5 Holiday Mantel Ideas
For a merry home.
Looking to add a few pieces to your holiday mantel that will make it instantly warm and festive? With a slender space like a mantel, it's important to maximize the sentiment of the season while enjoying the soft glow of the fireplace. Keep reading for our favorite step-by-step holiday mantel ideas.
Step 1: Establish a Focal Point
To kick off our holiday mantel ideas, it's important to start by establishing a focal point over the middle of the mantel. Welcome in Christmas cheer by hanging a wreath above the mantel. Whether you gravitate toward an all-white holiday setup, prefer a wreath with pinecones and berries, or want a wreath with twinkling lights, there are so many options to choose from. You can also try hanging the wreath over a mirror. The reflection creates a great backdrop and adds depth to your living room.
Alternatively, you can use a mirror or holiday-themed wall decor as your focal point. For the classic farmhouse-inspired holiday mantel, hang a vintage enamel tree-farm sign and incorporate a bit of greenery. Try decorating with reclaimed tin letters that spell out "peace" or "joy" for a more rustic look. Or consider a white-painted wood sign for a touch of traditional style above the fireplace.
Once you've created a focal point, go in and add a few decorative accents to give your mantel some texture. Something to keep in mind: Your mantel will look more dimensional by decorating with variation of textures. This cast-iron horse looks great beside the glass vase with festive greenery. To recreate this look, mix and match smooth, delicate pieces of decor – like a bowl of ornaments or a snow globe – with heartier organic elements – such as a garland or pinecones.
Holiday mantel ideas aren't complete until you've added the most important thing: the stockings. Flannel, wool, and velvet stockings in red, green, black, or white are just right for decorating any home – no matter which way your style leans. We love that stockings can be personalized (either with an initial or a name), making them an enjoyable heirloom to decorate with year after year. Consider mounting your stockings to the mantel with stocking clips instead of using nails. The protective padding on the clips prevents scratching and ensures the stockings won't budge.
Use lighting as a bookend for your holiday mantel to create a practical finishing touch. Tall metallic candlesticks or antiqued lanterns will visually separate the mantel from the rest of the room. Candlesticks or lanterns also mix well with a festive garland and some shorter decorative pieces, such as ornaments or miniature trees. The additional lighting from this soft glow will make family want to linger a little longer in the living room after unwrapping presents. Choose a fir, cedar, or clove candle for maximum fireside coziness.
Looking for holiday mantel ideas that span the whole winter season? Choose decor pieces that stray from the traditional bright reds and greens and are more subtle in their nod to winter, like the small garland of bells and the winter floral arrangement shown here. Stick to decorating with neutrals or a limited color palette in muted shades – like navy, emerald, maroon, or amethyst – to keep the mantel simply stunning. Winter-themed wall art, antlers, or greenery can also work from Thanksgiving until Valentine's Day. And always, always leave a little room in case someone needs to set down their glass of eggnog to welcome and embrace a relative.
Ready to unwrap one of our holiday mantel ideas?
