Christmas Mantel Ideas that will Knock your Christmas Stockings Off

Trending Christmas mantel ideas for inspiration to design your holiday fireplace mantel. Beautiful decorations from rustic farmhouse to country Christmas, theme like Little Women and more. There is a little magic for everyone.

Years ago, a group of friends and I gathered these Christmas mantel ideas. Fast forward to now, and let's say I have created a few more mantels to include. But before we dive into popular farmhouse Christmas mantel ideas, I want to share Summerhill's past Christmas mantels, including a frosty Santa-inspired one with all the details.

Christmas Mantel Ideas

Did you know that the fireplace is the heart of the home? In the interior design world, we look at the fireplace as the centerpiece of a room.

There are so many different shapes and sizes when it comes to fireplace mantels, wood-burning, gas, and even faux fireplace mantels. And you may find them in any room of a home, from the living room to the bedroom.

The most fun time of year to decorate your fireplace mantel is Christmas, so today you will find inspiration nestled in each friend's home.

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Cottage Country Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas

Every year, we try to change things up on the mantel at our house to bring you more inspiration, and this year, my daughter Hannah took the reindeer by the horns and came up with this idea.

Using mirrors and things from the past, this nostalgic Christmas mantel design includes mirrors and old Saint Nick. But the icing on the cake was adding these yarn DIY bottle brush trees.

Let's break down this sentimental Christmas mantel one piece at a time.

Christmas Mirrors

Begin by placing a larger main mirror in the center. I used this rectangular-shaped mirror from our cheap small bedroom ideas. Next, I grabbed this old oval mirror that belonged to my hubby's mom and placed it to the left, overlapping the larger mirror.

Christmas Art

Next, let's add some holiday art to each end. Art will help anchor the mirrors and they help the view because mirrors usually give you a nice view of your ceiling or ceiling fan. LOL!

Hannah pulled the tiny cottage piece of art we found at an antique store and nestled it to one side. It is great to include different sizes of art when you are creating a gallery.

And then we found this charming vintage Santa while shopping and he was perfect on the right.

Here is a tip when designing your mantel. See how Santa is bolder. If you have a more bold piece with your mirrors it helps anchor the design too.

Christmas Florals

Next start adding garlands and sprigs of greenery. Mirrors are another great place to include sprigs of greenery as we did here on the main mirror.

And adding a garland or swag to your mantel filled with lights really starts to make your holiday fireplace decorations sparkle.

Here is a tip on hiding wires and such. Use 15′ battery-powered lights then if you have a hanging stocking slip the battery box down in the stocking to hide it.

Homemade Yarn Bottle Brush Trees

One thing that makes a Christmas mantel cozy is something homemade and these little yarn trees were the perfect piece to display on the right of Santa Claus.

Something about the soft feel of these trees and their winter white hues gives this mantel the finishing touch.

Christmas Stockings

Last if you love hanging your stocking by the chimney with care then add to each side with tiny tiny nails or stocking holders.

For years I have simply nailed this teeny nail into the wood on top of the mantel. You can hardly tell there is a hole when the holiday is over.

Holiday Hearth Decorations

Last, add decorations to your hearth when you are finished with the mantel. This brings that cozy feeling down into the space and out into the room.

Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas

Now that you have seen my country Christmas mantel decorating idea let's look at years past.

Pastel Christmas Mantel

This first Christmas design started with thrift store sheets in a soft powdery pastel pink. These sheets turned into stockings and a big bow tree topper. Hop over to Pastel Christmas Home Tour to see it all.

Little Women Christmas Mantel

Next is our Little Woman inspired Christmas decorations. It was so fun to revisit a favorite classic novel to create this mantel. To see more check out Little Women Christmas home tour.

Victorian Christmas Mantel

And last is the Victorian Christmas idea where the main color was blue. Looking back this was another favorite. Check out these blue Christmas decoration ideas to see the full Victorian Christmas tour.

