5 Steps to Creating a Festive Holiday Mantel
We’re sharing 5 steps to creating a festive holiday mantel today!
Each year as soon as Halloween unofficially ushers us into the holiday season, my Mom and I start decorating for Christmas.
She usually spends the entire day helping me prepare our holiday home and it’s always the biggest gift.
I don’t mind putting together tablescapes or wreaths, making bespoke ornaments, or adding festive décor in any other room of the house.
But as soon as I have to start decorating the mantel and the Christmas tree, my mind immediately starts glazing over.
Thankfully, my Mom has seen that look a million times before and is willing to rescue me and take over!
For those of you who love a festive holiday mantel, yet struggle to bring all the details together, we’ve devised a simple solution.
Here’s a look at 5 steps to creating a festive holiday mantel…
Step 1: Start Fresh
It’s always best to start with a fresh perspective.
Take everything off the mantel if you can.
That way, you can start with a blank slate!
Be sure to gather your supplies in advance when you’re creating a festive holiday mantel.
You’ll need:
- garland
- extra greenery
- floral picks
- ornaments
- ribbons
- decorative items
Step 2: Start With a Centerpiece
Begin by decorating the center with something substantial like a piece of art, architectural salvage, an old window, a wreath, a large clock, or a holiday-inspired sign.
Our DIY French Country mantel art is super heavy so we normally decorate around it.
Step 3: Layer in Garlands, Greenery, and Floral Picks
Add a thick garland or multiple garlands to the top of your festive mantel and secure them in place.
Then add additional greenery and floral picks to make the garland full.
Don’t forget to leave room for your stockings if you plan to hang them by the chimney with care!
Step 4: Add in Festive Accessories
Next, start filling in the gaps if you have any by adding fillers with festive accessories like ornaments, ribbons, and decorative accents.
Step 5: Edit
This step is always the hardest for me because sometimes I like to keep things simple and sometimes, I like our festive holiday mantel to be super festive.
Still, it’s important not to skip this step.
When you edit your mantel, consider how the rest of your living room is decorated.
If you have a lot going on, say with bookcases or other built-ins, you might want to keep it simple on the mantel, so it doesn’t read as Christmas cluttered.
On the other hand, if your living room pieces are sparse or minimal, you might want to consider creating a festive holiday mantel that is full because you want it to be the focal point of the room.
Champagne Wishes Inspired Festive Holiday Mantel…
This year our tree is definitely the star of the show in the living room.
So, we decided to keep our Champagne Wishes inspired festive holiday mantel as simple as possible.
I found this budget-friendly champagne glitter garland at Joanns and am kicking myself for not getting more!
While it leaves glitter all over the floor, it also adds a simple elegance that makes decorating for the holidays so easy.
Instead of buying more decorations this year, we decided to invest in things we could use throughout the year like these remote-controlled candles.
They also make for a pretty quick and easy candlelight centerpiece.
Truthfully, this is the easiest mantel we’ve ever decorated.
It came together in minutes which I really appreciated given it’s such a busy season.
Other Festive Holiday Mantel Ideas We’ve Had Over the Years…
Over the years, we’ve created all sorts of different looks on our mantel which is just over 7 feet long.
In the beginning, I thought every inch had to be decorated.
As I look back at these photos though it’s fun to see how much our style has changed over the years.
Nature-Inspired Christmas Mantel
Mad for Plaid Christmas Mantel
Dusty Pink Christmas Mantel
Soft and Romantic Farmhouse-Inspired Christmas Mantel
Effortless Cabin-Inspired Christmas Mantel
A Little Sparkle Holiday Mantel
Sweet Shop Inspired Holiday Mantel
I know some of you have a more traditional style than mine, so I wanted to include these festive holiday mantel ideas from Bliss Barracks too…
Traditional Christmas Mantel
Traditional Blue and White Christmas Mantel
Red Plaid and Nature-Inspired Christmas Mantel
British Inspired Holiday Mantel
Take the Pressure Off Holiday Decorating…
I hope these steps have helped take the pressure off just a bit.
Keep in mind, that it doesn’t matter if you’re creating a festive holiday mantel for the Christmas season or everyday life, decorate with what speaks to YOU the most.
Even if it’s not something you see in magazines or on Pinterest.
I know it’s easy to get caught up in what’s trending or appears to be super popular on social media.
But in the end, it’s all about decorating with what makes you happy and works best for your family in every season.
