How to Add French Farmhouse Charm to Your Christmas Kitchen Decor

I found this wonderful Ironstone pitcher earlier this year while on vacation at Amelia Island. I love the bright white and the curves of the details. This pitcher now lives on our kitchen counter for the Christmas decor.

 The deep colors of the red and green contrasted by the white of the pitcher set the stage for the vibrant color scheme for our French Farmhouse styled kitchen.

Step One: Begin by selecting your color combination for your Christmas decor. Red and green are the traditional colors but you can opt for serene neutrals, soft pastels or even jeweled colors. Selecting your color scheme first enables you to know what to look for when selecting Christmas decorations.

Step Two: Backgrounds and surfaces: One of my favorite places in the kitchen to decorate seasonally and for the holidays is the kitchen's hutch. Bright white background is perfect to allow the vibrant reds and greens of Christmas decor to pop!

Step Three: Select your decor items. While selecting items consider varying the textures that will enhance your color selections. For my hutch, the varying textures and colors on the hutch include: French rolling pin, French colander dish, French bread dough bowl, Ironstone pitchers, white bowls, vintage linens, metal tray, little French milk cows, scale, rusty graters and green boxwood wreaths. I love the charming combination of vintage and collectible items.

Step Four: Carry the look throughout the room. Across from the hutch is this vintage china cabinet. I simply added these burlap stockings with vintage lace and two more boxwood wreaths with some faux red berrries to draw the eye - and coordinate with my red and green Christmas decor color theme.

Continuing Step Four: Across the room I have this white plate rack which is another fun place to display collectibles! Christmastime is a wonderful time to pull out your collectibles. Just remember to keep them within the color scheme for your decor. The white of this plate rack balances the white of the hutch. For Christmas decor I'm displaying some favorite red and white Transfer ware, a vintage French egg basket, French bread board, wicker baskets, decorated vintage Mason jars and Christmas greenery. In front of the plate rack is a French bottle rack. On this rack I have some of my teacup collection as well as some Christmas decor.

Step Five: Add decor in unusual or interesting places. I added red and green beaded garlands to the kitchen's chandelier. Not much is needed here and there - just another way to draw the eye and to bring together the color scheme for the kitchen's Christmas decor.

Now your room is ready for family and friends. A recap:

Step One: Select your Christmas decor color scheme.

Step Two: Work with your backgrounds and the colors in the room.

Step Three: Select your decorations adding interest by varying textures such as baskets, ceramics, and metals along with those that compliment your color scheme.

Step Four: Look for opportunity to carry the look throughout your room. You don't have to add much - just include items that draw the eye and continue your color scheme.

Step Five: Look for different and unusual places to add decor such as chandeliers, door knobs, drawer pulls etc...to include opportunity to add decorations and to make the whole room festive.