Decorate your mantel into a winter wonderland.
A fireplace mantel makes the perfect spot for your Christmas decorations. Whether the mantel is simple, elegant or whimsical, it is sure to draw some attention when guests arrive. Use your imagination to create a gorgeous focal point that your friends will envy. Take a trip to your local craft and retail stores to gather all you need to create the Christmas mantel of your dreams.
Simple
To create a simple fireplace mantel for Christmas, you will need a wreath, prelit garland and a few Christmas-colored candles. Hang the wreath above the mantel and drape the garland along the front of the mantel. Place a few Christmas-colored jar or pillar candles on the mantel. You can also hang a few basic solid-colored stockings from the mantel. This will keep the look simple, but will still create a focal point.
Old Photos
Decorate your fireplace mantel with old Christmas photos, such as the kids with Santa or old family Christmas pictures. Place small and large photos to cover the entire mantel. You can also put a snow blanket underneath the pictures to give it more of a winter effect. Place a strand of small Christmas lights on top of the snow to light up your pictures. These Christmas pictures will bring back many memories and stories to tell.
Santa Claus
Turn your mantel into a dream for Santa Claus lovers. Find several Santa Claus decorations like ceramics, a dancing Santa Claus, figurines, toys and even a few plush Santas. Cover the mantel with the different styles and types, as well as some plush fake snow. Hang Santa Claus stockings and a Santa wreath. If you do not have a Santa wreath, make one by purchasing a basic wreath and hot glue a plush Santa in the middle of the wreath. Instead of garland, hang Santa Claus lights across the mantel -- they are available online and at some retail stores.
Elegant
Make your mantel elegant by using a combination of gold and white or silver and white decorations. Find a wreath made out of twigs and spray paint it gold or silver to hang above the fireplace. You can put items like gold or silver candles, a glass vase filled with gold or silver twig decorations, glass hurricane vases with gold or silver ornament balls, garland (gold or silver) and white stockings trimmed in gold or silver. Another idea for the garland is to use basic garland and spray it with fake snow.
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