Merry Christmas friends! I’m so excited to share our home with you and for you to see 16 other homes in our 2024 Christmas Home Tour! Turn on your favorite Christmas jingle, grab a cocoa and put your feet up. Today is going to be fun. This will be a part 1 with how to create a cozy, woodsy, Christmas living and dining room. Part 2 will be shared next week.
If you arrived here from French Ethereal, thank you and welcome! I hope you find something useful and inspiring. If you’d like to get to know me better, click here for the About Me page. I’d love for us to become great friends.
I’d like to begin by asking the same question I ask almost every year – do you change things up each year or do you put the same things back in the same place? Or do you spend a little money adding to your holiday collection or save it altogether because you enjoy what you already have? I love change so I like adding a couple of new-to-me things and still enjoy what I already have.
A woodsy dining room that creates cozy with a theme of pinecones, trees and neutral color.
How To Create a Cozy, Woodsy Christmas Living and Dining Room
This year I found a couple of vintage items that have been repurposed but the rest you’ll see has been moved around for a fresher experience. Although, if you asked the Mister what he liked about last years decor compared to this years, he’d say uuuuuuhhhmmm. I can’t say he’s oblivious but he needs a week to mull over his answer. It might be completely made up but he knows that I use the same stuff so he has a 50/50 chance of getting close. LOL.
Trees, live greenery, the same colors and added candles for a table centerpiece.
Let’s get started. If you want a woodsy look you need to choose a few things that are themed foresty. Things like natural greenery, outdoor colors, bark, leaves, etc. To mix that and get a cozy feeling, add lots of texture.
Texture keeps things cozy in the dining room.
Texture can be found on fabrics like throw blankets, quilts, rugs, tapestries, pillows, etc. But it can also be from wood branches, leather, stones, rough items or smooth. I realize that sounds a slightly contradictory but basically, texture refers to the perceived surface of an object. It encompasses both how it feels to the touch and how it visually appears.
As I look around our home, my theme can be called the year of the tree and pinecones. Why? Because each room has a few trees (not just large Christmas trees), pinecones and greenery. I love the look and how it makes me feel!
Something insignificant can become fabulous with a little imagination.
To create cozy, you can also add small details like displaying some of your favorite pieces. The pieces don’t have to be old, valuable, or sentimental. I bought the tiny ornaments 2 years ago but on their own they weren’t doing anything for me. I clustered them together with velvet ribbon for a bigger impact. I think the inconspicuous green vase now seems more significant.
If you can carry your theme around the room, it will seem more cohesive. For example, I have silver items on the tree, on the teacart, on the mantel and over on the small console table in the corner. It runs around the entire dining room.
It also has real and faux greenery, black pieces, white items, pinecones, velvet ribbon, candles and the same neutral colors. Yep, I think green is a neutral color. 😉 And it’s faaaabulous!
Moving on to the cozy, woodsy living room. You’ll see more texture and the holiday theme. Look at the texture in the rug, the velvet pillows, the beads on the lamp, the iron bench for a coffee table, the stone fireplace, and even the Christmas tree. Plus they are all in the same neutral colors.
Even the Santa coordinates with his warm and cozy coat. And speaking of Santa’s – I purchased 4 vintage sterling silver Santa napkin rings this fall in Vermont.
Repurposed napkin ring into a Christmas tree ornament!
They used to have a large ring on the back to hold the napkin but removing a couple of tiny screws was all it took to make these into an ornament. I think they are super cute and will be used more often than 4 napkin rings.
Temporarily using these silver napkin rings to boost the small glass trees.
And speaking of napkin rings ;), I almost forgot to mention the other repurposed project. I decided to use these napkin rings to hold a few of the smaller glass trees on the dining room table centerpiece. The trees are pretty by themselves but with the napkin ring, they are even prettier!
Okay, back on track. If you’re anything like me, you are noticing a slight change in the way you style things. I’m a full-hearted-Middlist. Yes, that’s a made-up word. I thought of it last year when the Maximalism trend started being popular again. I know I’m not a minimalist but as I get older, I want to purge or donate things more and more.
Spread out your theme and color to coordinate.
I think my Middlism stems from being tired of dragging out bins each season/holiday and being tired of dusting and cleaning so much. I’m over it. So for me, not filling up each cubby makes me breathe a lot easier.
Treasures can be new, old, or handmade and crafted.
But, then a new season comes around and I’m ready for a change. Who knows if I’ll ever become a full-time minimalist. I have friends that are and when I visit their homes it’s so peaceful and refreshing.
Anyway, as you can see, the cubby shelf and console table have a woodsy look as well. Can you see the faux trees and pinecones strategically placed throughout? On the console table the trees aren’t green but have great texture. Much like the handmade branch candles I made last month.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!
Well, that’s Part 1 of the tour. I hope you found something you’d like to try and understood my explanations on how to create a cozy, woodsy Christmas living and dining room. Sometimes my brain goes faster than my mouth (or my fingers) and I think I explain things clearly. My entire life my mom would say – form a sentence in your mind then tell me. Lately, the Mister has been telling me the same thing! All I say to him is – keep up!
Next is my friend Cindy at DIY Beautify! You will love her magical vintage Christmas. I drooled quite a bit and pinned even more than that! Don’t forget to check out the other incredible bloggers’ home tours below.
Cindy, you’ve nailed cozy, my friend! I adore your stockings, woodsy accents, and sparkly glass trees–pinning! Have a joyous Christmas season! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
Author
Aww, thanks so much Cecilia. I love hearing that. Merry Christmas!
