Decorating kitchen shelves for Christmas

December 01, 2014

I was finally able to tackle some Christmas decorating! I feel so behind every. single. year. But I’m determined to just relax and enjoy the process. 

Many of you have commented on our newish étagère (so fancy!) in the kitchen. Here’s how it looked earlier on in our recent renovation, before the new doors, paint and trim: 

unfinished kitchen table

I got that beauty from Joss and Main earlier this year and I LOVE it. The best part is I had some credits so I got it for $40! Whoot!! (I can’t find it on their site anymore but I did find it on Overstock here.)

I knew from the moment I got it that it would look adorable at Christmas, so I was excited to work on it. The thing is, like everything else in our house – it has to be functional for us as well as pretty. So I dressed up what was already there and then added some more Christmas touches.

I was determined to use what I had on hand and I did pretty good. I only spent a few bucks. ;) I pulled out some of my scrapbook supplies that I don’t scrapbook with to make some cute tags:

making tags with paper

And hung them with my baker’s twine (last year at the Target dollar spot!) from our dog and cat food containers:

diy wood tags

Their food tray usually sits under the étagère so it’s nice to have the food so close by. :)

I found this tree slice for a few bucks at a local thrift sale a few weeks ago and decided to give it a chalkboard treatment:

chalkboard tree slice

I planned to write on it but then came up with a better idea. I hung one of my small boxwood wreaths from it, then drilled a hole in the back of an ornament:

reindeer ornament

I got the ornament at Hobby Lobby back in August when the Christmas was already out. ;) I think it was maybe $4 (on sale).

I hung the reindeer head inside the wreath and hello…cuteness!:

tree slice art Christmas

I love it!!

I filled the basket on the top shelf with faux greenery and some birch logs:

basket with birch logs

The only money I spent on this display was for that little garland on the basket. Those are little decorative tags ($4 and I have a ton more) I picked up at Target last night – I just strung them on my baker’s twine. :)

I love my vintage pitchers:

fresh greenery

I filled them with cuttings from our trees outside. I use a ton of real cuttings this time of year. If you don’t have evergreens I bet someone you know does! They add so much life and color to Christmas displays and they are FREE.

I did have three of these pitchers…till last night when our obnoxious cat knocked the large one off the table. I don’t get upset when he breaks other stuff (and it happens a lot), but this one killed me. Killed. I loved that set!

FREE CAT.

Anyway, onto the next shelf. My cheese dome turned cloche just has some greenery inside, and my deer head above looks cute with our favorite Christmas mugs from my Grandma:

Christmas kitchen shelves

The bottom half is the most functional for us – the copper bowl was from a thrift store and it holds the dogs sweaters and leash and other little things like pencils and erasers for homework:
storage for kitchen

The white tray is a Goodwill find I spray painted years ago and the basket holds our mail and papers. I go through it every few months weeks.

I absolutely LOVE how it all came together!! It’s just precious:

kitchen etagere

This piece is the perfect thing for that spot. The finish on the metal isn’t quite black and the shelves are all gray. It goes great with the new family room and fireplace next door. :)

And I love having a pretty spot for things that we grab everyday:

  metal bookshelves    

Pay no attention to the wonky baseboards or the crown that needs to be finished, umkay? I didn’t finish the base there because it will eventually just run straight across the window seat. :)

Here’s what this area looked like a few months ago, before the new doors, paint and trim:

And here’s what it looks like now:

metal shelving in kitchen

Still more work to do but it’s almost there!! I LOVE how this whole space is coming together!

And I love that our home is starting to look a little like Christmas:

kitchen shelves decorating

Have you started decorating for Christmas? Every year I say I’ll have it done by the first and that NEVER happens – especially after a week like last week! It will all get done though and I’m enjoying it. :) 

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Comments

  1. I love what you did with the reindeer head and wood slice - so clever and it turned out amazing!

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  2. This is all so pretty...my favorite is the reindeer head wreath project!

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  3. Oh I love it, what a fun piece and so perfect for this spot. The reindeer and wood slab are super cute.

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  4. I love it all! Great job, Sarah.

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  5. Love it all! thanks so much for joining in on the blog hop!! xoxo

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  6. Looking beautiful! Love the mounted deer, so cute. Happy Holidays to you :)

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  7. How pretty! I love the tree slice art you made!

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  8. It's beautiful! Maybe you could find a replacement pitcher from replacements.com? Worth a shot!

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  9. Love it! I find myself searching for etagere on Craigslist more than I care to admit... they're the handiest piece of furniture! And your Xmas take on it is terrific!

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  10. I love the new gray chairs at the table!

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  11. Love the silver deer head...I was admiring it on Instagram!! Love it all!

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  12. Would you do a post on your Disney trip? We have always wanted to go at Christmas. Where do you like to stay, money saving tips, favorite spots etc. Thanks!!

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    1. Yes I may do that! I've only been three times now so I'm still learning, but we absolutely love it!

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  13. I cannot even handle that wood slice with the deer head...or the vintage pitchers (I would've killed my cat)...or how FUNCTIONAL this still is! Love it!

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  14. So cute! Love the sled and I like those pitchers, too. That cat!!

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  15. Love it! Where'd you find the pretty table? Many thanks!!!!!

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  16. SO much energy! It all looks beautiful. Will you be decorating the exterior and post pics?

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  17. What a beautiful kitchen vignette! I am smitten with the deer art. So creative! Fun touring with you. ~Christy

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  18. Love your Christmas kitchen! You've worked wonders with your home.

    Would you please share where you found your table? I like it's shape and size!

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  19. Such a shame about your beautiful pitcher! Have you tried Museum Wax or Quake Hold? (there seem to be different strengths) It might be worth looking into for your most precious breakables.

    p.s. The mini-sled is adorable! Where is it from?

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  20. I love Christmas decor that isn't in-your-face Christmas. You've accomplished this perfectly! Kudos!

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  21. Hi! I found your blog through Hi Sugarplum and am so glad! This is such a pretty space, and my favorite part is the mounted deer. I may have to create my own--thanks!

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  22. Love the little garland! So dainty! Can you tell me where you find birch logs? I would love some but not finding them in St. Louis.

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  23. This is one of my favorite Christmas displays. Not too cluttered and not too over the top! Love!!!

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  24. What great ideas! I wish I could find birch logs; I really would love to decorate with them but there just doesn't seem to be any in my neck of the woods. I think the little sled is adorable. Where is it from?

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  25. I really do need to get busy too, decorating for Christmas. I LOVE the season! Our days have been crazy too with so much going on. Your bakers twine and tags are such a cute little touch - thanks for the idea! Keep decorating and sharing...you make me want to leave work right now and go home to get started!

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  26. How do you do it all? Love what you've done and that étagère is fantastic. Not cluttered looking as some of them can look with nothing on them. Love all you did to decorate already. I've done some already which is new for me so early. But with all the fantastic ideas I've seen on blog land it's hard not to get inspired and go for it. Using lighter colors, mostly white and silver this year due to living room being painted early this past summer, red/green just not doing it for me. Enjoy the season

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  27. Love your etagere, Sarah. You styled it perfectly! I wish I had room in my house for one..... Also, I was wondering about your paint color of your family room/kitchen. Come January, my family room will be getting some paint! :) Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  28. Everything looks really nice. Fun that you created the deer yourself.
    Congratulations to your sister! I hadn't heard this exciting news! Aw, so fun.
    Chrissy

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  29. I love everything that you have done!! It looks sooo pretty!! COMFY COZY!!

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THANKS so much for reading!