A Simple Christmas Dining Table with Faux Grainsack Runner

Going for a simpler and more rustic look, I added a faux grainsack runner and a smaller arrangement to our dining room table.

When I shared our Christmas dining room tablescape here, I knew that to use our table for dining, something simple and lower would be more practical. I loved seeing this as I walked by many times each day, but the height will make it a bit more difficult for conversation and there will be lots of great-nieces and great-nephews around over the holidays. I already had one casualty, a candlestick not a kid ;)

On Saturday I had to pick my niece up from her volleyball practice in a nearby city so I stopped into Fabricland. This tea towel fabric has been on my 'want' list for a while and this weekend it was on sale for 40% off.

Blue stripes came home with me but it also comes in red, green and yellow. For $12 I have the the look of grainsack and although not as rustic as vintage grainsack, this was an easy and affordable project. The ends could be left raw or frayed, but I chose to simply hem them.

From the original Christmas centerpiece I kept a piece of burlap ribbon, a birch kissing ball, large and small pinecones and mini glass ornaments in blue, silver and cream.

For votives I used mini canning jars with tealights nestled in table salt (epsom salts are on my shopping list.)

Sisal twine wrapped around the jars makes them a little more rustic and, I think, cuter. I have seen this done in so many pretty homes I have visited with all the Christmas party link ups and if I get a chance before Christmas I may add some cute numbers or such to each one.

For actual dining purposes (and so I can put a place setting at the ends of the table) I will probably cut the burlap in half and use a shorter version, with the extra going to our farmhouse table in the kitchen. I have a large family and we usually overflow several tables. I plan to wait and add sprigs of fresh greenery to the tables on Christmas Eve so they don't dry out before then.

And because I still love seeing my china cabinet arrangement, I am sharing a link to Christmas in our dining room and our Christmas home tour. Thanks for stopping by, and to my new followers from the Christmas tour, welcome! As I'm sure many of you are facing, this week will be especially busy but I am making a real effort to not sweat the small stuff and to enjoy this last week of Advent. I have a few gift certificates to pick up after work tomorrow, and then some wrapping left to do. What about you?

I'm sharing this with...

 Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Wow Us Wednesday #45 at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday #131 at Faded Charm