Unique Ways to Decorate a Festive Holiday Mantle

Decorating with Whimsical Ornaments, Nature and Nostalgic Memories

Oct 4, 2009

The holidays, especially Christmas, is the perfect time to break with tradition and create a truly eye catching mantle vignette design that family and guests will love.

Sure, it's easy to create the usual, expected holiday mantle with a garland of greenery, a few sparkling snowmen and some colorful ornaments for good measure. Ho hum...

This year, think outside the box and create a truly unique fireplace mantle display using unusual, unexpected materials. This brainstorming list may help to inspire or get the creative wheels turning.

Mercury Glass Ornamentation

There is nothing that says Christmas more than the allure and loveliness of mercury glass. Ornaments are available in some unique shapes for very little money. A carefully placed grouping of mercury glass fruits or woodland animals on one end of the mantle shelf would be whimsical and full of sparkle.

Birds and Twigs from Nature

Bouquets of winter twigs tied with velvet ribbon and placed in vessels on the mantle add height and interest. Vases can be anything from a hollowed out log or small tree stump or a metal sap bucket. Hand made bird nests, autumn leaves pressed and preserved with waxed paper, and other long lasting bounties (such as pussy willows and holly leaves) of mother nature would be organic by design. If the fireplace is crying out for a little glam, try sprinkling a little glitter or use gold, silver or metallic red spray paint on the branches.

Then and Now Nostalgia

Take the family photos one step further and make it fun for everyone. For each member of the family, have two photos side by side - one of baby's first Christmas and one that is more recent. If the kids are young, hand painted frames would be perfect to house these special family photos.

For families with late teen and adult children, pick a favorite "Dear Santa" letters from years ago, one for each child and display them on the mantle. These letters could also be paired with a favorite photo from a memorable past Christmas.

Edible Decorations Make a Fun Mantle

Head out to the craft store (Michael’s is always a good bet) and buy some Styrofoam forms that are appropriate for the holiday season – round for snowballs, J hooks for candy canes, and cones for Christmas trees. It may also be necessary to buy some florist wire to attach the goodies.

Now, head to the supermarket or candy store and choose colorful candies. If you want the decorations to be truly edible, it is best to purchase candy that are wrapped are covered, simply for hygienic reasons. If the purpose is to create a mantle display that will not be eaten, then unwrapped candies such as M&M’s, colored popcorn, gummy bears and shoestring licorice also look great.

Use the florist wire to attach each candy to the Styrofoam form and continue attaching until the figural form is so full that you cannot stick another candy on. This will also help to hide all the wires. Decorate the mantle with these colorful and edible new creations.

These are just a few of the unique props and items that can be used to decorate a festive holiday fireplace mantle. For each family, Christmas represents different memories, unique traditions and specific, important events. Use these to create a personal, distinctive décor for the fireplace mantle that will be enjoyed and appreciated by the whole family.

The copyright of the article Unique Ways to Decorate a Festive Holiday Mantle in Interior Decorating is owned by Tracey Drake. Permission to republish Unique Ways to Decorate a Festive Holiday Mantle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.