Now that you have seen my country Christmas mantel decorating idea let's look at what my friends have been up to at their homes.

Modern Farmhouse Christmas Mantel

Jennifer over at Farmhouse Wifey has a fresh charming fireplace mantel idea. She added a lovely flocked garland to the top and then an adorable ball garland swagging underneath. But the show stopper is the stockings with each person's initials added to them.

Who else wants to get a stocking filled with goodies on Christmas morning like these?

Vintage Christmas Mantel

Alieta's at Alieta's Treasure Hunting mantle has Christmas charm written all over it! Look at her idea of layering art and accessories on the mantle. She also created that triangle shape and used different textures.

Wonderful details and ideas to consider on this cozy mantle.

Red and White Christmas Mantel

My friend Shiela at Simple Joy at Home creates a colorful cozy Christmas mantle in her living room. And notice her amazing Christmas tree! Great designs are in the details!

Neutral Christmas Mantel

Naomi's whole house has cozy written all over it. This year's mantel includes fresh greenery and she shares how to make the citrus garland on her Instagram.

You won't want to miss visiting Naomi's ideas.

Another beautiful idea using a dried citrus garland is this lovely fireplace mantel holiday garland. Julia at Greene Acres Farmhouse uses simplicity and coordinating elements to tie together her Christmas tree and mantle.

Absolutely breath-taking!

Remember me sharing that the fireplace is the heart of the home. In most rooms, it is the focal point so when Fallon at Fallons.homestead on Instagram added this lovely farmhouse sign her Christmas mantel idea took center stage.

There are so many wonderful details and ideas in her living room.

This Christmas fireplace has magic written all over it!

There are so many fun ideas to consider here. Consider a garland filled with ball ornaments and if you are going to include a beautiful mirror as Sabrina's at Survival of a Suburban Mom position your tree so that it reflects off of the mirror.

What a magical fireplace!

Black and Gold Christmas Mantel

Lynn's at Lynn Allman Design fireplace mantle stands out beautifully against her black fireplace wall. Look at how she used gold throughout her decor to tie it all together and her live garland is the perfect canvas for all the gorgeous decorations.

Nature Inspired Christmas Mantel

Donna at Gramsfarmhouse has a cozy beautiful house! I love how she used old crocks with small Christmas trees to add symmetry to her fireplace mantel.

Her fireplace is a great idea if you have a television above your mantle. Look at her details decorating around the tv. After you have decorated around the television you can turn on a still image so it looks like a picture for Christmas.

Isn't her mantel wonderful!

And we cannot leave out a rustic farmhouse fireplace mantel idea. Beth at Shady Pines 3 Interiors home belongs in a magazine with all its splendor. Here is a great idea where she used bottle brush trees next to her television and added lots of greenery.

Conclusion

Whether your fireplace is a real working fireplace or just a mantle as decoration consider adding holiday cheer to your shelf.

I hope you have been inspired and I hope you have found a few ideas to decorate your fireplace mantel for Christmas.

If you want more ideas try my simple cottage farmhouse Christmas mantel idea. We gave our fireplace a new look with board and batten and then added traditional vintage decorations.

If you are crafty consider making some of your decorations for the mantle and go shopping in your home or attic for items that you can use to give your fireplace a fresh new look for the holidays.

If you need to do some shopping a few places I like to shop at both in the store and only are Kirkland's, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, and Target.

I think you'll love the Threshold Designed with Studio McGee at Target. I also like to shop at Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, and antique or thrift stores.

If you would like to make your holiday decoration storage easier to find things look at my how to organize your Christmas decorations. Next time you have to find something it will be much easier and more fun to shop in your attic or wherever you pack away your decorations.

For more Christmas decorating ideas try:

• Vintage Farmhouse Christmas Table
• Elegant Christmas Farmhouse Mantel
• Cottage Farmhouse Christmas Porch
• Spruce Up Your Space with the Best Pottery Barn Holiday Decor 2023

I cannot wait to hear about your Christmas mantel!

Happy Decorating!