Welcome to decorating season! The mince pies are out and the cheese is being eaten, which means it’s time to turn your home into Santa’s grotto.
No matter the layout of your home, your living room will be a hub of activity throughout December, so it needs to be decorated well. If your beloved fireplace is at the heart of your living room, then you’ve come to the right place.
Creating a beautiful mantlepiece will set the tone for your festive decor. It will make your space feel warm, comforting and most importantly, Christmassy!
We’ve collected 24 Christmas mantel decor ideas to inspire you this holiday season. Grab a hot chocolate, and let’s go through them all.
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24 Christmas mantel decor ideas
1. Bells, bells, bells
Make your mantle decor chime this Christmas by adorning it with festive bells! Copper, brass and classic gold, bells come in many shapes and sizes and are perfect for stringing above a fireplace.
We love the contrast between the metallic garlands and fresh foliage. Fairly lights and ribbons give the shelf the final finishing touch, making it a beautiful and affordable mantel decor idea.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Pinterest
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2. Moody Christmas mantels
@casaardolino I’ve been tweaking and adding to my mantel decor for weeks now but I’m finally happy with the finished look 🌲🖤✨ #darkinteriors #darkinteriorstyle #christmasdecor #moodychristmas #mantelstyling #christmasgarland #fireplacedecor #christmasdecorations #quirkydecor #candles #cosyhome #autumnaldecor #cosydecor #vintagestyledecor #interiorinspo #moodyinteriors #mydaringdecor #macabre #blackwalls #darkaesthetic #homestyling #mydarkhome #creepmas #hexmas #monochromehome #moodyhome #eclecticallymade #housetour #oddities ♬ Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Dean Martin
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Christmas doesn’t have to be all Santa Claus’, baubles and glitter. Ruby Ardolino has created the dream moody mantle decor theme using antiques and rustic branches.
The combination of dark walls and gold accessories gives a subtle festive feel. Ruby then made her mantle extra Christmassy with dried oranges and fairy lights – we love it!
- Christmas mantel decor idea from @casaardolino
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3. Nativity mantle decor
Spread the true meaning of Christmas by creating a Nativity-themed mantlepiece. Pick up a Nativity set and nestle it along your mantle amongst tinsel, foliage or other decorative items.
For a DIY version, cast on our Nativity knitting pattern. These adorable characters will add a wonderful handmade touch to your living room.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Peacock Ridge Farm
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4. Paper Poinsettias
Poinsettias, both real and fake, are the pinnacle of Christmas fauna. They make wonderful decorations for your home and can be placed on your mantle throughout December.
Christmas mantle decor doesn’t have to be expensive either. Handmade is just as beautiful! Use our free poinsettia garland template to recreate this pretty garland and make your mantle bloom with festive flowers.
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Make your own wreath this December
Your holiday decor isn’t complete without a wreath. Follow our how to make a Christmas wreath tutorial to learn how.
5. Candle ambience
Mantlepieces are the perfect home for candles. High off the ground and secure, candles can be displayed safely and will look gorgeous too.
If you’re using lots of foliage, garlands and decorations alongside your candles it’s best to opt for fake ones. Alternatively, you can use real ones for decorative purposes only – unlit candles make great mantle decor accessories.
You can also make your own candles! We show you how to make candles here on Gathered, including beeswax-free options.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Studio Jeandré
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6. Turn your mantle decor into an advent calendar
Give your Christmas mantle decor a practical purpose by transforming it into an advent calendar holder! Hang advent calendar pockets along your mantlepiece for a fun, interactive accessory.
There’s plenty of beautiful pocket advent calendars online but if you’re feeling crafty why not make your own? Learn how to make a knitted advent calendar with pockets using our free tutorial.
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7. Eco-friendly Christmas mantle decor
A sustainable Christmas is the best kind of Christmas so choose to go green this holiday season. Head to your local woods and forage for pine cones, branches and holly leaves then use them to create natural Christmas decorations.
You can turn twine and twigs into sweet Christmas stars and berries into mini wreath decorations. The possibilities are endless and will protect the planet and your bank balance.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Pinterest
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8. Brown and gold mantle decor
Brown and gold is an effortlessly classy colour scheme that looks gorgeous when incorporated into mantle decor. Heens Haven has truly embraced this theme with the brown baubles, wooden trees and gold bells.
We also love the texture on this mantlepiece. Rug stockings, foliage wreaths and velvet ribbons add dimension and give the decor a luxurious feel.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Heens Haven
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9. Cosy glow
It’s not Christmas without lights! Fairy lights and candles are a must for creating a luminous look. The star ornaments and sparkling wreath make this mantle decor truly magical.
