Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Holiday

Style a Holiday Mantel With These 5 Essential Decor Pieces

November 8, 2023

With Thanksgiving on the way, I haven't quite busted out the Christmas decor yet (although I'm not opposed in the slightest). I just haven't quite been ready! So I thought we could revisit Christmas decor from years past, specifically around the heart(h) of the home — the fireplace — in hopes of scrounging up some festive spirit. While the tree is typically the most iconic Christmas symbol, so much of the magic is felt around the fireplace — you know, where the stockings were hung with care. There's certainly no wrong way to decorate a holiday mantel, but I do have a few essential decor pieces to help you get started.

1. Start With The Greenery

Living Room Sources

First up, greenery. I like to drape garland across the mantel to really "spruce" up the place. This ties the mantel in with the Christmas tree but also gives it the "full" look that I love so much.

Shop Greenery & Stems

2. Hang Other Garland

Candlesticks | Flameless Candles | Plaid Pillows | Mirror | Merry Christmas Banner | Rug | Garland | Bells | Chairs

A few years back, I bought this brass "Merry Christmas" metal garland, and it's still my favorite. Along with the greenery, layering in a different kind of garland can help complete the look.

Shop Garlands

3. Line The Mantel With Taper Candles

Bells | Candlesticks | Tapered Candles | Wreath

One of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to add some ambiance and charm to your holiday mantel is to line it with tapered candles. I love the height that it adds. I love how you can transform the vibe entirely by using either colored tapers or cream ones. And lastly, I love how cozy and elevated it feels.

Shop Candles & Candlesticks

4. Hang The Stockings With Care

Woven Leather Ottomans | Coffee Table | Artwork

Of course, the most important element of any fireplace moment — the stockings. Hung with care, the stockings are not just for presents; they’re a design moment! I tend to hang them in bunches, but you can also space them equidistant to each other. Also, the pressure to have a matching set for the whole family is gone. Mixing and matching stockings gives that collected-over-time look — which is probably the reality.

Pro tip: tie ribbons around each stocking loop to layer in some color and give an eclectic feel.

Shop Stockings

Shop Stocking Holders

5. Line The Mantel With Holiday Figurines

Stockings (similar) | Copper Ribbon | Black Striped Ribbon | Red Striped Ribbon

Last but not least, let's talk about the fun stuff: the collectibles. If you've got a collection of mini Christmas trees or figurines, it's time to pull them out to line the mantel. Maybe it’s a mini forest of bottle brush trees or a ceramic Santa from your childhood. These are the conversation starters and the memory sparkers.

Shop Trees & Figurines

Holiday Mantel Decor

Layer it up, mix it up, and don't stress it. The trick is to have fun and create a mantel that sparks a little joy every time you cozy up to that fire. So there you have it, a recipe for a holiday mantel that's sure to gather 'round your favorite people. For more holiday decor inspiration, be sure to check out our Holiday Shoppe!

  1. Antique Metal Decorative Trees $49
  2. Keir Fired Brick Vase $68
  3. Ceramic Bell Garland $20
  4. Green Marble Christmas Trees $29
  5. Woven Wicker Bells (set of 2) $60
  6. Antiqued Brass Candlesticks $22
  7. Arabescato White Marble Nutcracker $99
  8. Hanging Iron Bells $28
  9. Dark Red Classic Taper Candles $30
  10. Merry Christmas Mantel Hanging $40
  11. Nicola Pedestal Bowl $22
  12. Matte Ceramic Christmas Tree $20

Shop Mantel Decor

— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Beautifully wrapped traditional presents stacked in a doorway
Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone in Your Life {2024}

Whether you're shopping for your main guy, your clutch coworker, your favorite homebody, or the little ones in your life, I've got you covered. This is your one-stop shop for holiday gifts, from affordable stocking stuffers to high-end luxury items. Our can't-miss gift guides help take the stress out of holiday shopping, so you can […]
Chris Cooks Candied Ham Skewers
Chris Cooks

Candied Ham Skewers - Your New Favorite Holiday Appetizer

As a home cook, this is my favorite time of year: the time leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this year, I want to focus on low-effort, high-impact dishes. Something that can serve a crowd but is not too hard to make. And these spicy candied ham bites are just the ticket. Shop The […]
Lifestyle

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

This post is sponsored by Neighborly, Your Hub for Home Services The beginning of the year we're always thinking "spring cleaning." But in fall, I like to cover our bases on home maintenance before we have guests or face colder weather. I usually like to split the tasks between things we tackle ourselves and things we […]
The Marcum family dressed as characters from the classic edition of Clue: The Game.
Entertaining

Our Halloween Family Costumes 2024: I'll Give You One Clue

It was Professor Plum, with the knife, in the Conservatory. Happy Halloween from Clue characters: 1986 edition! Shop Costume Inspiration Over the years, we've dressed as everything from dolls and monsters to Peter Pan, E.T. characters, and The Wizard of Oz. But in the last several years, one of our kids has usually chosen our costumes. If you look back, you […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES