Beautiful Christmas mantel decor ideas using faux greenery, whites, and metallics. Follow these simple steps to create your own festive Christmas mantel.
Christmas Seasonal Simpicity Series
It’s hard to believe that we’re already on week 4 of our Christmas Seasonal Simplicity Series! Each week we’ve been sharing a variety of Christmas inspiration – from Christmas DIY projects, to handmade Christmas gifts and Christmas ornaments. This week we’re starting with the Christmas decor and showing you our Christmas mantels. There are so many beautiful ideas to inspire you for the season, so check them all out at the end of the post.
Christmas Mantel Decor
The mantel always seems to be a focal point when it comes to Christmas decor and is often one of the first places to be decorated for the holidays. I always follow a rough guideline when I’m decorating our mantel so I thought I would try to share my thought process with you. There aren’t any hard and fast rules {other than do what you like!} but here are the steps that I generally go through if you’re not sure where to start…
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Pick a Color Scheme/Theme
I don’t always stick strictly to a theme, but putting some thought into what colors you want to use and the general style you’re going for {i.e. more formal, fun, casual, etc.} will give you a good starting off point. I used mostly greens, whites, and metallics in our family room this year and stuck with this for our Christmas mantel decor as well. Even subtle changes can make a big impact!
Choose a Focal Point
When I decorate the mantel, I always find that it’s easiest to start with a focal point in the center of the mantel. This could be a mirror, artwork, a seasonal sign, or other statement pieces. You want to try to keep this piece in proportion to the size of your mantel. Since we have a huge mantel, I went with an oversized galvanized metal Merry Christmas sign. I picked this up at a local nursery at the after Christmas sales last year and have been patiently waiting to use it all year!
Hang the Garland
Garland definitely adds that Chrismas touch to the mantel! Here are a few garland tips
- Mix faux and real greenery. While I would love to use real greenery for our garland, our Christmas decor is generally up for 6-7 weeks and the fresh garland just doesn’t last that long. As a compromise, I often add in some real greenery branches to the faux garland as it gets closer to Christmas. It’s a great way to get some of that delicious pine scent without having to put up a full fresh garland.
- Use the clear Command hooks to hang your garland if you like it to drape down over the mantel.
- Fluff it up. Everyone always talks about fluffing the tree so be sure to take some time to open up those branches and spread them out on your garland too.
- Add on the layers! Start with a more stuctured, wired faux garland and then add on garland layers to get a fuller look. Layering the garland is also a good way to save a little bit on the cost as the more realistic looking garlands can be quite pricey. Using an inexpensive garland as the base weaved in with a more realistic {and generally more expensive!} garland will give you a beautiful look!
- For a more wintery look, try flocking your garland. It’s super easy to do and can totally change up the look!
- Add details such as ornaments, pine cones, or other decorative garlands. I bought this white pom pom garland a few years ago and I love the dimension that it adds.
Add in the Stockings
I think stockings are kind of like throw pillows for the mantel. They’re the perfect way to add a pop of color or create warmth with some cozy texture. I’ve wanted to get some white knit stockings for a couple of years now and finally found some that I liked at Urban Barn {that didn’t cost a fortune!}. We actually have different stockings that we use on Christmas Eve night {that the kids have had since they were babies} but they don’t match and they’re more sentimental than decorative. So two sets of stockings it is!
I found the wood star gift tags at HomeSense and added them to the stockings for a little bit of added interest. If you’re stockings aren’t hanging right, try stuffing them with a little bit of tissue paper to give them a bit of a fuller look and prevent them from twisting around.
To hang the stockings, you can use command hooks if you want the hooks to stay hidden or get some pretty stocking holders. I picked up these cast iron reindeer heads a number of years ago from a local store and still love them. I couldn’t find the exact ones but this one and this one are pretty similar. Since you probably don’t want to be switching your stocking holders out every year, stick with a neutral design so they’ll go with whatever accent color you choose each year.
Turn on the Lights
For me, lights are always the best part of a Christmas mantel! I always use the warm white lights and the more the better! If you don’t have a plug in close by, use battery operated lights on a timer so you don’t have to worry about turning them on and off each day. Twinkling lights and the warm glow of a fire is Christmas perfection!
I hope you found this helpful and it’s given you some ideas for your own Christmas mantel. I’ll be sharing the rest of our family room on Friday so come on back for the full room tour! If you have any questions, just let me know! You can see some of our previous Christmas mantel decor here…
More Christmas Mantel Ideas
For more Christmas mantel inspiration, check out the posts below. There are so many different ideas and styles – it will be hard to pick your favorites!
The Happy Housie // Cherished Bliss // The Handmade Home
Modern Glam // Craftberry Bush
House by Hoff // Rambling Renovators // Rooms FOR Rent
Jenna Kate at Home // Just a Girl and Her Blog
The Turquoise Home // Sincerely, Marie Designs // Grace In My Space
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia // Zevy Joy
Lolly Jane // Tatertots and Jello // She Gave it a Go
Jamie Costiglio //Southern State of Mind
Place of My Taste // Summer Adams Designs // Life is a Party
We Are The Joneses // Kim Power Style
The DIY Mommy // Two Twenty One // My 100 Year Old Home
This is Our Bliss // Taryn Whiteaker Designs
Amber Tysl // Styled With Lace // Happy Happy Nester
Clean and Scentsible // My Sweet Savannah // So Much Better With Age
More Christmas Decor Ideas
Still looking for more Christmas decor ideas? Check out these posts….
Farmhouse Christmas Dining Room
Everything is so pretty! Love the white pom poms!
Thank you for sharing all your tips. I love that sign and the vintage trucks in your decor!
You have a gorgeous home! I picked this mantel as one of my features for this week’s Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party, which goes live tomorrow (Sat) at 5pm EST.