You can also get really creative when it comes to lighting. Use coloured light bulbs (red, green or yellow) to change the feel of your space depending on your mood.
Battery-powered lights can also be placed under shelving or along mantelpieces to create a soft glow.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Lights 4 Fun
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10. Print filled mantelpieces
Fun Christmassy prints are an affordable way of adding extra festive cheer to your home. Bought online, made yourself or printed for free (check out our Rockin Around the Christmas Tree printable), framed designs are a quick, easy accessory that looks great.
When choosing your prints, think about your Christmas decor theme. If you like a more minimalist look, opt for simple prints like the ones Cheyenne Traficante has chosen. Maximalists should choose bolder, brighter prints
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Cheyenne Traficante
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Decorate outdoors as well as in!
Explore our DIY outdoor Christmas decorations and make your home glow from the outside in.
11. Bold foliage
Go big with your Christmas mantle decor this year and bring the outdoors in. We love this extravagant mantle garland that’s bursting with blooms, eucalyptus and berries.
We’d recommend raiding your local florist shops for different foliage and asking their advice when it comes to arranging your piece. Alternatively, for a display of this size, faux options work brilliantly as you don’t have to worry about rotting or breakages.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Melanie Lissack Interiors
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12. Don’t forget the stockings!
It isn’t a Christmas mantlepiece without stockings – where would Santa leave your presents? Stockings, even if just decorative, are the ultimate nostalgic mantle decor piece.
Whether it’s your childhood stocking, a handmade one or a beautiful ornamental stocking, there’s no denying they look wonderful hanging on your mantle.
Make memories this Christmas by learning how to make a stocking here on Gathered. You can sew, crochet, cross stitch or even upcycle your own. Handmade stockings are so special and will be a treasure keepsake for years to come.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Olive Hill and Vine
How to decorate a fireplace for Christmas
Fireplaces are the cosiest spot in the home and decorating them for December is a real joy. There’s a few key things to consider when decorating your fireplace for Christmas such as safety, spacing and style.
Read our top five tips and make your fireplace the festive focal point of your room.
- Real or fake: Before you choose your Christmas mantle decor consider the fireplace you have. If you have a real fire (even if it’s an electric one) you need to be aware of fire hazards. Long, draping foliage or garlands could cause a fire, so opt for accessories which sit safely on the mantle shelf.
- Think about height: The key to decorating a fireplace is playing with height. Use decorative items of differing heights and widths to give a full, styled look. For example, small ceramic accessories like trees or tealight holders can be balanced with tapered candles, tall frames and vases.
- Make it glow: Cosy lighting goes hand in hand with a fireplace. Using fairy lights, tealight holders and other sparkling decor enhances your fireplace and gives it a comforting feel. If you don’t have a working fireplace, why not fill the space with candles?
- Use what you already have: Your fireplace is a brilliant space to decorate with ornaments which are no longer needed for the tree. Baubles, tinsels and even Christmas cards can all be incorporated into the design and will give the space a loved, lived-in feel.
- Embrace the space: If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace then it’s likely that it’s the focal point of your room. This means it will set the tone for the rest of your space so dedicate some time to getting it just right. Think about your overall Christmas decor style and choose pieces you can use year after year.
13. Classic colour combinations
Choosing Christmas colour schemes can be stressful and sometimes it’s best to just take it back to the classics. A simple white and black theme can look surprisingly Christmassy if the right accessories are chosen! We love the clean, elegant look of this mantle piece.
Alternatively, red and green are a go-to colour combination for mantle decor. Use red flowers and green foliage along your mantle shelf and add fairy lights for a golden glow.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Pinterest
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14. Winter mantle decor
@ahouselikethis Winter Mantel Decor ✨ Here’s a throwback to the festive feels we created last Winter here at AHLT. We reused dried and preserved foliage from our garden to create this. The rest is magic! #wintermantel #christmasmantel #christmasmantels #christmasmantelchallenge #darkinterior ♬ Winter Vibes - This is LoFi
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A celestial beauty, A House Like This has created a lovely wintery mantle. The greenery and candles really pop against the midnight blue walls and we love the moon phase garland.
Stars, moons, planets and horoscope-inspired pieces can all be turned into eye-catching Christmas mantle decor. They’re ideal for those who want something different from the traditional stockings and foliage.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from @ahouselikethis
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15. Colourful Christmas mantlepiece
Christmas is a great time to experiment with colour and choose decor you wouldn’t normally opt for. Colourful Christmas trees, crocheted baubles or rainbow stockings will give your mantel a splash of festive colour that the whole family will love.