Let us know your favorite way of creating a festive holiday mantel! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Other Holiday Posts to Enjoy Before You Go:
- Vintage Inspired Gift Tags Using Coffee Stain
- Simple Ways to Keep a Wrapping Station Organized in a Vintage Dresser
- How to Make Glass Glitter Snowflake Ornaments
- Effortless Christmas Home Tour
Many blessings,
CoCo
I love that you and your mom work together on this!
I do a similar thing for my mom. It’s super fun helping her brainstorm every year, coming up with that year’s Christmas color scheme.
I used to change my Christmas color theme every year, but for the last six years, I’ve settled into using a red and rustic “Christmas Decor Capsule Wardrobe.” Each year, I change how I use the elements, and I buy a few new items, but it’s sooooo easy. I can decorate the entire house in one afternoon!
PS: Happy Holidays to you and your family. May the coming months be happy and healthy for everyone.
That’s awesome, Corrie! I know your Mom appreciates all your help and ideas with her Christmas decorations. My brain is always creatively fried at the end of the year so I’m beyond thankful my Mom helps out so much too. I definitely need to get a Christmas Decor Capsule Wardrobe – it sounds amazing and virtually stress free too which is always a good thing 🙌 Sending you lots of hugs and wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season as well, CoCo
It must be so nice to have your mom helping you. My mantel decorating is always hit or miss. Thanks for the tips CoCo!
I would not get through half the decorating I have to do without her help, Kim! It’s so nice she gives her time and talents during such a busy season too. I’m always thankful. Hope the tips help lady! Big hugs, CoCo
We don’t have a mantle in our current home, but I’m definitely saving this post for future reference. You’ve definitely provided so many lovely ideas and much inspiration! Thank you for sharing!
I really appreciate it, Christine, thank you so much! Hugs, CoCo
Your mantel looks gorgeous, CoCo.
Thank you bunches, Paula, I really appreciate it! Hugs, CoCo
The only thing I don’t like about our new home is that it doesn’t have a fireplace! I miss being able to decorate a mantel! I guess we’ll have to build a faux fireplace to remedy that lol! Take care, Donna
I’ve noticed more and more homes in Florida are being built without them too, Donna! One of my aunts LOVES Hallmark movies and snuggling up with a cup of cocoa every holiday season and last year her family surprised her with a fireplace and had an electric insert installed and she was tickled pink. Hope you’re able to find a fun way to cozy up too! Hugs, CoCo
Love your mad for plaid mantle, absolutely beautiful! Fantastic job mom! I love the joint effort.
Thanks so much, Christine! I’ll pass your kind words along to my Mom – she will be tickled pink. Hope your week has been a special one, CoCo
Hi Coco as I write this my whole house is choc full of boxes with all the decorations in, so far I have done the kitchen and the mantle, a newbie this year and it looks amazing, if I may say so myself. You have some lovely tips for everyone and so happy you and your mum work together, happy memories.xx
That is so exciting to hear, Janette! I tell ya there is nothing like pulling out the Christmas boxes and discovering ornaments that feel like old friends again. May your heart and your cup of cocoa be extra full today, CoCo
CoCo,
I’ve been crushing on pink Christmas this year. I wish I could add it to my decor but I’d have to trash everything I have. LOL. I’d love to share your mantel on Sunday.
So excited you’ve been crushing on pink decor this year, Rachel! It gives me the giggles thinking about you embracing pink I’ve tried to quit it a million times but here we are 40 years later 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing my mantel. I really appreciate it. I swear it’s one of THE easiest things we’ve put together this holiday season. Big hugs, CoCo
I really appreciated your tip for starting with a clean slate, then creating the festive mantel around a centerpiece. This approach really allows for maximum creativity without getting overwhelmed.
Thanks for the mantel tips CoCo. It’s the one thing I need to complete this year. It’s 1/2 way there & this is super helpful. I love, love that you share this with your mom. That’s so special. XO- MaryJo
Beautiful ideas, my friend. Good luck to your nephew. Hugs and blessings to you.
Hi Coco,
Your mantle this year is lovely, as was all the rest too. Great ideas. The first thing I put up is my nativity and the 2nd thing is do my mantle, and I take everything off too. I am with you I glaze over when it comes to the tree, I love decorating everything else…….course, I am almost done and running out of things that go well together now………..ugh, trying to finish, but keep hitting these lil snags!! lol fortunately, this year my Granddaughter started on the tree…………but it’s all gold, white and green, so really need to add a little red
since i have it in other places in the room……..
Hope you and your family are doing well. Still praying for you and yours.
Blessings, Nellie