Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas
How to decorate your mantel for Christmas and 20 lovely Christmas mantel decorating ideas to try.
I love our fireplace especially in the winter when it’s cold outside. It’s so nice to stand in front of the woodstove after you’ve come in from the cold and get warm and cozy. Since we heat our home with our woodstove, we have to be careful how we decorate the mantel (and hearth) during the winter months. As much as I love the beautiful thick garlands that hang down, I just can’t take the chance that something will fall down onto the hot woodstove. Last year a piece of faux greenery fell down and melted to the top of it and it was almost a disaster.
So what’s a girl to do? You work around it.
Steps to decorating your mantel for Christmas
- Start with a clean slate
Always clear the area and give it a good cleaning for a fresh start even if you’re going to use any of the same pieces.
Affiliate links are used for your convenience. See by full disclosure here.
2. Add your anchor or focal point.
I always like to have a focal point, whether it’s a painting or sign, a mirror, or something else (one of my favorites was half an old door). A large piece in the middle or off to one side just a bit anchors the space and then you can build around it. It can also be two or more pieces combined and layered together.
My anchor piece this year is this beautiful red window pane I picked up at a garage sale this summer. My inspiration for our Christmas decor this year was a plaid pillow with a beautiful combination of classic Christmas colors including a darker red. I knew the window would be a perfect match to the red in the pillow and that I was going to use it on the mantel. I placed it in the center of the stone. In all transparency, it’s probably a little too big but I just love the color and went with it anyway.
Here’s our mantel from last year with a different window as the backdrop with a picture off to the side. I tend to like the symmetrical looks more than asymmetrical. I used a garland with it and really liked the way it came out.
Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Home Tour
I had to be super careful and pin as much of the garland down as possible and tuck it back so it wouldn’t fall.
And the year before with the half door and without a garland…
I like it with the garland better. 🙂
3. Add your garland.
If you’re using garland, place it or faux greenery pieces on the mantel. Let it drape off the sides just a little bit.
4. Add the details – accessories and embellishments
Whether candlesticks, lanterns, bottle brush trees, tabletop trees or other Christmas decor. If you’re just adding bits of greenery, I would add your accessories first and then tuck your greenery around it but if your garland is one long piece place that first and then tuck in your smaller accessories.
I added these old spindles with candles and a wreath to the window to keep it simple. I also tucked red berries into the garland to tie in the red of the window and the throw pillows.
Here’s how it all ties together. The red from the window pulls out the red in the pillows, the Pepsi crate, mini tree container and sign on the staircase.
Here are some of my favorite Christmas mantle decorating ideas.
From simple to elegant, neutral to colorful or symmetrical vs. asymmetrical, there are so many ways to decorate your mantel for Christmas!
This neutral, symmetrical mantel is so pretty!
I’m loving this mantel from Liz Marie Blog with the orange slices. I just may have to try this next year. 🙂
This one uses the chalkboard as the focal point.
This may be my favorite with the layered mirrors…
An asymmetrical design…
A bit more modern…
Some more colorful options…
Survival of a Suburban Mom – Instagram
How to decorate a mantel for Christmas with a TV above it
There are so many Christmas mantel decorating ideas out there. From simple to elaborate, you can find do almost anything. I hope you found this helpful and have some new Christmas decorating ideas of your own.
Happy Decorating!
Col
I also appreciate your post, thank you for sharing! 💖So happy to see some nativity scenes too!
Happy Holidays, Luana!!
Really love your mantel! And really like seeing all the different mantels, good ideas in all of them! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Carmen! I’m so glad you liked the post and really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Merry Christmas!!