• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

December 7, 2016

Winter Buffet Table in the Dining Room

*I have some very simple winter buffet table decorating ideas for you today*

For the last couple of years, I’ve given myself the best gift. It’s not something that would mean a whole lot to anyone else, but it definitely means a lot to me. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving, long into the new year.

What is it, you ask? Well, I had an epiphany last year when it came time to decorate my house for Christmas. As I began to pull out the bins of decor I felt almost myself having an almost visceral reaction. I just couldn’t bring myself to make the house soooooo very Christmas-y.

Winter buffet table decor atthepicketfence.com

 

And what I realized is that if I were take a more winter-y approach to my seasonal decorating, I could leave it all up long after Christmas was over.

Then and there I decided to give myself the gift of time. Of not having to pack everything away on January 1 and then try and figure out how to fill all of those blank spaces with decor that would carry me till Spring.

So I look at every surface and tabletop a bit differently now. I think of what I can put out and leave out for a few months.

Like sweet little frosted trees.

Christmas buffet table decorations atthepicketfence.com

And even though Santa is making an appearance, he can easily go back into hibernation and be replaced with something else once his job has ended for another year.

Santa figurine on a stack of plates

This gift I’ve given myself has removed so much of the pressure and I’m actually enjoying the sweet, simple touches of winter so much more than the overtly Christmas decor.

Cinnamon sticks in vintage silver creamer

Of course, the only downside to leaving it like this all winter long is that it will start to collect dust and I’ll have to actually do something about it.

Winter buffet table decorating ideas

 

But, it’s a small price to pay for not having to give the buffet table a second thought until the first signs of Spring begin popping up.

Until then, I’m going to go enjoy my gift, my extra time…hmmm…what to do? I’m thinking another cup of coffee is in order!

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your holiday season my friends,

Vanessa signature

13 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas decor, Christmas decorating

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « My Christmas Home Tour
Next Post: Family Room Flooring Makeover with Shaw Floors »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura Heywood says

    December 7, 2016 at 4:17 AM

    Brilliant!! So simple but so true.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 7, 2016 at 7:03 AM

      Thank you Laura!

      Reply
  2. donna zoltanski says

    December 7, 2016 at 5:17 AM

    classy and elegant Christmas – perfect

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 7, 2016 at 7:02 AM

      Thank you Donna!

      Reply
  3. anita roth says

    December 7, 2016 at 8:31 AM

    What a wonderful idea!
    Wanted to let you know what a joy it was to meet you at the book signing last sunday! You are such a sweet kind person! Can’t wait to read more of your book!
    Have a blessed christmas!
    Anita Roth

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 7, 2016 at 10:03 AM

      Oh it was SO nice to meet you too Anita! I can’t thank you enough for coming to the signing and for supporting our book. May your Christmas season be filled with joy!

      Reply
  4. Carol Reddin says

    December 7, 2016 at 11:22 AM

    I’m going to do this too here in Florida (if I don’t look outside I’ll be ok). Love the decor on your buffet – and love you! Mom

    Reply
  5. Pamela says

    December 7, 2016 at 2:17 PM

    When I take my Christmas decorations down, I fill in the spaces with red candles and other Valentine’s Day decorations.

    Reply
  6. rose l. says

    December 7, 2016 at 7:31 PM

    Looks like straight out of BHG magazine! Lovely!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 7, 2016 at 7:42 PM

      Oh thank you so much Rose! What a lovely thing to say! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Joan Katafias says

    December 12, 2016 at 11:07 AM

    It seems like many of the things you’ve used are old things. I love the concept of reusing what I have in new ways. It makes me remember why I bought them in the first place.

    Reply
  8. Marie says

    December 21, 2016 at 2:17 PM

    This is really beautiful. I’m wondering if you have a resource for your interesting clock.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 21, 2016 at 2:54 PM

      Hi Marie! The clock is from Home Goods. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Mandarin Orange Cream Shake from Craftberry Bush

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence