Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Holiday Kitchen Decorating [Updated 2023]
By: Erica Dean
Holiday Kitchen Decorating: Tips and Ideas for a Festive Space
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and you have a beautiful new kitchen you can’t wait to decorate!
Welcome the holiday season by transforming your kitchen into a festive space. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and decorating it can create a warm and inviting atmosphere for family and friends. Discover Christmas decorating tips and ideas to make your holiday kitchen decorations truly special.
Planning and Preparation
Before diving into the decorating process, set a budget to ensure you don’t overspend. Consider the theme you want to incorporate into your Christmas kitchen decor ideas, whether it’s traditional, modern, or something unique.
Make a list of the supplies you’ll need, such as ornaments, window treatments, pendant lights, and table linens, to make your shopping more organized.
Ideas for Your Christmas Decorated Kitchen
Colors and Themes
Planning out your holiday color palette is the first step when starting your Christmas decorated kitchen ideas. Explore the classic holiday color scheme of red, green, and gold for a traditional look.
Alternatively, opt for a modern and minimalist approach with a monochromatic color scheme or incorporate unique color combinations that reflect your style. Experiment with themes like rustic, coastal, or winter wonderland to create a cohesive and visually appealing space.
Lighting and Ambiance
Set the right mood in your holiday kitchen with festive lighting options. Hang string lights along cabinets or above countertops to create a cozy glow. Incorporate candles on shelves and window sills for a magical ambiance.
Add garland or bows to your pendant lights for extra flair this holiday season. Mix warm and cool light sources to create depth and warmth in your kitchen space.
Festive Tablescapes
Create a gorgeous holiday tablescape by choosing a festive tablecloth or runner that complements your overall theme. Select coordinating napkins and add elegant napkin rings or tie them with ribbon for an extra touch. Enhance your table centerpiece with seasonal elements like pinecones, ornaments, or a fresh flower arrangement.
Decorative Kitchen Accessories
Add holiday charm to your kitchen by displaying festive dishware on open shelves or glass cabinets. Incorporate holiday-themed kitchen towels on your stainless steel oven and aprons to instantly bring a cheerful vibe, adding the holiday spirit to small kitchens. To complete the look, hang decorative wreaths and garlands on walls or cabinet handles.
Seasonal Wall Decor
Spruce up your kitchen walls with holiday art or prints that reflect the festive spirit. Hang festive wall hangings or tapestries featuring winter scenes or holiday motifs to create a focal point in modern kitchens. Create your DIY wall decor using materials like reclaimed wood, burlap, or chalkboard paint for a personal touch.
Add a Christmas Tree to the Kitchen
Consider placing a Christmas tree in your kitchen to add a focal point of holiday cheer in your Christmas decorating. Choose a tree size and type that fits your available space.
Decorate the tree with ornaments that match your kitchen decor, and consider adding kitchen-themed decorations like miniature cooking utensils or food-shaped ornaments.
For small kitchens, hang wreaths on cabinet doors or as window treatments to add evergreen to your space.
Creative Centerpiece Ideas
Create eye-catching centerpieces for your kitchen island or table. Incorporate unique elements like candles, lanterns, or glass vases filled with ornaments or pinecones. Embrace nature by incorporating fresh greenery, branches, or small potted plants this holiday season. Find Christmas-style florals at your local Trader Joe’s or grocery store and create your floral arrangements for your kitchen island.
Kitchen Island Decor
It is a Dean family tradition to make gingerbread houses every holiday season. Once these elaborate creations are made, it is impossible not to display them for everyone to enjoy! Place a gingerbread house on a cake stand, and voila!
You have a hand-crafted centerpiece for your Island. An often overlooked yet essential element of an island is its seating. This is another aspect of your kitchen that you can decorate for the season! Tie a bow to the backrest of the tall chairs or to the legs of the stools to complete your Island’s festive look!
Hanging Stockings and Ornaments
Bring the holiday spirit to your kitchen by hanging stockings and displaying ornaments. Hang stockings on the kitchen mantel, cabinet handles, or a designated area. Fill them with small kitchen-themed gifts or treats.
Decorate your kitchen with holiday ornaments by hanging them from shelves or chandeliers or creating a unique ornament display using branches or a decorative ladder. This is also a great way to bring pops of color to a white kitchen.
Incorporating Natural Elements
Embrace the beauty of nature by incorporating natural elements into your holiday kitchen decor. Gather pinecones, branches, and berries to create a rustic centerpiece for your dining table or kitchen island.
Use fresh greenery and flowers to adorn shelves, hang above cabinets, or create a festive wreath for your kitchen door. DIY projects like creating garlands using dried citrus slices or making cinnamon stick candles can add a touch of nature’s charm.
Kitchen Holiday Decor FAQ
Is there a way to cozy up my coffee bar?
Nothing is like a hot drink when you come inside from some frightful winter weather. So why not take it to the next level and embellish your drink with a few holiday flavors?
Fill several glass jars with candy canes to stir in some minty freshness, caramels to make your drink more silky smooth, marshmallows for a little more sweetness, and chocolate truffles for a richer flavor.
A clear cookie jar with cocoa powder can be both an elegant and convenient display for those hot chocolate lovers in your home. Remember to include cinnamon sticks as a focal point on your holiday drink hot bar!
How can I make my cabinets more dashing?
An easy way to add a splash of spirit to your cabinets is to hang wreaths from them! Even a wreath on a couple wall cabinets or on your tall pantry doors can keep the winter gloom away.
Another fun way to decorate your kitchen cabinets is by hanging a few decorations from the bottom of the wall cabinets. Hanging ornaments with fishing line can give the illusion that they are floating and keep your counter space clear.
Be sure to also take advantage of your glass door cabinets. This is a great opportunity to display your holiday mugs and any holiday dishes that have been in storage all year long.
Keep Your Kitchen Merry All Season Long
If you or your kids are into arts and crafts, cut out an assortment of paper snowflakes, string them together, and hang them across your sink window for some constant light flurries! Don’t forget to replace your usual kitchen towels and any utensils with their holiday equivalent. You can find all sorts of fun spatulas, whisks, etc. at any big box and kitchen decor store.
Wintertime means baked good season. So why not display your tasty and beautiful work for everyone to admire and try? Set out your cookies, cakes, and rugelach on some crystal and cover them with glass cake stand tops.
Creating a festive holiday kitchen involves careful planning, selecting appropriate colors and themes, and incorporating various decorative elements. From lighting and tablescapes to window treatments and natural accents, numerous ways exist to infuse your kitchen with the holiday spirit.
Does your family have any holiday decoration ideas, tips, or traditions? Tag us in a picture of your decorated kitchen on Instagram and we’ll feature you on our story. We’d love to spread a little more love and joy this holiday season!