Whether traditional or modern, a mantel is the perfect place to create a stunning Christmas display.

I redesigned my festive mantel for Christmas 2022. I had been using the same decorative elements for many years and it was time for a refresh!

I had such a fun time creating my Christmas mantel. So, I thought I would share my hints and tips in case you find them useful!

Start by looking at the space available. I am terrible for not thinking about dimensions – particularly when ordering online. Measure your mantel – both its width and depth. Admittedly, this part is not all that exciting, but it will really help when you start to order your decorative accessories (now that’s the fun bit!).   

Next, think about your focal point. This could be a mirror, a painting (either hung on the wall or placed on the mantel itself) or a large decorative element. In my design, my mirror is the focal point. However, I have also added a large white ceramic tree in the centre of my mantel. This piece grounded my design and allowed me to add other accessories of different widths and heights.

At this stage, you can add your festive foliage. I removed my ceramic focal point and added a faux garland along the front of my mantel.

Side note... I cannot tell you how long it took to secure this garland. I am still recovering from the ordeal! As a result, I would encourage you to consider the practical side of garlands (think about your fixings!). Thankfully, I absolutely love the final result.

Your next step is to select some decorative accessories to accompany your focal point / larger decorative pieces. I decided to go for a wintery forest theme and so added a range of other white ceramic trees. To ensure visual interest, I ordered the trees in different shapes and sizes.

I placed two trees to the left of my large tree/focal point and three trees on the right side of the mantel. I naturally gravitate towards symmetry and often have to remind myself that asymmetry is also great in decorative / interior design.

You want your Christmas mantel to look interesting to the eye and not too “safe”. You could even try draping your garland over just one half of your mantel.

Your final step is to add festive lighting – fairy lights, led candles, votives and lanterns would all look stunning. As my mantel is next to my Christmas tree, I decided not to add fairy lights (I didn’t want them to clash).

Instead, I placed two led pillar candles either side of my large ceramic / focal point. These bring real warmth to my mantel.

If you don’t have to worry about clashing fairy lights, add lots of festive sparkle. Many garlands come pre-lit – or you can wrap lights around the garland. You could also weave a string of fairy lights around your ceramic decorations.

Let me know how you get on with your Christmas mantel creations! Have fun and happy Christmas!