21 Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas

Every year when I was a kid, my mom would hang 6 red and white fur-trimmed stockings on the Christmas mantel. It was one of her favorite things to decorate for the holidays.

Only ONE of the six houses that I’ve lived in as an adult has had a fireplace with a mantel to decorate. (And that fireplace was randomly placed in what we used as our kids’ playroom, so I didn’t really decorate it.)

So, I am so envious of all the beautiful Christmas mantels that I am seeing on social media right now. If there’s any way possible, our forever home will have a fireplace and mantel.

Until then, I’ll be swooning over all the beautiful ones I see online. Here are 21 Christmas mantel decorating ideas that caught my eye!

Brass Candlesticks

Artiflr 6FT Pine Christmas Garland, Artificail Greengery Garland Indoor Outdoor Garden Gate Home Decoration for Winter Holiday New Year DecorKEPATO Christmas Tree Decorations Clearance 12 Pack Gold Xmas Glitter Poinsettia Artificial Flowers Christmas Ornaments

 

What I love about this Christmas mantel are the varying sizes of brass candlesticks. It’s definitely a design idea that I’ll be using in our forever home one day. And it gives me a great reason to look for brass candlesticks at thrift stores and flea markets until then!

Multiple Garlands

2-Pack,Gold Star Garland, Golden Christmas Galaxy Banner, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Garland Christmas Garland, Christmas Decor, Gold Baby Shower (4 inch in Diameter,13 Feet)4 Pieces Christmas Wool Felt Ball Garland 7.2ft White Pom Pom Garland Ball Christmas Tree Hanging Wool Felt Ball Garland for Wall Room Easter Halloween Christmas Tree Decoration

 

Stephanie Hanna is always coming through with a unique touch of whimsy! I love the way she used multiple different styles of garlands on this mantel.

Mirrors

WAMIRRO Arched Mirror,Gold Traditional Vintage Ornate Baroque Mirror,Antique Brass Mirror for Entryway/Fireplace/Living Room/Hallway/Bathroom.36“X24“ GoldMercury Glass Christmas Ball Drop Ornaments Holiday Trees Wreaths & Garland Decor Silver Color Size:2.36”-6” (17 Pieces)

 

I love the layered mirrors on this Christmas mantel. And the mercury glass ornaments are the perfect complement to them.

Woods, Whites, and Greenery

AuldHome Wooden Christmas Trees (Set of 2, Natural); Tabletop Handmade Wood Trees with Rectangular Base for Holiday Home DecorMini Christmas Tree Tabletop PE Premium Full Tree Burlap Base,22in

 

This Christmas mantel is full of wood tones, whites, and greenery. If you’ve been around the blog long, then you know that I LOVE me some woods and whites. So, this one is right up my alley!

Christmas Bells

Carfar Handicrafts Vintage Rustic Metal Harmony Cow Bells Set of 3 Huge Rustic Christmas Handmade Bells On Jute Rope6.3FT Christmas Garland, Anna’s Whimsy Seasonal Artificial Pine Cypress Garland Greenery Garland, Christmas Decorations Holiday Indoor Outdoor Christmas Decor Winter Garland

 

Last year, I was a little obsessed with Christmas bells. (I even wrote a whole post of 15 different ways to use them in your decor.) So, this mantel with the bells hanging over it is so pretty to me!

Simplicity

Fake Greenery Garlands Artificial Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Garland in Grey Green and Willow Twigs Garland Intertwined Together for Rustic Wedding Arch Swag Doorways Table Runner DecorationAntique Brass Iron Taper Candle Holder – Set of 3 Decorative Candle Stand, Candlestick Holder for Wedding, Dinning, Party

 

Simplicity is key with this understated Christmas mantel and I LOVE it! Plus, it has Christmas bells and candlesticks…two of my favorite things!!

Make It Pink

PoshNPretty 1.59ft Handmade Christmas Garland,Artificial Cypress Cedar Pine Needles Greenery Seasonal Garland for Christmas TV Cabinet Winter Holiday Indoor Outdoor Decoration

 

I haven’t been bold enough to do any pink decor in our house, but it always catches my eye! Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to try it!

Brown Ornaments

WDS WONDROUS Brown Glass Christmas Ball Ornaments, 2.36” Hanging Bulbs Ornaments for Christmas Tree, Set of 12 Hanging Balls for Holiday, Halloween, Xmas Tree DecorationsNational Tree Company Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Garland, Green, Crestwood Spruce, White Lights, Decorated with Pine Cones, Berry Clusters, Battery Operated, Christmas Collection, 9 Feet

 

If you had told me that I would like a brown color-schemed Christmas mantel, I would have told you that you were crazy. But this mantel from Haneen’s Haven is absolutely beautiful!

Bottle Brush Trees

Mini Christmas Trees, Artificial Christmas Pine Tree Bottle Brush Trees, Miniature Sisal Snow Trees with Wooden Base for Christmas Decor, Plastic Tabletop Trees Cake & DIY Decorations (Red 8pcs)Glazed Porcelain Mini Village Houses, Set of 3, White, 4 Inch

 

This Christmas mantel is so cute with its bottle brush trees and little houses! Plus, I love the mix of garlands and that cute little turkey hiding in the basket!

