11, 2022 at 1:46 pm

      Jayne, your home is so warm and inviting, I especially love the materials you use in your rustic evergreen arrangements. Al those little extras that make them so unique and beautiful. Happy Christmas!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 12, 2022 at 3:29 pm

        Thanks so much, Michelle! I love using evergreens in my Christmas decor!

        Reply
    11. Kim | Shiplap and Shells says

      December 14, 2022 at 6:48 am

      You have transformed your home into such a warm and inviting space for the holidays Jayne. I love all your rustic touches and twinkling lights. Every detail is so beautiful my friend. Merry Christmas.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 15, 2022 at 5:03 pm

        Thanks so much, Kim! Merry Christmas to you too!

        Reply
    12. Lori J Leeper says

      December 16, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      Beautiful! I love the your centerpiece and how you used natural elements. My favorite is your vintage nativity. Merry Christmas!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        December 22, 2022 at 5:21 pm

        Thanks so much, Lori! The vintage nativity set is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. Merry Christmas to you too!

        Reply

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