The fireplace mantel is often the focal point of the living room, not to mention the location where you and your house guests hang out to get cozy. Enhance this area of your home for the holidays with any of these fun decorating ideas:
1. Decorate with holiday cards
Instead of piling up the holiday cards you receive in the mail on your kitchen counters, proudly display them atop your mantel. You can layer them all or only choose a few of your favorites and frame them. Another option would be to hang some twine from the bottom of your mantel and use clothespins to hang all of your festive cards on the twine. If you have an old window frame or even some weathered shutters, you can set them on top of your mantel and strategically tuck or hang the cards over the frame or shutters.
2. Dress it up with garland
Garland is often used as a versatile decorating tool. You can lie it across your mantel as is, or you can enhance it with a string of white lights, some pinecones and pearlescent balls or a bit of red berries. What you add to your garland largely depends on the overall style of your living room. For instance, a modern living room might lend itself more to the pearlescent balls or glittering ornaments, while a vintage space could use the warmth from the stringed lights.
3. Hang a hand-painted chalkboard
I can’t get enough of the chalkboard trend in homes. You can cover entire walls in chalkboard paint or use chalkboard slates as serving trays for a wine and cheese party. Create your own charming chalkboard display above your mantel by covering an antique mirror in chalkboard paint. You can then write any holiday phrase you would like, such as “Baby it’s Cold Outside,” “Believe” or something as simple as “Happy Holidays.”
4. Arrange flickering candles
Fill your mantel with white candles of all different shapes and sizes to create a warm and comforting ambiance in your living room. If you would like the candles to be lit all throughout the day, you may want to think about getting battery powered lights to avoid any fire hazards.
5. Give your mantel a sophisticated twist
Provide a modern touch to your mantel by covering pinecones, ornaments, and twigs with gold or silver spray paint. The metallic hues are a unique alternative to the traditional holiday colors of red and green.
6. Spell out holiday terms
Head to your nearest craft store to pick up big wooden letters that you can display on your mantel. Select letters to spell out words and phrases related to the holiday season, such as “Noel,” “Let it Snow” or “Merry Christmas.” You can paint over each letter with a different color to create a versatile display. Combine colors like white, red and gold to draw attention to your mantel.
7. Introduce red with poinsettias
Line your mantel with lots of potted poinsettias. The beautiful bright red hue is sure to stand out. You can also weave poinsettias into a strand of garland to show off a holiday red and green combination.
8. Hang holiday art
If you have a statement piece of art that you’ve bought for the holidays, above your mantel is the perfect place to put it on display. If you don’t already have festive art, it’s easy to make your own – you just need the right materials. Frame a piece of holiday wallpaper or wrap some Christmas-themed fabric around a piece of Styrofoam or wood and staple the fabric onto the back.