How To Style Your Mantle For Christmas

I look forward to decorating my home for the holidays every year. I start gathering inspiration in late October when the Christmas decor starts hitting the shelves! This year is particularly exciting for our family because it’s our first Christmas in our brand new home. I have been dreaming about styling the mantle in our Formal Living Room for the holidays and last weekend I finally set aside some time to make it happen!

I love the way it turned out and today I am going to teach you about my process in case you are looking for a little inspiration for your own mantle this Christmas season!

The “Recipe” for Styling Your Mantle

I have developed what I like to call “a recipe” for mantle styling. I have some systems and “ingredients” that I use time and time again, and they never let me down! So here we go kids, design school is in session!

The process can be broken down into two main steps – create a focal point and then add layers. See, that’s pretty easy right?

1. Create a Focal Point

When you are styling your mantle, the first thing you want to do is create a focal point in the middle. This can be a piece of art, a clock or a mirror. My hands down favorite item to hang above a mantle is a round mirror (which you can see I have used in my living room) for a few reasons:

• They are the easiest way to add interest – no stressing over finding the perfect art piece!
• You can find them in so many stores, as many different price points – from Walmart to Crate and Barrel – I have seen them everywhere!
• Mirrors are the ultimate ‘neutral’ accessory and lend themselves to styling for every season

Have I convinced you? Are you running out to buy a round mirror today? Regardless of what you have hanging above the mantle, for the purposes of this design lesson, it is your focal point and the foundation of the recipe.

2. Add Layers

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Now for the Layers – this is where you get to have fun and really make this recipe your own! Like are you going to just add some chocolate chips to your cookie dough, or are you also going to add some toffee chips, mini m&m’s and candy cane chunks? In my opinion, whether you prefer a minimal look or you want to embrace your inner maximalist, you need at least a few layers to make your mantle sparkle for the holidays.

When I am styling a mantle for Christmas, I have a foolproof combination of decor items that I use:

• a garland of greenery
• 2 christmas trees, preferably in different sizes
• 2 or 3 candle holders
• stockings

I always start with the garland of greenery, and at our house we go faux. You can center it, or try the asymmetrical swag look that has become really popular over the last few years. I decided to give that a try this year and I love it!

Using clear command strips, I attached one end of the garland on the top corner, I used another command stip in the opposite corner, and then let the rest of the garland hang down the side of the mantle.

On one side of the focal point, I place two Chrismas trees and I think it looks best if they are different sizes. The trees I used are from the Studio McGee for Target holiday collection, I purchased them as well as the stockings I used on a recent trip to the U.S. I have seen really beautiful Christmas tree sculptures in many stores this year – everywhere from Superstore to Crate and Barrel.

On the other side of the focal point, I place the candle holders. Tall skinny taper holders are really having a moment right now and they are easy to find. I used 3 on my mantle, mostly because they came as a set. Placing the candle holders on the other side of the focal point offers balance to my vignette.

The next item from my go-to list is Stockings – my mantle just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without them! For our formal mantle, I like to use stockings that work with the color palette of the rest of the decor. We have colorful family stockings that we put out for Santa, but I display those in a different room. As you can see from the photos, I strategically hung the stockings to the side, opposite from the dangling garland to create balance.

Now lets take a look at all of these layers together – the garland, the trees, the candles and the stockings:

If you have been paying close attention, you will notice an element that I have not yet addressed (in which case you get bonus points!)…these teeny tiny vintage bells!

I bought these at a local decor shop (The Stylewell in Edgemont Village – North Van) and they are the perfect finishing touch for my mantle.

In Conclusion

I hope you have found this little styling lesson helpful! I know that decorating can be overwhelming and the holidays are such a busy time so hopefully breaking down my mantle styling process has been helpful! If you have any questions, leave me a comment below. For more simple styling tips and inspiration, follow me over on instagram @littlenestdesign

Thanks so much for reading!

Kerri

Sources:

• mirror – West Elm
• garland – Michaels
• Christmas Trees – Target
• taper candle holders – Target
• stockings – Target
• vintage bells – The Style Well

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