Christmas Mantel Styling Ideas and a Blog Hop

I have always loved mantels as a place to anchor or center the room. If you are fortunate enough to have a mantel then often times the furniture placement is based around that mantel and of course it makes for the perfect place for displays and vignettes year round!
I’m going to be a bit all over the mantel map today with several different ideas for styling and different looks that are all really pretty easy to do…

Christmas Mantel Styling Ideas

I set up the mantel below in September when I was styling to shoot for Romantic Lifestyle magazine that showed how to style a mantel for Christmas three easy ways.
Up above for my French country elegant look I used faux garland (impossible to find the real thing here in Sept:-), mercury glass candlesticks and a vintage beaded light fixture turned upside down filled with pinecones. The two tall green bottles are French flea market finds and hold candles.

 

This mantel is in my living room, which is the first room on the right as you enter our home. I love to add glitz in small doses…just a twinkle year round here and there. I love lighting, especially if it’s vintage and full of the old crystals. My favorite girandole lamp is just that and also adds a nice amount of light to the room that is subtle.

 

One of my favorite things about mantel styling is how quickly and easily they can be switched out for different looks. In this photo I’ve added lighting, candles, copper and gold Christmas tree balls and dried roses. The copper twig wreath is one that I sprayed and glittered and it’s hanging from the mirror by a pretty ribbon. If you find a seasonal wreath on sale at the craft store when the season is coming to a close snap it up and repurpose it, as I did with the one above.
The same mantel at Christmas last year had a simple French country farmhouse vibe with the giant wreath made from pine scraps found, up above. If you are interested in making a similar one you’ll find this EASY PINE WREATH DIY that takes you through the steps.

 

I went with a shabby chic look this year for the master bedroom, since I have a white tree and my husband didn’t seem to mind me having a moment of fun with the color pink. The master bedroom that again, is a room anchored by the mantel. Both of our mantels are faux so there is never a worry about what can be placed on or near them:~). On this mantel I’ve loaded it up with white garland and pinecones that I painted pink several years back. Behind the garland is an old window that I painted with mirror paint.

 

I love the feminine look here and it’s serene enough where I can get away with it for the month or so that it’s up. It looks pretty at night when reading in bed as the light softly fills the room with a glow.
Pinecones add so much to a holiday mantel and since they are free it’s fun to experiment in painting them.

 

 

When I paint pinecones I hold them with tongs and dip in regular latex house paint that gives great coverage. Glitter can be sprayed or applied with a brush dipped in regular white glue and then sprinkle the glitter on with a light hand.

 

The Peace sign is one that I found at a yard sale several years ago, and this year I covered over the existing gold glitter with silver. One of my readers asked last week if you can mix silver and gold and the answer is a definite YES!

 

 So simple and…ahem…peaceful!

 

The faux white garland remains the same and the addition of white pinecones with silver and white Christmas balls gives it a snowdrift look. Something that this Florida girls NEVER sees, so it’s nice to create my own.
The “fireplace screen” is a very large vintage frame that I fit with a piece of cardboard covered with silver NOEL wrapping paper that I purchased a few days ago at Target.

 

Generally I use vintage Christmas balls, but I found this great set of glittered balls at Target as well.

 

I’m going to be sharing much more over the season and if it’s your first time here I hope that you check back in and say hi…

 

If you’ve stopped in from the French Country Farmhouse Christmas Mantel Blog Hop hosted by From My Front Porch To Yours, then thank you and please be sure to visit the other inspiring mantels that this talented group of bloggers has put together for you!

 

Chateau Chic
Stone Gable

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14 Comments

  1. DD's Cottage says:

    Love all your looks but the all white one is my fav. You always have such beautiful photos!

  2. Gorgeous mantels and great tips. I love your white and pink mantel. Those pinecones… to die for. I never would have guessed you're in Floida and not some snowy winter wonderland.

  3. Beautiful Janet…loved them all … they are exquisite…and love that gorgeous white tree…I so remember decorating my home in South Florida when the temps were in the 90's!!!

  4. Janet everything look beyond beautiful my friend! It all is so dreamy. I can lost in your photos and just imagine how even more beautiful it looks in person. Thank you for joining us for the blog hop and happy holidays!

  5. Bonjour,

    J'aime beaucoup l'atmosphère festive que vous avez crée. Merci pour ce joli partage.

    Gros bisous ♡

  6. Beautiful Janet! Love all of your gorgeous mantels…but you know I am loving those pink pine cones! Did you paint those? Absolutely gorgeous inspiration!

  7. Gee Singh Newbanks says:

    Beautiful Janet! Luv them all.

  8. Simply divine! Makes me sometimes wish that I could do pinks and soft pastels…it just won't work in our house so I have to keep coming back to visit!
    JP

  9. You truly have a gift for styling fabulous mantels, no matter the season! Wonderful inspiration!

  10. Such lovely inspiration girl!! Thank you for taking the time to share the loveliness you create with us!!!
    Hugs
    Becky.

  11. Janet this tour is so much fun and I adore all of the creativity and ideas you have shared with us!
    The white and glittery snowdrift look is wonderful, a winter wonderland!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

  12. Hi Janet! Your decorations are all so beautiful! Absolutely stunning! I love mantels with loads of garland and lights and the special touches you've added make them even more lovely. I love Christmas decorations! Hugs, Leena

  13. Michaela Staňková says:

    Gorgeous pics !!!