Christmas trees may get the most attention when it comes to holiday decorations, but they're not the only place to spread Christmas cheer in December. The spot with the greatest potential for a festive upgrade? Your fireplace mantel.
please think about it. This is already a natural place for families to gather. Nothing says “holiday home” like a crackling fireplace and Bing Crosby carols. Plus, if the promise of Santa coming isn't enough motivation to look for Christmas mantel decoration ideas, you never know what will be.
Whether you're already in the habit of leveling up your fireplace with Christmas mantel decorations, or you're looking for fresh new ideas to implement this season, we've got the perfect inspiration for you. Oh, and here's the best part. All of these mantel decorating ideas are easy. There's no need to panic and run to the holiday aisle at the craft store. So you can spend more time on all the best parts of the season (like the Home His Alone movie marathon or Sugar Cookie baking session, we're waiting for you).
winter forest mantel decoration
beautiful mess
A Beautiful Mess designed this sweet and simple holiday mantel with a wooden garland, bottle brush tree, and gold deer perfect for a rustic mantel.
Candy Land Holiday Mantel
Melissa Ross/Getty Images
Add a sweet touch to your mantel. Just take out the cute jars and fill them with colorful candies. (Be sure to stash extra items in case someone sneaks away with your mantel decorations.) A frosted wreath adds a festive touch.
peaceful mantel color scheme
beautiful mess
Think beyond traditional holiday colors. Beautiful Mess designed this mantel to coordinate with their year-round mantel artwork in shades of peach and pink. Soft white stockings, garlands and miniature houses are the perfect combination (and won't look out of place even after the New Year).
Au Naturel Holiday Mantel
Angelica Gretzkaya/Getty Images
You may already have everything you need for this festive mantel in your home or garden. Mixing fresh evergreens and pine cones with golden candlesticks and white candles adds a touch of winter beauty.
village mantle decoration
Tatel tots and jelly
Create a simple holiday village for your mantel with a white house and bright bottlebrush trees. Tatel Tots and Jell-O finished this tableau with colorful garland and vintage wooden toys.
Off the Chain Mantle Decor
inspired by charm
Children can help dress up the mantel using handmade paper chains. (Use magazine pages to create pretty pattern designs.) Inspired By Charm makes this fireplace decor centerpiece by adding paper chains to a lush garland of greenery, lights, and ornaments. I created one and placed a tree on top of it. shaped ornaments and vintage deer figurines.
layered mantle garland
beautiful mess
Create an intricate mantlescape by layering several different garlands. “A Beautiful Mess” provides an easy tutorial for a DIY swan garland that can be added to a festive wool ball garland or a variety of mantel decorations.
Mantelpiece filled with gifts
Cultura RM Exclusive/Brett Stevens/Getty Images
A beautifully wrapped gift and a few sparkly ornaments are all you need to make your mantel look beautiful. By using a similar color scheme throughout, a sense of unity is created.
candy color forest
studio diy
Ditch the popular red and green color combination and create a rainbow of festive hues, inspired by Kelly Mindell of Studio DIY. The crafty influencer turned to the vibrant bottlebrush tree equivalent of a forest to liven up her Christmas mantel decor. What's the final touch? Classic red and white felt stockings. Kelly actually made it herself. You can see the complete DIY here.
seasonal swag
francois and me
For a modern take on a Christmas mantel garland, consider decorating the hearth with an asymmetrical green band, like Erin Francois of Francois & Moi did in a friend's 1920s Minneapolis home. please. To achieve this dynamic look, she mixed fresh cedar and pine greens with faux vapors of magnolia and evergreen to create a hearty, aromatic garland. Dried orange slices and numerous brass candlesticks complete the simple yet stunning look.
snow scene
crafted sparrow
Blogger Rebecca Lopez of The Crafted Sparrow gave a genius seasonal update on her mantel when it came to decorating her home's hallways, swapping out snow artwork to ward off the cold weather (she said it's sunny Especially since I call Arizona home). She combined her Etsy-found prints with whimsical twinkling lights and touches of greenery to create a modern and cozy scene worthy of the North Pole.
retro revival mantel
sugar and cloth
If you love bright, bold, and colorful holiday vibes, you'll love the following Christmas mantel decor scenes from Sugar and Cloth. There are no green branches to be seen. Instead, Ashley turned to a retro-inspired palette and quirky accents (like a stuffed reindeer) to liven up the inactive fireplace. For a similar look, purchase a colorful holiday her sign to hang above your mantel and accent it with unexpected pops of color using ribbons, fabric, ornaments, and more.
simple and elegant fireplace mantel
IDCO Studio Madeline Harper Photography
Even subtle expressions prove to be seasonal, as evidenced in this cozy scene courtesy of Anastasia Casey of IDCO Studio. Using a sophisticated palette of creams, greens, and golden mustards, she transformed her living room into a sophisticated vacation retreat that anyone would be lucky enough to be invited to. Her classic mantle decor instantly catches the eye thanks to its fresh greenery, velvet ribbon, and soothing pillar candle arrangement.
blue christmas mantel
Photos to find great photos of Ruth Irene
Cool blue accents add a frosty, dreamy twist to the traditional holiday palette. Case in point: this elegant Christmas mantle decor from Finding Lovely gives this season's top attention-grabbing icy baby blues. For a holiday scene that's a breath of (cold) fresh air, blogger Jackie accented the chic scene with crisp neutrals and a simple arrangement of ceramic trees.
Beautiful pink mantel decoration
Photo by Stephanie Elliott
Photographer Stephanie Elliott paired vintage ceramic reindeer figurines with equally charming bottlebrush trees and greenery to make her charming collectibles the centerpiece of a holiday mantel. Pair it with knitted stockings to complete the look, letting it all hang to one side for a playful twist on tradition.