Happy holidays, Cindy! I love the napkin ring idea—how cute are those? Your green shutter with the wreath is right up my alley. It’s always fun hopping with you!
Author
Thank you Ann. I’ve had that wooden screen door for about 25 years stuck in a closet for at least 20 of those. I finally saw it last year and thought the green was perfect. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Cindy,
Your tour is so cozy and filled with unique ideas. I loved the wreaths on your stockings. Thank you for hosting this tour and have the best holiday season.
Author
My pleasure Rachel and thank you for the sweet comment. When I saw the stockings hanging up there so sad and white I immediately added the wreath for happiness. My happiness, not the stocking. LOL
Cindy your home is so beautiful and COZY! I love what you did with the napkin rings on both counts. SO CLEVER!!! Thank you so much for hosting this wonderful tour.
Author
Thank you Laura. I was so surprised at my uncrafty self for even coming up with those ideas! :0 Merry Christmas friend.
Cindy, everything looks so lovely with all the greenery and silver pieces… I do love silver and how it glows! I agree about clearing out the clutter. One just breathes easier and it’s easier to clean. Enjoy your beautiful home in all its Christmas finery. Love all your Christmas trees…
Author
Yes! Decluttering is a weight off and much easier to clean! I need to stay on track for all of 2025 to really clear things out. Fingers crossed I don’t fall back into the bad habit of – oh, it will be useful one day! 😉 Thank you Barbara. Happy Christmas
Cindy, your woodsy theme is so warm and cozy. I want to curl up next to your fireplace. Love all the natural touches. Thank you so much for hosting this great tour.
Author
Girl, it’s too hot to flip the switch on that fireplace right now but it means a lot to know you think it’s cozy enough to do it. Hope your Christmas season is wonderful. Thanks Carol!
Lovely tour Cindy! It feels extra cozy like a bear hug with the with all the dark shades of green. Love your handsome Santa and the green shutter layered with the frame and garland. What a clever idea! Happy Christmas my friend!
Author
I’ve been struggling with the area with the green screen door and garland for a month and decided to leave it alone. It still has the gold ribbon on it from fall but I thought if I touched it the thing would fall apart. We made it on a glamping trip at the beginning of November. 🙂 Thank you bunches friend.
I love it! It looks so cozy and inviting. Love the color scheme also.
Author
Aww, thanks so much Melinda! I’ve loved black, taupe, and white for years. Remember the duplex? We painted it taupe, black and white? LOL.
I love the warm cozy vibe, Cindy. The glass trees and candles on the tablerunner are really beautiful! Sheep picture is amazing, and I want to see more of that wonderful wood riser with the woodsy candles. Thanks for getting us all together! Can’t wait to see part 2!
Author
I didn’t realize until lately that I would love the branch candle holders as much as I do. I figured they’d be a one and done but I actually light them a lot! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season. Thanks so much.
Cindy, your woodsy Christmas home is absolutely stunning. I kept thinking, “Oh, that’s my favorite part” and then I’d scroll to a new pic and fall in love with that one too! Thanks for sharing, and for hosting! Happy holidays!
Author
Niky, you are so sweet! Thank you. You’ve made my day. Merry Christmas!
Stunning. I love your new word Middilist. I think I am about the same thing. Your home is always so welcoming and full of inspiration. You have definitely captured Cozy and Welcoming with your decor. Thanks so much for the invite, so fun to join your tour.
Author
Yay – A fellow Middlist! I can see that about you and your decor. We are basically Goldilocks perfect. 😉 Thank you Ms. Marty for the sweet comment too. They always make me smile.
Cindy, I love the way you incorporated the dark rich colors that you always use in your home into the Christmas decor. Everything looks amazing! I’m a middlist too. 🙂
Author
Woohoo! We Middlist’s should have a convention. It would be “just right”. LOL. Thank you so much for the visit and comment Stacy. I’ve missed you!
It is all so beautiful! But I have to ask you, where did you get the large sheep painting in your living room?
Author
Thank you Joan. The Sheep painting came from either Hobby Lobby or Kirkland’s about 3 years ago. Sorry it’s not more recent. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Cindy, your Christmas home is beautiful! I love how you used forest green throughout…stunning! And I love your tip for using a napkin ring to boost a small tree. Definitely going to try that trick! Thank you so much for hosting this home tour and thank you for including me. It is truly a joy!
Author
Aww, thanks bunches Missy. Ever since we painted the kitchen a dark, smokey green I’ve loved the color and use it everywhere! I actually need to calm down a bit. Maybe in the spring. 😉
Lovely Cindy! I’m all about woodsy feels and you styled everything beautifully. It was a pleasure to tour your home and I cant wait forr part deux. Happy Holidays! XO- MaryJo
Author
Thank you MaryJo. Hope you are having a nice holiday season so far!
I love this woodsy, cozy, subtle look; it’s so soothing! I’m noticing all your special little details: the wreath on the lampshade (never would have thought of that!), the rustic garland across the green shutter door, the wreaths on the stockings. Love all those little “moments” you’ve created throughout. And yes, you made it all so interesting with an abundance of textures. Love it all! Merry Christmas season, friend!
Author
You are the best Lora. I think most people don’t even notice the little details so that put a big O smile on my face. I love putting them up/out but I don’t care for the packing away. Seems like twice the work. LOL