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These Christmas mantel ideas cover every style of home, from a classic red and green fireplace to a cozy cottage, a rustic beam and a mantel with a TV above it. In our old farmhouse the mantel is the first thing I decorate every year, because once the garland goes up the whole living room starts to feel like Christmas.
I gathered 26 real mantels from 17 decorating blogs and grouped them by style, so you can scroll to the look that fits your house. Each idea links to the blogger who made it, and I added what makes it work and how to get the look at home. If your mantel is on a tight budget this year, see our cheap Christmas mantel decor list too. For more greenery, try our Christmas garland ideas, and carry the look outside with our front porch Christmas decor ideas.
1. A wreath, a draped garland and a row of mismatched stockings
SaveCredit: Zevy Joy
This is the mantel most of us grew up with, and it still works. A full evergreen wreath hangs centered above the fireplace, a garland drapes along the shelf and spills over both ends, and a row of colorful stockings hangs from the edge.
Zevy Joy hangs the wreath on a ribbon so the height is easy to adjust and suggests weaving warm white fairy lights through the garland. Keep the trimmings light so the greenery and the stockings do the talking.
2. Burgundy ribbon and old bells with no hooks at all
SaveCredit: Deeply Southern Home
Deep burgundy is a softer cousin of Christmas red, and it looks rich next to cedar and silver. Here a long cedar garland hangs a little longer on the left, with fringed burgundy ribbon and a cluster of brass bells at the end.
The best part is that not one nail, pin or adhesive hook holds the three strands of garland, the bells or the stockings. If your mantel has a finish that hooks will not stick to, her post shows how she did it.
3. Layers of plaid ribbon with velvet stockings
SaveCredit: Citrine Living
If you love a preppy, classic Christmas, look at this one. A lush Norfolk pine garland is stuffed with big bows in mixed plaid, toile and navy velvet ribbon, plus berry picks in red, gold and blue.
Blue velvet stockings hang below, and the blue and white pottery on the shelves on either side ties the whole wall together. Pick two or three ribbons that share one color and you can mix patterns without it looking busy.
4. A swag below the mantel when the TV sits above it
SaveCredit: The Turquoise Home
A TV over the fireplace does not have to ruin your Christmas mantel. The Turquoise Home hangs a full swag of greenery below the mantel shelf, which softens the hard edges of the screen and makes it feel like part of the decor.
Here the swag carries brass bells on navy ribbon tails and gray stockings. Choose pieces big enough for the size of your TV, because tiny ornaments look lost under a large screen.
5. A lopsided garland with tiny lights and gold berries
SaveCredit: Centsational Style
An asymmetrical garland swags off to one side instead of hanging evenly. This one mixes real fir and juniper with a reusable faux pine, then adds eucalyptus for scent, mini string lights and gold berries.
Centsational Style warns that it takes more fiddling than a symmetrical garland. Keep tweaking until it looks balanced, and use stockings or candlesticks on the light side to even out the weight.
6. A black mirror, wood candlesticks and an offset swag
SaveCredit: The Lilypad Cottage
Less really can be more on a mantel. The Lilypad Cottage kept just a black arched mirror, a cluster of black and wood candlesticks with white tapers, and a faux greenery swag pushed to one side.
The candlesticks were already out for fall, so the only new thing for Christmas was the greenery. That is an easy way to decorate when you are short on time this year.
7. A soft swag on one side and wreaths in the windows
SaveCredit: Lark and Linen
This white living room from Lark and Linen proves a neutral home can feel festive with very little. A loose garland runs along the mantel and falls down only one side, two stockings hang on the left, and matching wreaths hang in the windows.
Repeating the greenery in the windows makes the whole room feel decorated, not just the fireplace. It is a good trick when the mantel itself is narrow.
8. A juniper swag with dried oranges and brass candles
SaveCredit: Francois et Moi
This white brick fireplace wears a deep juniper swag that runs across the mantel and pours down the left side almost to the floor. Dried orange slices are tucked into the greenery and a row of thin brass candlesticks stands behind it.
It is a good look for a fireplace you actually use, because nothing hangs over the opening. Keep candles and dried fruit well back from any live flame.
9. Fresh and faux greenery mixed with a big silver bow
SaveCredit: Deeply Southern Home
Fresh greens look wonderful the first week and dry out by Christmas morning. Deeply Southern Home fixed that by layering a faux cedar garland with an inexpensive real pine garland, so the real one adds scent and the faux one keeps it full.
