6 Cozy Christmas Mantel Ideas
Standing tall, shining oh so bright –– when I say Christmas decorations, the first thing that probably comes to mind is ye ole Christmas tree. I know, I know. It’s a real attention grabber during the holiday season.
But today, I’m challenging you to look beyond that beautifully decorated Christmas tree, because when it comes to spreading holiday cheer there are other fun + festive ways to layer that oh so familiar warm + fuzzy holiday magic into our homes… which by the way we’re obsessed with!
Whether it’s hanging Christmas lights, garlands + wreaths, baking holiday cookies –– which in our family, has evolved into a highly competitive bake off + includes an epic gingerbread house building event.
Near or far friend, no matter how the whobilation celebrations unfold this year, sprinkling some of that holiday magic through your home is always 10X more fun when it’s done together.
Once the temperature starts trending downward + the snow starts falling (okay, let's be real Seattle — the wet, damp, rain sets in) the coziest spot in the house is without question sitting by the fireplace. It’s where you’ll find John + I gathered with a warm cup of hot chocolate reading their son Brooklyn a Christmas story.
As the hub of all those warm, cozy, holiday vibes… we want to decorate our homes with the attention they deserve.
So without further ado — blast that holiday playlist friend, it’s time to share a few simple steps for creating the perfect Christmas mantel ideas.
Simplifying Your Space: The Art of Decluttering Your Christmas Mantel
In our world, we absolutely love trekking into the snowy mountains each year, to find our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.
And because John + I have an affinity for falling in love with the tallest tree on the hillside –– when it comes to fitting that lush green beauty into our great room it usually requires that we spend some time trimming a few branches :)
And like our tree trimming tradition, when it comes to decorating your fireplace mantel for Christmas it’s imperative that you cut back the clutter.
Start by removing the unnecessary Christmas decorations that currently live on your mantel.
Think about it like this — you’ve already got this gorgeous tree standing tall in your home. It's full of lights + ornaments that come out of the box once a year. Not to mention, those beautifully wrapped presents tucked beneath the Christmas tree + if you’re channeling those vintage Christmas vibes, maybe there’s even an old train set nestled in there somewhere (yep, we’re looking at you Pop Pop).
Needless to say, when it comes to the holidays, there is a lot going on in your home (which isn’t typically there year round.) So, remove anything + everything that feels like clutter.
Psst: at Elegant Simplicity, we define clutter as anything we don’t need, use or love.
And with a fresh start, now we can start thinking about Christmas mantel ideas that make your fireplace feel merry + bright :)
Designing A Christmas Mantel Is About Establishing a Focal Point
By now, after hanging out with us for any length of time, you know that when it comes to reimagining a space we always start by thinking on an emotional level.
Because… Home is an emotion. It’s not just walls + a roof, it’s a feeling of belonging.
How do we want the room + the people in our home to feel? And being that it’s Christmas time, you likely want your fireplace mantel Christmas decor to exude joy, happiness + to place emphasis on your family’s core values.
Because when it comes to the fireplace mantel my love, we have tons of different ideas. For instance...
Maximizing Space and Style: The Magic of Mirrors
Hanging a mirror above the fireplace is always an ideal thing to do as it makes a room feel larger. And, when it comes to holidays, decorating your Christmas mantel doesn’t have to be overly Christmas.
Personalizing with Festive Phrases: Framing Christmas Sayings
Usually, we’re not ones for word art but for the sake of being festive, your Christmas mantel decorations could include framing your favorite holiday saying + layer it with another picture on top of your holiday mantel. This creates a unifying focal point that’s both meaningful + radiating with holiday vibes.
Choosing an Oversized Wreath
An oversized wreath is a classic Christmas mantel idea as it creates a soothing place for the eye to rest.
The Art of Balanced Mantel Decorations for Christmas
Fireplace mantel ideas are tricky but keep in mind we put ourselves through decorating it for Christmas every twelve months *wink*
But, now that we have a focal point — think about how you’ll create balance with other Christmas mantel decor.
Realizing fireplace mantels are fairly shallow, a great way to create balance is through symmetry but your fireplace mantel doesn’t always have to be.
Think of things that add vertical height like candlesticks, tall glass hurricanes or christmas decorations that can either flank both sides of the Christmas mantel or one side.
Don’t forget to incorporate items that add texture like garland or other faux greenery like pricks.
One idea is to drape the garland off to one side + to create vertical height on the other side.
Selecting the Perfect Color Palette for Your Christmas Mantel
Truly your Christmas mantel can be anything your heart desires.
But when it comes to creating those famous swoon-worthy Christmas mantels, they always have a dominant + consistent color palette.
In other words, I want you to use your peripherals. Look beyond the fireplace to create an even bigger picture by considering things that are nearby.
From the traditional hues of Christmas like greens + reds to mixing finishes like gold + silver or maybe even a more modern look of white, black + wood tones. As long as you choose a color palette and execute on it, you can’t really mess it up.
Don’t question yourself — go for it. After all, what’s the worst that can happen… you take it down in a few weeks?
Your color palette comes to life in a variety of ways on your Christmas mantel — from the finish on your focal point, your selection of garland or the decorative Christmas accessories you choose.
Integrating Year-Round Decor into Your Christmas Mantel Design
Don’t get it twisted — we love the holidays. And there’s about a million and one ideas for christmas mantel decorations out there but, there’s something amazing about keeping things simple.
In other words, when it comes to your fireplace mantel don’t overdo it by adding a ton of holiday stuff.
Huh? Yep. You read that right.
Think instead about + incorporating decorative accessories that work year-round in your home and that work with the holiday season as well.
Whether that’s adding glass shadow boxes with an antiqued gold trim or a vase filled with eucalyptus + greenery –– the goal is to create a subtle yet timeless look with a dose of fun + festive ornaments sprinkled throughout.
Maybe even a few stockings hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon will be there. *wink*
With Christmas right around the corner my friend, maybe you’ve already decorated that Christmas mantel of yours but never forget the experience of doing things together as a family.
Enhance Your Christmas Mantel with Textures and Greenery
From mixing and matching glass, wood + metals to breathing life into your fireplace mantel with a few sprigs of greenery there are a ton of different ways to add visual interest.
But, one of the most important things to remember when it comes to your Christmas mantel, is that it’s not only about what’s on it. It’s also about what isn’t.
Another way of thinking about this is — less is more.
In other words, if you have a stunning fireplace mantel that already has a lot of texture, don’t be afraid to leave some breathing room.
Adding greenery or texture in the form of decorative accents doesn’t mean you have to cover up the entire mantel. Sometimes less is better –– it’s elegant + simple *wink!*
And there you have it, my friend.
6 Christmas mantel ideas to consider when decorating this year (+ of course beyond). With Christmas right around the corner, we’ll soon be re-packing our holiday decorations, ringing in the New Year.
But designing + organizing a home you never want to leave is an ongoing process that’s continuously evolving.
It doesn’t have to be exhausting or all too consuming but our belief at Elegant Simplicity is that you don’t design or organize one time, because nothing in life is once + for all.
It’s about embracing the process of creating a beautiful, functional + forgiving home.
If you love this — get ready for another happy dance. Enjoy our FREE Video Course: 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.
if you’re wanting to dive even deeper into the world of organizing or design — let’s chat.