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Holiday Spirit: Creating a Christmas Mood in the Dining Room

In this post: If you’d like to create an atmosphere that reflects holiday spirit, this seasonal dining room will put you in the Christmas mood.⇒

Christmas mood in the dining room

Atmosphere.

It’s that intangible quality that many of us strive for when we entertain, or even for our own pleasure when we’re home alone.

It’s what creates a mood and evokes emotion, regardless of what else is in the room. Sure, decor is part of setting that stage. But to really imbue a room with seasonal spirit, you have to add an extra layer of that special something. It’s like magical fairy dust and it’s what makes your guests feel truly privileged.

Christmas bar cart in the dining room

There are some sure fire ways to add atmosphere to a space so that it’s more than just the sum of its decorative parts. The goal is to spark warm feelings and to prompt memories and a sense of being coddled.

You can set a perfect table that is dressed to the nines, but without ambiance, it can appear quite sterile. Today I want to share with you tips and ideas for heightening the Christmas mood in your dining room.

Christmas table decor in the dining room

Lighting

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of lighting when it comes to setting a mood. It can be dim and dramatic or bright and upbeat, depending on the feeling you are trying to evoke. I use dimmers in most of my rooms with several light sources to ensure I have the maximum control over the tone I want to set.

Our dining room is a tricky room to properly light because one end is very bright with a large window while the other is dark with lots of shadows. Playing with the lighting helps even things out and begins to create a baseline for what will follow next.

Christmas flowers in the dining room

Candles

Working hand in hand with the overall lighting in a space, the presence of candles is perhaps the number one way to create instant ambiance. This is where the dimming of lights becomes important when used in conjunction with scattered candlelight. The warm glow is like a gentle hug and it has a way of imparting a relaxed feel.

It helps to choose candle holders that enhance the mood, bouncing the light around the room and serving it up at varying heights. The glass hurricanes, below, and the marble pillar are from Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart and form a lovely vignette on the sideboard.

*This post was sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart, but all opinions and product-love are purely my own.

Christmas spirit in the dining room

Aromatics

If candles and lighting provide visual cues, aromatics contribute subliminal prompts and can be a very powerful way to stir up emotions. You can use scented candles with seasonal fragrance or try melting wax in a charming wax warmer. My favorite for this time of year is the Fresh Cut Frasier scent, below, with a bouquet reminiscent of fresh holiday greens. Place them on a bar cart and let them perfume the room.

Christmas scents in the dining room

Fresh Flowers

I can hardly picture a room I’d consider brimming with ambiance that doesn’t have a lush display of flowers. And while I’ve been known to supplement my arrangements with faux florals, there’s nothing that can substitute for the real thing. They bring an element of vitality to any room and have their own gentle aroma that can summon reflection and remembrance.

Christmas flowers in the dining room

Glimmer

The holidays are an exciting time of year and a great way to mirror that sense of gaiety is by using decor that literally shines. A golden lantern or silver flatware, glittered ornaments and gold dusted baubles. If it sparkles it’s fair game for setting the Christmas mood and even a little tinsel can awaken your Christmas spirit.

Christmas mood candlelight in the dining room

Consider a few additional ways to add mood to your rooms:

  • Display meaningful photographs, especially vintage ones
  • Add religious symbols and objects
  • Try scented potpourri in a pretty bowl
  • Play music in the background 
  • Use appealing food displays to evoke pleasant memories

Christmas vignette in the dining room

You could set a stunning table in a hospital operating room and you would never notice how lovely it is. Atmosphere is everything. When you pay attention to ambiance, you can create a magical aura, evoking delightful emotions for your holiday guests. Dim the lights, light the candles, put on the music.

And you don’t even need to find actual fairy dust.

Christmas tablescape in the dining room

BHG Influencer Badge

Christmas Mood Resource List

To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. 