She hung both a little off center and balanced the look with a large silver bow with long tails and gray sweater stockings. White pillar candles finish the shelf.
10. Paper snowflakes, silver ornaments and a pinecone wreath
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
For a winter wonderland mantel, Inspired by Charm tucked big white paper snowflakes and silver ornaments into a full garland. An arched mirror with a snowy pinecone wreath reflects the lights back into the room.
Wood and glass trees stand on the shelf, and knit stockings hang below. A basket of birch logs by the hearth keeps it all feeling woodsy.
11. A herd of vintage deer figurines
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
If you have a collection, the mantel is the place to show it off. This little herd of vintage deer started with plastic deer and grows every year with ceramic ones from thrift stores.
Grouping them close together reads as one display instead of clutter. Bottle brush trees, putz houses or old Santas work the same way.
12. A reclaimed beam with garland hung underneath
SaveCredit: Pine and Prospect Home
Pine and Prospect Home keeps a TV in a cabinet above the fireplace, so nothing can sit on the mantel. She hangs a mixed garland of pine, eucalyptus and cedar below the reclaimed barn beam instead, with lights woven through.
Small gold cup hooks screwed into the beam hold it up, and they stay in place to reuse every year. Command hooks work if you cannot screw into your mantel.
13. Old snowshoes leaning on the hearth
SaveCredit: Pine and Prospect Home
A pair of vintage snowshoes leaning against the fireplace makes a mantel feel like an old cabin right away. Pine and Prospect Home looks for them at antique malls and says to always ask about the price.
Old sleds work the same way, and both look pretty with a little greenery or a wreath hung on them. Pair them with chunky knit stockings.
14. Magnolia, antlers and pinecones in a moody library
SaveCredit: Deeply Southern Home
Dark painted walls call for a richer mantel. This one starts with a faux bay leaf garland filled out with inexpensive pine, then adds a round mirror, a black candelabra, deer antlers and a pile of pinecones.
The magnolia branches were trimmed from trees in the yard earlier in the year and dried on the porch. If you have a magnolia, save the trimmings, because the brown undersides are the star here.
15. Snowy branches with a burlap banner
SaveCredit: The Happy Housie
The Happy Housie built a snowy, rustic, natural mantel around one piece of winter art. Vases hold wintery branches, wood trees and little deer stand on the shelf, and a long pine garland is studded with pinecones.
A burlap pennant banner hangs across the front of the stone, and cream knit stockings hang to one side. Pick your art first and pull your colors from it.
16. No fireplace? Use a piano or a dresser
SaveCredit: The Crafty Blog Stalker
The Crafty Blog Stalker has no fireplace, so an upright piano took the job. A cedar garland with berries and pinecones runs along the top, small jars and two little trees stand behind it, and a twig wreath hangs on a red ribbon.
The five stockings are her own drop cloth stockings, made from scraps of her tree garland for about fifteen dollars and tied with white rope. A dresser, console table or bench works the same way.
17. A cottage brick fireplace with holiday art
SaveCredit: A Life Unfolding
A Life Unfolding decorated her very first mantel in a tiny cottage, and she kept it clean and simple. A delicate fresh garland, two red candles on wood candlesticks and a favorite piece of holiday art made by a friend fill the shelf.
A collection of little trees sits on the brick hearth below, and a basket of live mini trees tucks into the corner.
18. A forest of yarn and bottle brush trees on the hearth
SaveCredit: A Life Unfolding
If you have a raised hearth, line it with a mix of little trees in one soft color. These are cream and taupe trees in yarn, wood, beads and bottle brush, set in different heights.
Keeping to one color makes a big mix look calm. Keep them clear of the firebox if you light the fire.
19. A droopy Norfolk pine garland with teal ribbon
SaveCredit: Craving Some Creativity
Norfolk pine garland hangs soft and droopy, which looks very real. Craving Some Creativity used three nine foot strands to get this full look, with white berries and long teal ribbons tied in and left to hang.
She uses large Command wire hooks because they are easy to hide and the ball head keeps the string from slipping. Go with the largest hooks you can hide.
20. Antique brass bells on long ribbon tails
SaveCredit: Craving Some Creativity
Brass bells at the end of a garland add sparkle and a little sound every time someone walks by. Tie two or three old bells onto a long ribbon and tuck the knot into the greenery so the bells hang below the shelf.
Look for cowbells and sleigh bells at thrift and antique stores. They are worth collecting, because you will use them every year.
