Christmas House Tour 2012: Glittery Gold & Silver Dining Room Decor

I am in awe of some people who can decorate in a single theme for the holidays.

But I can’t do it. I can’t settle on a single cohesive look for my Christmas decor. Maybe that’s why I’m never able to achieve a magazine perfect look.

But that’s OK. Because I love how my house looks and feels at Christmas with its disparate decor. Or shall I say, eclectic?

I decorate with things I love, fluffing the everyday with holiday touches. Here in the dining room, for example, I took cues from my platinum-rimmed wedding china (Wedgwood’s Queen’s Lace) and brought in touches of silver and gold, with a heavy helping of glitter, too. Because everyone likes to get glitter in their teeth when they’re having Christmas dinner.

I kept things deliberately simply — no elaborate tablescapes — because our family doesn’t do fancy sit-down Christmas dinners. Not with a wiggling 6-year-old who wipes his hands on his shirt in attendance.

I’ve set out some casual Christmas dishes (bought at the after-holiday sale at Kohl’s) on the table.

My centerpiece sits on a silver tray atop a drop cloth table runner. I used glittery floral picks, some faux pretty red and green hydrangea blooms, silver and gold cone-shaped candles that kinda look like Christmas trees and some glittery stick type floral thingy (technical term) to create it.

Rather than hanging a wreath from my china cabinet, as I normally do, I hung a special, fragile ornament from one of the doors. I bought this ornament from Silhouettes and More at the 2011 Country Living Fair in Atlanta. Artist Jan Blough mounts her hand-cut silhouettes on authentic 18th and 19th century papers. They are so gorgeous. I have a smaller square one hanging on my tree. Both are prized possessions.

The top of the china cabinet is adorned with a lighted Christmas garland I’ve had for years. It is decorated with glitter bows, beaded balls, berries, faux hydrangeas, golden butterflies and pretty ribbon. I bought it pushing a stroller, so next year, it may be due for some fluffing and reworking. But this year, I think it works quite well.

I am hoping to continue the Christmas House Tour tomorrow. I want to show you my Christmas tree before Santa arrives. It’s been up and decorated for weeks, but I’ve been fussing and fluffing and reshooting. And I need to wrap some presents to go under it to complete the look.

There were some there this weekend — beautifully wrapped with shimmery organza ribbon, glittery paper and hand stamped wooden tags. But those gifts have been handed off to their recipients. So, you’ll just have to trust me when I say they were gorgeous!

I hope you will check out the rest of my holiday home tour.  Last week, I shared my front foyer and entryway, decorated with a pink and blue color palette inspired by McCoy pottery, vintage Christmas ornament and paper Christmas house. You should also see my red-and-green Christmas front porch with touches of vintage and natural and my rustic natural keeping room decorated for Christmas.