Simple Decorating Ideas for a Cozy, Classic Christmas

Step inside our Connecticut Christmas home for simple decorating ideas for a cozy, classic Christmas.

Welcome and Merry Christmas! Today, I’m thrilled to be joining A Very Merry Christmas Tour, hosted by my sweet and talented friend Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home. Amber is so creative, with passion for vintage home decor!

Today, nine creative home bloggers are welcoming you into their homes that are all dressed up for Christmas! Please make sure to visit everyone and enjoy all the Christmas decorating ideas at the end of this post. I know you will leave feeling inspired!

Welcome to My Family Thyme!

Welcome to My Family Thyme! I am Lynne, a wife, mom to two young adults, and Kindergarten teacher by day and a home enthusiast by night. My Family Thyme is my creative place where I share fun crafts, simple recipes, and budget-friendly home decor ideas. I am so happy you are here!

If you are coming from Lora’s of Lora Bloomquist, welcome! I am sure you loved her Christmas kitchen, with all of her unique and nostalgic details. It’s so beautiful!

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Come on in! Today I am happy to welcome you through our front door, so we can enjoy this festive, welcoming wreath. Would you believe that this started out as a simple grocery store wreath that I dressed up a bit, using greenery from my yard? I will be sharing all about it very soon!

The color palette that I chose for this year is red, with lots of greenery. It makes my home feel very cozy, classic, and joyful!

Simple Decorating Ideas in the Kitchen

Let’s first head into the kitchen. This space is truly the heart of our home. Next weekend, my daughter comes home for Christmas and we will be in here baking our family’s holiday treats. My grandmother’s traditional Scottish shortbread is first on our baking list. If you haven’t tried it, you definitely should! It’s a family favorite!

In the kitchen, I tend to keep my decorating simple, so it is both festive, yet functional. I used one of my favorite, inexpensive decorating items…ribbon! It is amazing how impactful ribbon can be.

This bright red, satin ribbon adds a festive pop of color. Mixed with some fresh and faux cedar wreaths and greenery, this red ribbon makes a big statement against the white cabinets.

Little vignettes featuring a mixture of textures and natural elements make the kitchen feel cozy. These floating candles with cranberries and boxwood are my one of favorite DIYs! They have made an appearance the last few holiday seasons. By placing a vignette in a tray or basket, it can easily be moved when you need to use the space.

This pretty pinecone Christmas tree is a recent handmade decoration. I love the texture and natural beauty this simple craft adds to the space. This little vignette in this pretty copper tray makes a simple, yet lovely holiday centerpiece.

Sprigs of mistletoe, a festive wreath and a handmade jingle bell ornament add a little holiday cheer!

Simple Decorating Ideas in the Family Room

The pops of red from the kitchen are carried over into our family room. This is the space where my family gathers and spends much of our time, so of course, we want it to feel cozy and inviting. Pillows, throws, and cozy candles bring festive color into this neutral space.

High quality faux greenery and cedar stems, along with berries make a beautiful, yet family-friendly seasonal arrangement. The sweet houses, along with my homemade ribbon and bell garland add a whimsical touch.

Our sweet Sadie girl likes to hang out here too. She wanted to say hello!

To create a full, lush garland on the mantle, I twisted a high quality Norfolk garland with an inexpensive boxwood garland. Then, sprigs of red and white berries, pinecones, along with a variety of artificial greenery stems were added.

Warm white fairy lights were intertwined into the garland to help it twinkle each evening. Finally, I used the same red satin ribbon to create bows on both ends of the mantle. Brass candlesticks and this simple mirror complete the mantle. At night, it feels magical.

I recently ordered flameless candles to use on the mantle. I think they will give a soft glow in the evenings, while being safer and easier to use than traditional candles.

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Simple Decorating Ideas in the Dining Room

This antique side table is so special to me. My husband bought it for me when we were first married and I love decorating it for each season.

This year my table is topped with candles, a vintage cake stand with some handmade ornaments, along with my great grandfather’s wooden tool chest, which I have repurposed to hold seasonal dishes and linens.

The dining table is set for our family dinner, when my daughter comes home, and the four of us will be together again.

A garland placed in an S shape makes a simple centerpiece. I added some pine cones, dried orange slices, faux berries, and another homemade ribbon and bell garland.

For each place setting, I used inexpensive gold chargers from Dollar Tree, along with my favorite Nantucket basketweave dishes. The plates are topped with beautiful embroidered napkins from my dear friend Pinar, of Happiest Inc, held in cedar wreath napkin rings.

Thank you so much for visiting today! I hope that you are leaving here with a few ideas that you can use in your own home.

Please be sure to head over to see Amber’s home of Follow the Yellow Brick Home and all of the rest of the beautiful homes shared today.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! May this season bring you and your loved ones peace, good health, and joy.