Tips For Creating A
Simple Rustic Christmas Mantel
This year I was really excited to decorate our new mantle for Christmas because I have been wanting one for a really long time. I wanted to finally be able to hang the family’s stockings up for Christmas was something I could not wait to do. I am not sure if it was because I grew up with a fireplace mantle or maybe it was all of those fireplaces I have seen in those Christmas movies all of these years. Whatever it was I could not wait to decorate our family’s for this Christmas season. Decorating your fireplace mantel is really simple and let me share with how I created a rustic and cozy mantle for our family this year for Christmas (FOR VIDEO CLICK HERE OR SCROLL DOWN BELOW).
Choose your style/theme of the Christmas Mantle decor
Would you like to go with a whimsical, traditional, glam, rustic/farmhouse or classical them for decorating your fireplace mantel for Christmas?
What colors would you like to incorporate in your mantle decorations? The traditional red and green, neutrals, colors that match your current decor in your home or metals such as gold, silver or (the trendy and beautiful) rose gold. Or you can combine all three and create a mixed-metal look that creates a glam and polished look.
I chose this year to go with the rustic/chic look and traditional colors.
Wall of the mantle
Above your mantle determine if you would like Picture(s), Sign(s), a Mirror or Sconces. This is not a must to have these, although it gives the mantle a unified look. Anchoring the mantle overall appearance when you first lay eyes on it.
You can bring in new decor items above your mantle for Christmas or the holidays. I chose to leave the same decor above my mantel throughout the year because I really like everything, it is neutral and goes with any decor seasonally.
Above my mantle, I have a mirror in the center that was from Walmart and two picture signs (set) from Hobby Lobby. I had my eyes on both of these items for months and knew they would tie in with my living room decor for what I have going for in the room.
The wrought iron sconces that I had for years were given a revamp with just a few brush storks of ivory chalk paint (Waverly chalk paint). A few brush strokes give the already rustic iron sconces a rustic look.
Breaking it all down:
Decorating the Top:
I choose to keep my everyday mirror, pictures, and sconces above the fireplace.
Then I like to add a wreath in the middle of the mirror to switch it during the seasons. This makes it much easier than switching everything out above the mantel.
RELATED BLOG POST YOU MAY LIKE:
How To Create A Beautiful Christmas Rustic and Modern Mantel Fireplace Decor On A Budget
How To Create A Christmas Hot Chocolate Cocoa Bar
Christmas Santa Workshop Tablescape & Inspiration
Decorating the top of the mantle:
For your everyday decor, you may want to keep this simple with a few candlesticks, pictures of your family or decor pieces. Switch them out regularly or seasonal as you like to refresh your living space.
For Christmas decorations, you may want to incorporate a Christmas garland, ribbon and lights.
Add a small vignette (small groupings of decor items together that are appealing to the eye) such as Nativity scenes, reindeer, Christmas trees, wreaths, candles or etc.
It is best to have your decor items or groupings in odd numbers. This way your eyes are not competing back and forth with the design. Which makes your decorations more appealing to the eyes.
I choose this year to use a flocked garland and weaving ribbon and lights throughout it. Adding two mini Christmas trees with burlap bottoms from Dollar General to the middle/center of the mirror and the pictures. I added mini cupcake stands from the Bulls Eye Playground at Target underneath the min Christmas trees to give it some height.
Stockings
One of my favorite parts that I have been waiting for years to do is add stockings to our mantle. As I was shopping for rustic stocking holders, they were quite pricey. Although I knew this was an item that would last for years to come I was not ready to invest in some of the prices I have seen.
My go-to was, of course, Target’s Bulls Eye Playground because I know they have affordable priced stocking holders and stuffers.
On this particular day, I was only able to find green and grey colored stocking holders. So I painted them with two coats of plastered chalk paint from the brand Waverly that can be found a WalMart.
They turned out great!
I then purchased some initials that looked like they had a wood grain finish from Walmart for .98 cents for each stocking to help distinguish which stocking belongs to whom.
The stockings themselves can also be a little/big invest. It took me years to purchase new ones for our family. What I did was wait for a sale that I could stack coupons or deals.
I really loved these ones from Biglots. When they had a Friends & Family deal on top of a coupon that I have earned from their rewards program. I snagged them for $6.00 each.
Waiting after Christmas is also a great way to purchase stockings or any decor at great discount prices.
Commands hooks are also a good option for hanging stockings and any decor. My mantle was brand new so I was not ready to hang anything from the mantle, personally.
Bottom of the Mantle:
The bottom of the mantle can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.
For the everyday decor, I keep it simple with just a basket or a crate with a pillow inside it and a flower floor centerpiece.
During the Christmas season, I went all out with the decorations for Christmas. Using items that I was inspired to use and absolutely thought they were really stinking cute.
Starting with the little red mailbox and faux logs from Michaels these are my favorite decor pieces of the mantle. At Dollar General, I knew that this canvas gift bag would be great for staging so I stuffed it with plastic shopping bags and kraft packaging paper.
In addition, a mini Christmas tree was added from Dollar General using a plaid bucket from the Target’s Bulls Eye Playground flipping it over, to give the tree some height.
Decorating your mantel for the Christmas season does not have to be complicated, complex or break the bank. Start simply with what you like; the color, theme or style. If it is simplicity then go with a clean and simple look. If you like a lot of decor then do it all up! It certainly is all up to you.
Just have fun with it! Use your creativity and search for inspiration. You will certainly be amazed at what you create and come up with.
