When it comes to decorating your fireplace and mantel for the holidays, where do you start? If you're like the majority of homeowners, you probably have boxes and boxes of holiday décor sitting in storage. Whether you're shopping for a few new holiday décor items or rummaging through your existing collection, we've got some fresh decorating tips for making your fireplace mantel look festive this Christmas season.
Take Inventory
If you can't recall what holiday décor you currently have in storage, you're not alone. After many Christmases at home, remembering what you bought back in 2014 becomes a feat in itself. As you're unboxing the holiday decor this season, take a few moments to make a list of everything you have. Not only will you feel more organized with your decor, but you're aware of what you already have as you're shopping for new holiday decorations.
Pick a Theme
Isn't "Holidays"or "Christmas"the theme? Of course, but today there's numerous directions you can take from there. You can't go wrong with the traditional red and green color scheme with rustic holiday accents. Another option is a "Winter Wonderland"style featuring snowflake-themed items and a blue, silver, and white palette. This wintery theme gives you an excuse to keep your decorations up for more than a few weeks, too.
If you're a movie aficionado, choose a theme related to your favorite Christmas movie. With the newest Grinch premiere this season, your little ones may appreciate a "Whoville"theme of bright, untraditional Christmas colors. Love Christmas baking? Gingerbread, candy, or sweets themed Christmas décor brings your favorite traditions to your living room. After you take inventory of your Christmas décor, you may find a certain piece, such as a nativity scene, you want to highlight in your design as well.
Get Inspired
Now's time for the fun part: decorating! Keep in mind that the fireplace and mantel are already the focal point, and your holiday decorations should accentuate them. As you start piecing together your holiday fireplace design, make sure all decorations meet the clearance to combustibles. In other words, keep a safe distance from your fireplace insert to your decorations.
Start with the garland, wreath, or tinsel on or above your mantel. Greenery adds some freshness and life to your design. If you really want to dress up your garland or wreath, incorporate some pretty ornaments or bows within the branches. Next, emphasize the cozy tones with candles, a decorative throw holder, or pillows. Not only will the warm, beautiful glow of the fire draw guests in, but they'll feel extra comfy with these soft accents.
Finish with some personalized touches. Christmas is a time for family and friends to gather together; and it makes sense to highlight those memories with your holiday mantel decorations. Add in a framed family Christmas card from last year, some passed-down Christmas antiques, your kid's latest schoolwork creation, or other one-of-a-kind family pieces. Then bask in your finished holiday design and share it with others!
Looking for more holiday decoration inspiration? Visit our Pinterest page for plenty of pins to complete your Christmas décor design.