If you already have your core garlands and decorations for your mantelpiece you can incorporate colour in small ways. Tie brightly coloured ribbons to your garland or add patterned Christmas cards for a quick, low-cost update.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Candace Bishop
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16. Candy cane mantel decor
Willy Wonka would be proud of this candy cane decor. Sweets and candy canes are ever so festive and give your mantel a fun, child-friendly update.
You can buy decorative ornaments like the ones above or make your own (take a look at our DIY candy cane decorations). The real thing is always an option too just make sure they don’t melt if you have a real fireplace!
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Very
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From mantle pieces to Christmas trees
Do you know what matches Christmas mantle decor perfectly? Christmas trees! Explore our collection of 50 Christmas tree ideas to find a tree that inspires you.
17. Honeycomb mantle decor
Honeycomb decorations are an easy way of accessorising your mantle. How cool does this honeycomb-filled fireplace look? We love it so much that we featured it in our 2024 Christmas trends round-up.
No matter the size or style of your decor you’ll find a honeycomb ornament to match. Short on space? Hang mini honeycomb decorations from your mantlepiece and larger ones from your ceiling.
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18. Layer your garlands
It’s no surprise that when it comes to mantle decor garlands will be your best friend. Wooden, yarn, tinsel or paper, there’s endless diversity for your Christmas garlands and the best part? You can choose several!
By layering garlands, you can create a glorious display full of joy and excitement. Layer up our sustainable Christmas garland with our free crochet star garland pattern for a vibrant, handmade touch.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from @forthehome
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19. No mantle piece? No problem!
Even if you don’t have a mantlepiece in your home, there are still many ways you can decorate in the mantle decor style.
Kitchen ledges, like the one above, are ideal spots for decorating. Alternatively, any form of shelving (bookshelves, floating shelves) can be decorated in the styles we’ve featured in this article.
You may also have a fireplace but no mantlepiece. If this is the case, hang Christmas prints, wreaths and mirrors above your fire and drape your garlands or foliage amongst your new decor.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from Pinterest
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20. Statement bows
@jeannaloveschristmas Mantel week starts today! Everything you need/want to know about creating a Christmas garland on your mantel❤️ #christmasgarland #christmasdecor #christmasribbon #christmasdecorations ♬ Just Can’t Get Enough - The Black Eyed Peas
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Bows are a wonderful way of bringing some festive joy into your home. They’re versatile too with hundreds of different colours, textures and sizes available for you to purchase.
We especially love this statement bow look by Jeanna. Her handy TikTok shows you how to recreate her Christmas mantle decor in a few easy steps.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from @jeannaloveschristmas
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21. Vintage ballet-inspired mantle decor
Delicate and dainty, The Welch House 1900 have nailed the vintage ballet aesthetic. Their mantle decor is the epitome of elegance, with pink ribbons, pearl garlands and fairy lights finishing off the mantlepiece beautifully.
We also love the inclusion of vintage frames and prints. Why not use these as an opportunity to display old photographs of Christmases gone by? Or fill yours with vintage Christmas prints.
- Christmas mantel decor idea from The Welch House 1900
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22. Paper snowflakes and colourful baubles
Our favourite mantle decor styles are the ones which are full of colourful ornaments. Modern Glam’s mantlepiece strikes the perfect balance between bright baubles and calming paper snowflakes. It’s both merry and relaxing, just the right vibe for the holiday season.
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23. Silver Christmas mantle decor
Silver ornaments and dark green foliage are a match made in heaven. Both sleek and stylish, the silver candles, garlands, and holders convey the festive spirit without being overwhelming.
Whistle Fish has created a relaxing space that will bring both comfort and joy this December.
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24. Traditional Christmas mantle decor
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Our 24th Christmas mantle decor idea is a timeless classic. @kismet_house takes all our favourite elements of Christmas (honeycomb decorations, foliage, stockings) and combines them to create this stunning display.
We adore the balance in this space. The matching gold sconces on either side of the mirror, the honeycomb Christmas trees, the overall theme of dark greens and reds – it’s perfect in our eyes!
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Make your Christmas mantle decor the focal point
There’s no doubt that your mantlepiece is probably the most eye-catching feature in your home. Decorating this area will set the tone for your whole room and can make you feel very festive.
Choose a colour combination or theme which speaks to you and have fun! Christmas is a time for joy so take pride in your decorating and enjoy your space all winter long.
Give the rest of your room a festive makeover with Gathered
Now your mantle decor is looking suitably festive, it’s time to focus on the rest of your room. Explore our collection of living room Christmas decor ideas and give your space a makeover worthy of Santa.
