Tips on Decorating Your Mantel for the Holidays

Christmas is just around the corner. While some have already completed their decorations, others may have just begun. One place in your home that should not be overlooked is the fireplace mantel. Depending on the style you wish to capture this season there are a number of decorative options. From shabby chic to elegant, here are five ways you can spruce up your mantel this Christmas.

Shabby Chic 

Lately it seems that shabby chic is all the rage in the world of interior design. The trend combines distressed furniture or decorations for a more vintage flair. Whites and beiges are common in shabby chic décor.  To create this look for your mantel try using white lace curtains and doilies, draping them around mirrors or playfully hanging them over the frieze. Shabby chic is about soft almost romantic décor. For lighting, opt for battery operated candles as appose to string lights when decorating the mantel shelf. The candles maintain a soft glow without being overpowering. As an added bonus, because they are battery operated unlike traditional candles, you won’t have to worry about the potential fire hazard to your grandmother’s lace.

Rustic

For rustic decor use items that convey a sense of natural and rural beauty. Try integrating frosted colored pinecones mixed in with a garland or wreath. Twist in a string of battery operated Christmas lights throughout the garland for an added touch of illumination.  Get extra earthy and use wooden branches at either end of the mantel.  In the overmantel area incorporate a wooden board with a beautiful written message of peace, love and Christmas cheer or a fauxidermy deer head. You may actually consider adding one or two small deer, holly, berries, and twine rope to the mantel with the pinecones and lights to round out the rustic charm.

Modern

The wonderful thing about modern décor is not only are there tons of options, but you can go as big or as small as you want to. This year, do something a little less ordinary. Put together an eye-popping blue, illuminated mantel space using brightly colored blue LED spheres and Christmas lights. Incorporate a longer garland with multiple blue and silver ornaments.  For the mantel shelf, get extra creative and use either a captivating midnight blue fir wreath or crystal white.  Bonus points, if you use silver and blue stockings.

Classic

Maybe you’re less about modern, and more about sticking to tradition when it comes to your Christmas decorations.  Make your season bright with an assortment of red and green decorations. Use poinsettias, bright red ornaments, and large red bows mixed in with your garland to hang over the frieze and down to the legs of your mantel. String in a few white battery operated lights for sparkle.  For the ultimate classic touch, incorporate candles. Use battery operated LED Christmas window candles placed in traditional gold candleholders. For the wreath, go green, with sparkling lights and add in the tastes of Christmas like red apple, candy cane and gingerbread shaped ornaments. Not only will it look classically Christmas, but you’ll probably entice the appetites of anyone visiting your home during the holidays.

Elegant 

Perfectly polished with just the right amount of breathtaking, transform your fireplace mantel into a space of elegant beauty. Instead of green, opt for winter whites, golds, and silvers.  Play up ornaments, placing a mixture of silver and gold inside clear vases with clear or white battery operated lights. Instead of a traditional fir wreath, opt for one made of a mix of small and large ornaments. You could stick with clear and gold ornaments for your wreath, or add a pop of color like turquoise, or red. For the final touch, hang glittery personalized Christmas stockings.

No matter how you decide to beautify your home for the holidays this year, remember not to overlook your mantel.  Besides, everyone knows that’s the first thing Santa sees when he’s coming down the chimney. How are you sprucing up your fireplace mantel this season? Feel free to drop us a line on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest!