I love decorating for Christmas because in my opinion, you can break all the normal decorating rules!! Having said that, if you are looking to get some basics on how to decorate a Christmas mantle, I have some ideas to get you started, by combining your everyday décor with your Christmas décor.
I will use a shelf and cover it with a layer of Christmas gift wrap; however, you can decorate the top of a buffet or china cabinet, a corner table, an entry table, and so on…Follow that up by covering your surface with a tree skirt, fabric, a table cloth, a table runner, a sheet of fake snow… use what you already have.
Gather your Christmas and holiday items.
Gather some of your every day décor items. These would be items that you like and reflect you. Some examples might be book ends, tea pots, vases, collectables, stoneware, candle sticks, a watering can, unused picture frames. Oh…and don’t forget the BLING, now is the time to bring out your blingy pieces and show them off.
Mantle #1
Ordinary décor items used: 2 glass vases
Using two ordinary vases, one filled with a string of red beads and one filled with fake snow and some dried flowers.
This is a simple arrangement with the two focal points, the sleigh full of snowmen and the stockings hanging off the front.
Left – group of three pieces, tiered in height
Center – tall thin single item
Right – Focal and grounding piece
Mantle #2
Ordinary décor items used: 2 glass vases, 1 candlestick, 1 picture frame lined with gift wrap, 1 book wrapped in gift wrap.
If you cannot hang stockings off the front of your surface, you can tap a nail into the top of a picture frame and hang them off the propped up frame.
This arrangement focuses on the stockings in the center.
Left – group of three tall thin pieces, slightly staggered in height
Center – One large focal piece
Right – Two heavier pieces complimentary in color to the left
Mantle #3
Ordinary décor items used: 1 stoneware pitcher, 2 stoneware soup mugs, 1 picture frame lines with gift wrap, 1 book end, 1 blingy candlestick, 1 glass vase filled with fake snow, and 2 pieces of old fence.
In this arrangement the focal point is probably the large dark wood picture frame and a variety of other pieces in complimentary colors, bouncing off each other, and of course a touch of bling.
Left: Stoneware in staggered height with some Christmas touches
Center: Large dark frame off center, small cute snowman up in front
Right: One piece tall and thin, two smaller pieces boosted up in height with wood pieces
Mantle #4
Ordinary décor items used: 1 silver pitcher, 1 blingy candlestick, 1 picture frame lined with gift wrap, 1 glass bud vase, and 1 book covered in gift wrap
Showing these Heavenly angels in a setting soft colors helps reflect the look of lightness and brightness.
Left: Group of three items stepping down in height
Center: Large picture frame with tall thin angel in front of it, giving the angel a framed appearance
Right: Grouping of angles grounded by two larger, darker pieces that enhance the color of the angels
Mantel #5
Ordinary décor items used: 2 book ends, 1 roll of twine, 3 rolls embroidery thread, 1 large picture frame, 1 glass vase
Tip: Consider using your own collectables, i.e.:
- Salt and pepper shakers
- Angels
- Snow globes
- Model cars
- Beer mugs
- Corkscrews
- Shot glasses
- Trivets
- Dominoes
- Dice
Decorating for Christmas is all about you, your friends and your family. Consider combining some of YOUR favorite things into your Christmas decorating this year.
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