(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)

Christmas mood in the dining room

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

  • Elegant Holiday Decorating Ideas for the Dining Room
  • Decorating with Rose Gold Christmas Decor for the Holidays
  • Complementing Your French Style With a White Christmas Tree
  • Christmas Decoration Ideas: Easy Shortcuts for Simple Christmas Decor

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5 Comments Filed Under: Homestyle, Winter Decor   Tagged With: christmas mood

« Christmas Living Room: How to Decorate with Holiday Metallics
Easy Elegance Wednesdays 08: Living a Life Both Casual and Lovely »

Comments

  1. Cecilia from Georgia says

    Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 7:37 am

    Thanks for all the suggestions to complete a dinner party! Dimmers are most necessary in all rooms! Lovely room and table.

    Reply
  2. Frances Wang says

    Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 6:48 pm

    Hi,
    Where did you find the black candle sleeves for your chandlier? I use pops of black in my decorating and would love to
    replace the drab whitish ones on my dining room chandelier.
    Thanks for your lovely Web site.
    Frances

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 8:34 pm

      Thanks for your kind words, Frances! Those black sleeves came with the vintage chandelier when I bought it. But there seem to be a lot of options online to order. Not sure what size you need, but here’s one option: https://rstyle.me/+1UZbaiebR5UGII3HyF7wNg

      Reply
  3. Mary Kay says

    Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 9:26 am

    Thank you for your beautiful blog, this room and your ideas are not only lovely but affordable.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks so much!!

      Reply

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I’m Lory, the creator of Designthusiasm, a blog that celebrates beautiful design! From home decor to tablescapes, lifestyle to travel photography, this blog was developed as an outlet for my varied design passions. My style can be described as modern French Country, with a respect for the past and the quality that comes with it. For more of my story see my ABOUT page.
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Instagram post 2191507211539309998_231271655 Before there was pink, my favorite tree was the white tree, and I think this may still be my fave! I’ve fallen so in love with winter peonies and they work so well with my pale tree and blush pink baubles. Throw in a bit of gold and you’re good to go!⁣
Instagram post 2190058480484768860_231271655 Happy Monday everyone! I’m so excited to be hosting a holiday entertaining blog hop today. (Tap the image for the other participants.) Pop over to the blog to see more of my tablescape featuring some gorgeous tableware from @vagabondhouse!! You can also swipe up from my stories because the pieces are just stunning and I know you’re going to want them!!
Instagram post 2189446347550348140_231271655 So, last year I did this! I actually went with a pink tree!! I just had to. I saw several shops that had pink trees and they were calling my name. I just had to have one. At one point I was thinking of going just green and white for the season, but no, I needed to add some cheery color and rosy pink it was! How do I follow up a palette like that this year?⁣ Any suggestions?
Instagram post 2187883518064038744_231271655 There are some people who are really masters at seasonal decorating and my friend Angie @angieswreathsandmore is one of those people. If you look at her page at any time of year it’s quite beautiful, but at holiday time it’s truly inspiring! I’m delighted to share her today, so please check out her awesome gallery!
Instagram post 2186534532748393083_231271655 I am so excited to be a #fabfitfunpartner and I have a fabulous opportunity to share with you! I just received my winter #fabfitfun box and I love that it focuses on little luxuries, treating yourself kindly and taking care of yourself. From a soothing and delightful candle to the indulgence of bath salts, skin serum, a clay mask and so much more, I’m going to be spending a lot of spa time at home!! If you’d like to join in the fun and get your own box, be sure to use my coupon code “LORY” for $10 off your first box.

And did you know @FabFitFun partners with charities each season and female founded companies? For more information you can find them at www.fabfitfun.com or check out my stories for a swipe up link.

Now tag a friend who you think needs this box.  I tag @shabbyfufu.
#ad #selfcare #treatyourself #selfcarefirst #selflove #womensupportingwomen
Instagram post 2185708891229295018_231271655 As much as I love gift giving, my favorite type of gift is a curated grouping of related items that work together in a theme. Extra points if it’s presented in a cute container. Today on the blog I’m sharing ideas for exactly this type of thematic gift, all well priced from #BHGatWalmart. Be sure to check it out!  #ad @BHGLiveBetter
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Get my FREE ebook, "A Year of Seasonal Decor", as a thank you for subscribing to my newsletter!
CELEBRATING MODERN FRENCH STYLE AND CASUAL ELEGANCE IN YOUR HOME...
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