21. A tiny village tucked along the shelf
SaveCredit: Craving Some Creativity
A row of small wood and paper houses along the back of the mantel turns it into a little Christmas village. The garland covers the front edge, so the houses peek out over the greenery.
Set them close together in a line and vary the heights. If you have a mirror, they look twice as full.
22. Wood beads, light up houses and brass bells
SaveCredit: The Happy Housie
For a layered Scandi look, The Happy Housie used two pine garlands from Costco and draped wood bead garland, a little white light up house garland and a vintage style brass bell garland over and under them.
Vases of wintery greens and dollar store flocked mini trees stand on the shelf, and cream knit stockings hang below. Layering three thin garlands over a plain pine one makes it look much richer.
23. A chalkboard, white tapers and a dried orange garland
SaveCredit: Twelve on Main
This simple Scandinavian mantel from Twelve on Main pairs a big green chalkboard with a hand drawn wreath and a row of white taper candles in brass holders.
A thick cedar garland sits on the shelf and a strand of dried orange slices swags below it. Dried oranges are cheap to make in a low oven and smell like Christmas.
24. An English country antique mirror
SaveCredit: Twelve on Main
Twelve on Main built this mantel around an antique mirror found for 49 dollars. A small bundle of greenery hangs from the top of the mirror, amber glass candlesticks and bottles stand to one side and pampas grass adds height.
Wood bead garland loops below the cedar, and textured cream stockings hang from the edge. Shop your house first, then add one special find.
25. An old world mantel with dried oranges and velvet
SaveCredit: Home Stories A to Z
Home Stories A to Z went for old world charm in her dining room, with a carved wood mantel, a black round mirror and two slim trees tied with velvet ribbon.
The garland is full of handmade dried orange slices and twinkle lights, with fur and knit stockings below. She says the dried oranges are not hard to make, but they do take time, so start a week early.
26. A garland twice as long as the mantel
SaveCredit: Nesting With Grace
The secret to a lush, falling garland like this one is length. Nesting With Grace suggests buying garland double the length of your mantel so it can pile up on the shelf and spill down the side to the hearth.
This plaster fireplace keeps the rest simple, with a mirror, a candle sconce, a dark crock and two little topiaries. Faux garland like this lasts for years.
How to decorate a Christmas mantel step by step
Start with one centerpiece above the mantel, like a mirror, a wreath, a piece of art or a Frame TV. It sets the colors for everything else.
Add the garland next. Lay it on the shelf or hang it from small hooks, and let it fall down one or both sides. Most of the fuller looks above use two or three strands layered together.
Tuck in the extras after that, like ribbon, bells, ornaments, dried oranges, pinecones or lights. Stick to a few colors so it looks planned.
Hang the stockings last and step back across the room to check the balance. If one side looks heavy, add candlesticks or a small tree to the other side.
How to hang garland on a mantel without nails
Large Command wire hooks hold heavy garland and are easy to hide behind the greenery. Use the largest size you can tuck out of sight.
Cup hooks screwed into the underside of a wood beam stay in place all year and are ready to reuse next Christmas.
You can also run a wire or a string across the back of the mantel, fix the ends with clear Command strips on the wall, and tie the garland to it with floral wire.
Weighted stocking holders sit on top of the shelf and need no holes at all.
Christmas mantel safety
If you light your fireplace, keep greenery, ribbon, dried fruit and stockings well away from the opening and never let them hang over the firebox. Use battery candles and battery lights near the flame, and put out real candles before you leave the room or go to bed. Fresh greenery dries out fast near heat, so check it every few days and swap in faux once it turns brittle.
Christmas mantel FAQ
What do you put on a Christmas mantel? Most mantels start with a centerpiece like a mirror, wreath or art, then a garland, a few candles or small trees and a row of stockings. Add ribbon, bells or ornaments to match your colors.
Is it mantel or mantle? Both spellings show up in searches for Christmas mantle ideas, but the shelf over a fireplace is a mantel. A mantle is a cloak.
How long should a garland be for a mantel? For a full look that drapes down the sides, buy garland about twice the length of your mantel. Layering two or three thinner strands makes it look fuller than one thick strand.
How do I decorate a mantel with a TV above it? Hang a swag of greenery below the mantel shelf, and put larger pieces like topiaries, lanterns or tall candlesticks on each side of the TV. Small decor looks lost under a big screen.
When should I decorate my Christmas mantel? Most people decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. If you use fresh greenery, wait until early December so it still looks good on Christmas morning.
