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Make Your Mantel Merry: How to Decorate a Christmas Mantel

Nov 27th 2023


The fireplace mantel is often the focal point of a living room and during the holiday season, it’s the perfect spot to showcase your festive spirit. Decorating your mantel for Christmas is a fun and creative way to add holiday cheer and set the tone for holiday decor throughout your home.

But when faced with all the different Christmas decorations and design styles available today, how do you go about choosing Christmas mantel decor?

How to Decorate a Mantel for Christmas

Before you start decorating, consider your current decor and design aesthetic. Popular Christmas decor styles for 2023 include traditional, rustic, neutral, colorful, luxurious and whimsical.

If your overall style is simple and minimal, you’ll probably appreciate an uncomplicated mantel display. On the other hand, if “more” is your Christmas mantra, a handful of ornaments is unlikely to satisfy your maximalist design sensibilities.

Focus your Christmas mantel design efforts by choosing an overall color or theme. This will help guide your design choices and create a cohesive look. Then, start gathering mantel decor that complements the theme.

Mantels are a blank canvas that can support a broad range of Christmas decor. Some mantel decor ideas include:
Not everything may coordinate or even fit on top of your mantel – and that’s OK. Part of the pleasure of decorating is playing with all your decorative elements until you achieve a look you like. Whatever decorations are left over can be used elsewhere!

Below are some design tips and tricks to help you arrange your fireplace mantel decor.

Ideas on How to Decorate a Fireplace Mantel

Identify an Anchor Element

Start with a few large pieces to visually anchor your display. Candle lanterns or tall candlesticks, for instance, bring height to your mantel arrangement and evoke the warmth and light of the holiday season. Play with positioning until you have a composition you like. Strive for visual balance, not symmetry.

Choose Your Garland

A mantel draped in garland is an iconic Christmas image. Classic Christmas mantel decorations incorporate pine garland with bows and ornaments, but there are many other garland options available. For a lighter look, choose airy botanical Christmas garlands, beaded garland, berry garland or string garland. You can even combine two complementary garland styles to create something really unique. Your garland doesn’t need to cover the mantel from end to end. Again, asymmetrical placement is more visually appealing.

Get Creative with Your Decor

Enhance the Christmas magic by using decor in unexpected ways. For instance, lanterns can hold pinecones or fairy lights instead of candles. Arrange Christmas ornaments on a decorative cake stand or inside a pretty bowl or basket. 

Adding personal touches to your mantel display can make it even more special. Consider incorporating family photos, handmade ornaments or sentimental items into your design.

Twinkle and Glow

A string of fairy lights will add a bit of twinkle throughout your mantel arrangement. Battery operated microlights fit almost anywhere. The battery pack can be tucked behind decorations so there are no cords to mar the effect. Enjoy a holiday glow even if there’s no outlet nearby.

Add Height and Depth

Play with dimension by contrasting height, texture, color and finishes. For instance, balance tall candlesticks with draped garland and dangling stockings. Combine soft elements and more textural trimmings, shiny and matte finishes. Add darker decorations for depth and bright or light-colored decorations that visually pop.
Play with dimension by contrasting height, texture, color and finishes. For instance, balance tall candlesticks with draped garland and dangling stockings. Combine soft elements and more textural trimmings, shiny and matte finishes. Add darker decorations for depth and bright or light-colored decorations that visually pop.

Hang the Stockings

No Christmas mantel is complete without stockings. Hang them from the mantel using stocking holders or hooks. Stocking holders come in many designs to coordinate with your design theme, but you’ll also find more inconspicuous mantel hooks that hold both stockings and garland. 

 Decorating a mantel is your personal expression of the holiday season. Explore your style, choose a theme, and get creative to design a mantel that perfectly expresses your love for the holiday season.

Click on the videos below to see how our decorators achieved three distinct Christmas mantel designs: Simple and Stylish, Pleasantly Pink and Gold and Silver Glamor.
Make Your Mantel Merry: How to Decorate a Christmas Mantel

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