Cozy Black & White

Carfar Set of 3 Rustic Style Bells Handmade Metal Harmony Sound Christmas Hanging Cow Bells Complete Set on Jute RopeIron Taper Candle Holder – Set of 3 Decorative Candle Stand – Candlestick Holder for Wedding, Dinning, Party – Antique Brass

 

This is such a cozy black-and-white Christmas mantel design. There’s just something about all the cozy textures and classic elements that are so pretty to me. And yet again, there are brass candlesticks and bells…so count me in!

Whimsical Deer Mount

Animal Heads Wall Decor, Faux Deer Head Mount, Animal Sculptures Wall Decor, Resin Animal Head Wall Hanging Decoration for Living Room Bedroom Kitchen Gift,DeerWhaline Merry Christmas Canvas Banners, Red Christmas Bunting Garland, Hanging Xmas Decorations for Fireplace Wall (13ft in total)

 

I love this fake deer wall mount and my kids would love it too! It’s so whimsical and fun with its little top hat and mixed with fun garlands. This is definitely a Christmas mantel that I could see in my house.

Bookish Christmas Mantel

Valery Madelyn Christmas Ornaments Set, 24ct Green Shatterproof Christmas Tree Decorations Ball Ornaments Bulk, 1.57 Inches Hanging Ornaments for Xmas Trees Holiday Decor10 Yards Velvet Ribbon Spool (Dark Green, 1

 

I am obsessed with bookish Christmas decor. I made my own bookish Christmas tree ornaments last year and made a post this year of Bookmas Tree Ideas. So, this book-centered Christmas mantel is one of my favorite things ever!

Vintage Santa

Metal Tin Sign Vintage Metal Signs Santa Christmas Sign Winter Wall Art Christmas Decor Vintage Wall Decor Retro Art Tin Sign Funny Decorations for Home Bar Pub Cafe Farm Room Metal Poster 8×12 InchWhaline 15 Inch Christmas Santa Claus Wooden Hanging Sign Christmas Cartoon Welcome Front Door Sign Door Hanger Decoration for Home Indoor Outdoor Farmhouse Wall Window

 

This vintage Santa Christmas mantel is too cute for words! I’m always a sucker for vintage and antique items. You can tell that everything on this mantel has been lovingly curated over the years.

Big Christmas Painting

SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Frame Series – 4K Quantum HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN55LS03AAFXZA, 2021 Model)SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame LS03B Series, Quantum HDR, Art Mode, Anti-Reflection Matte Display, Slim Fit Wall Mount Included, Smart TV w/ Alexa Built-In (QN55LS03BAFXZA, Latest Model)

 

This is another gorgeous Christmas mantel, but my favorite part is the beautiful artwork of a family gathered around the tree. According to the comments on this post, that’s a frame TV and she downloads art from Etsy for each season. That is a brilliant idea!

Dried Orange Slice Garland

She And Brie Orange Slice Garland On Twine 72 Inch 6 Feet6FT PARTY JOY Seasonal Artificial Christmas Garland with Lights Pine Needle Cypress Garland for Holiday Winter Indoor Outdoor Decor

 

I feel like this is just the right amount of Christmas decorations for the mantel. It’s not too over-the-top, but it’s also not minimalistic. And I love the nostalgic feel of the dried orange slice garland.

Classic Red & White

Christmas Ornaments Set of 24 – Beautiful [Red] Christmas Tree Decorations Ornaments Set – 4 Styles Glitter/Matte/Mirror/Shiny – Shatterproof/Pre-Strung – for Holiday/Party/Decorations/DIY (2.5Set of 3 Extra Tall Red Candle Lanterns – 19.75, 28 and 37 Inch

 

You really can’t go wrong with a classic red-and-white Christmas color scheme. I did this color scheme for years and I still have plenty of things that I could use to create a similar Christmas mantel. So, I’m saving this one just in case.

Mini Christmas Trees

LinTimes 24 Inch Table Top Small Christmas Tree with 50 LED Lights, Prelit Mini Christmas Tree Frosted Pine Tree with Red Berries for Home Table Centerpiece Dining Room Office Desk DecorationsSmall Christmas Tree 24 inch Mini Christmas Tree Pre-lit with 60 Lights Rustic Style Tabletop Tree 2 ft

 

I adore this mantel with its row of mini Christmas trees! The farm fresh tree sign is just too perfect for it too! I could definitely see this in my own house.

Wooden Rocking Horse

Shindel 45PCS Mini Sisal Trees with Snow, Mini Sisal Snow Frost Trees Multicolor Bottle Brush Trees for Christmas Village Sets Diorama Tree Models Table DecorationRustic Decorative Bell Garland on Jute String Rope with Antique Vintage Gold Finish 90

 

There is a lot to love about this Christmas mantel scene, but that wooden rocking horse is my absolute favorite! Together with the bottle brush trees, the red berries, and the Christmas bell garland, this one is one of the best.

Real Deer Mount

DearHouse 6.01Ft Christmas Garland Pine Cypress Artificial Greenery Garland,Artificail Pine Christmas Garland for Holiday Season Mantel Fireplace Table Runner Centerpiece DécorPrimitives by Kathy Seasonal Holiday Decor Garland Mini Tree Gift Wrap Mini Pom-Pom Ribbon Garland 108

 

If my husband had his way, this is how our Christmas mantel would look. He is dreaming of the day that he gets a buck big enough to mount! And if he does, I would be more than happy to incorporate it into our Christmas decor…at least one year!

If you can’t tell, I am wayyy too excited to have a forever home (with a fireplace!) one day! I love home decorating and my mantel will be decked out for every holiday and season!