Planning to host this holiday season? Now is the time to think about updating your dining room. Cozying it up with festive decor is a simple and fun way to make celebratory meals even more memorable. Transform your space into something special with these party-ready dining rooms that offer fresh decorating ideas.
A harvest table dressed in a teal burlap cloth and trimmed with gold bullion fringe is both luxe and subtly festive. A centerpiece bowl filled with pinecones and bunches of greenery alongside each plate add to the merry atmosphere and echo the natural woods of the room.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2013
Designer: Grace Castaneda
This bright and upbeat dining room is the perfect gathering place for holiday meals. A trough of evergreen boughs, berries and pinecones is a simple alternative to a centerpiece and takes up minimal table space.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2013
Designer: Timothy Johnson
This dining room’s formal furnishings and crystal dinnerware need little embellishment for the holidays. Festive flowers create a welcoming ambiance and ring in the start of the holiday season, while a linen tablecloth warms up the industrial table.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2013
Designer: Sarah Hartill and Stacey Smithers
For a fresh take on holiday decorating that’s also budget-friendly, stick to small festive touches. In place of a standard tablecloth, layer neutral fabrics for a rustic look and inject color with sprigs of greenery.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home November 2012
Designer: Sasha Seymour
This whimsical, vintage-inspired dining room features delicate pink tableware and an Irish tablecloth that lends itself to a more formal, Victorian-inspired look. Through the doorway, a decorated Christmas tree makes a charming, festive backdrop.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2012
In this Calgary farmhouse, a grand dining table works perfectly for large holiday feasts. Red wine glasses enhance the Christmas vibe, while a natural wreath suits the rustic winter look.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home December 2011
Designer: Barbara Purdy
In this simple yet elegant dining room, a deep forest-green paint lends the space a Christmas tree-inspired feel. A bouquet of marigold dahlias and brass tabletop accessories carry the warmth of the season.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2010
Designer: Sasha Seymour
In this serene blue country-style dining area, a muted monochromatic palette allows the food to take center stage. Frost-white flowers mimic the wintry pattern in the wallpaper, while a luxe indigo tablecloth adds richness to the space.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2010
Designer: Stacey Smithers
A vignette of candles, chestnuts and greenery piled onto footed cake plates makes a glowing holiday display. A sculptural white resin antler is a subtle nod to the season.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2009
The floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is the focal point of this dining room. A collection of antique pewter plates and brass pendant lights add subtle shine, while a raised firebox and candlesticks add warmth.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2014
Designer: Tim Johnson
In this formal dining space, summery white flowers joined by a garland of wintry magnolia leaves create a striking atmosphere.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2010
In this dining room, an oversized tablecloth that falls to the floor is both elegant and casual, while light blue walls make for an icy backdrop.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2010
Designer: Sasha Seymour
Tassels made from burlap lend this wreath a quiet sophistication in the formal dining room. A bleached burlap runner adds to the rustic aesthetic, while snow-dusted plants and glass hurricane lamps bring elements of the outdoors in.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2009
In this refined dining room, a grand table sets the stage for a sumptuous supper, while crystal candelabras add sparkle.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2009
Designer: Lynda Reeves
In this handsome dining room, an elegant dining table topped with festive greenery doesn’t detract from the sleek aesthetic. Frosted pinecones in the center of each plate are a fun finishing touch.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home December 2011
Designer: Patti Rosati
Adorning a light fixture is a quick and easy way to embellish your decor with holiday flair. In this dining room, a ribboned garland adds a dash of delicacy to an otherwise rustic chandelier.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2015
In this dining room, an antique Nova Scotia pine table pairs well with black Windsor chairs. A silver disk mounted on the wall is reminiscent of a snowflake, while a small tree in the center of the table pairs well with the rustic setting of the wood cabin.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2010
Designer: Kate Thornley-Hall
Author: Stacy Lee Kong & Amanda Tucci