Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 11 Extraordinary Outdoor Travel Experiences to Try This Year

      11 Extraordinary Outdoor Travel Experiences to Try This Year

      Have you ever slept in a treehouse? Paddled by moonlight? Seen the Milky Way? We challenge you to try one of these activities. Read More
    • Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      One has conquered the world of plant-based baking. Another runs a microbakery from her home. Two own businesses with their spouses. And the fifth is a James Beard finalist chef. The common thread? Absolutely delicious cakes. Read More
    • The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      For many Midwesterners, holiday feasting kicks off with a relish tray. We dare not mess with an icon—at least, not too much. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Des Moines' Hottest Food Neighborhoods You Need to Know About

    Des Moines' Hottest Food Neighborhoods You Need to Know About

    Korean egg sandwiches, Australian baked goods,Southeast Asian bing bing wraps—here’s an in-the-know guide to eating your way through this culinary capital.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    The Delicate, Spongy Basic Crepe Recipe You Can Master at Home—Plus 4 Ways to Upgrade It

    The Delicate, Spongy Basic Crepe Recipe You Can Master at Home—Plus 4 Ways to Upgrade It

    With encouragement from the owner of a Kansas City, Missouri, creperie, you’ll perfect these delicate pancakes in no time.
    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal With These Ideas from a Minneapolis Makeover

    Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal With These Ideas from a Minneapolis Makeover

    With fresh paint and a terraced slope, a Minneapolis stucco goes from mousy to magnetic.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    How to Plant a Rain Garden

    How to Plant a Rain Garden

    Turn a wet trouble spot into a lush and Earth-friendly oasis by capturing the rain.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath

    Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath

    For this do-it-yourself spring wreath, we bundled inexpensive paper-mache eggs in fuzzy, vibrant yarn.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Tamales are a project, but many hands—even tiny ones—make lighter work.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • DIY Pistachio Wheat Stalks for Fall Decorating
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    About Us

    About Us

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
    • Fall 2022 Issue
    • Winter 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Seasonal Decorating
  4. Gorgeous Holiday Mantel Decorating Ideas

Gorgeous Holiday Mantel Decorating Ideas

By Midwest Living editors Updated November 06, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Pin
mini christmas trees evergreen cuttings mantel
Credit: Marty Baldwin

Transform your mantel into a focal point using our ideas for easy Christmas decorating. See how to decorate with ornaments, evergreens, pinecones, holiday figures, stockings and more.

Start Slideshow

1 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tiny Tannenbaums

mini christmas trees evergreen cuttings mantel
Credit: Marty Baldwin

These mini DIY Christmas trees (no more than 12 inches tall!) elevate any tabletop or mantel. Use evergreen cuttings, floral foam, and colorful cups and bowls to create festive arrangements that last for weeks and make fun holiday gifts.

1 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hide-and-Peek Paper Cone Trees

Hide-and-peek: Cone trees

Your holiday mantel becomes an Advent calendar with these adorable paper cone trees. See how to make this using our cone templates and hide a sweet surprise under each if you like. 

Related: DIY Holiday Crafts Projects with Rocks, Paper and Scissors

2 of 31

3 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lantern Collection

Lantern collection

A Minnesota homeowner created this mantel centerpiece by filling a vintage lantern with pinecones, candles, greens and a drawing of Santa.

3 of 31

Advertisement

4 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

No-Fuss Festivity

No-fuss festivity

Sprigs of evergreens fill a collection of plain glass vases for clearly inspired decor.

Related: Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

4 of 31

5 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gold-Leaf Sparkle

Gold-leaf holiday projects
Credit: David Land

With a roll of Kraft paper (and a lesson in DIY gold-leaf), you can make rustic-meets-glam holiday decorations such as the paper flowers tucked into our fresh wreath or holly ornaments hung on the tree. See how to make DIY gold-leaf Kraft paper flowers and ornaments.

5 of 31

6 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Green-and-Blue Mantel

Green-and-blue mantel

Lime-green lemon cypress trees stand in for a traditional swag or layers of greenery on the mantel. Wrap containers in inexpensive blue burlap, securing with pale green bows.

6 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Snowy Wreath

Snowy wreath

Turn a store-bought pinecone wreath into a showstopping mantel display. Spray-paint the wreath gray, then add spray snow and silver glitter. Glue on cardinals and shiny red ornaments for accent color. Keep the rest of the mantel simple with faux snow and a gift.

Related: Clever Pinecone Crafts and Decorations

7 of 31

8 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Christmas Window

Christmas window

Repurpose an old window as a Christmas mantel masterpiece. Hang trinkets and ornaments in each pane of the window frame. We love the green-and-white color scheme for this display. Line several handkerchiefs along the mantel to create a chic DIY mantel scarf.

8 of 31

9 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pinecone Mantel

Pinecone mantel

To create this look, "plant" larger cones in clay pots and use tiny pinecones as "mulch" over the soil of a dwarf arborvitae. Scatter more pinecones and juniper sprigs across the mantel to continue the nature theme.

Related: Decorate With Tiny Christmas Trees

9 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Candles and Glass

Candles and glass

Coordinated colors of vases, glasses and candleholders create a simple but elegant mantel display. Use a red ribbon for a garland, and complete the color palette with sprigs of greenery.

Related: Easy Holiday Decorating With Glass

10 of 31

11 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gold and Gilded

Gold and gilded mantel
Credit: Courtney Browning

Kansas decorator Courtney Browning created this holiday mantel. For a touch of glitz, she spray-painted real magnolia leaves gold; shiny and matte gold balls continue the gilded theme. Instead of a traditional evergreen wreath, she hung a black-and-gold convex mirror for an unexpected element in the scene.

11 of 31

12 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Vintage Shine

Vintage shine

Vintage mercury glass trees and balls shine on this mantel.

12 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Christmas Carnations

Christmas carnations

Red carnation wreaths look elegant over this Christmas mantel. To make fresh wreaths, soak a florist's foam shape in water. Trim carnation stems to about 3 inches and insert into forms; you'll need about 50 carnations for a 12-inch diameter wreath. You can also craft pretty—and long-lasting—wreaths with artificial flowers.

Accent with containers of shiny red and green ornaments along your mantel.

13 of 31

14 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Natural Simplicity

Holiday mantel with pinecones apples greenery

Celebrate the season's simple joys by creating a free-flowing look with just three natural materials: green apples, pinecones and long-needle evergreen branches.

Related: Nature-Inspired Christmas Decorating

14 of 31

15 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Extra Ornaments

Extra ornaments

Turn surplus ornaments into an easy—and dazzling—holiday display. Decorate a mantel by coordinating colors of ornaments in urns, vases, goblets and bowls of different sizes. Finish with bright green pine branches for a woodsy touch.

15 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Natural with a twist

Natural with a twist wreath
Credit: Courtney Browning

Kansas decorator Courtney Browning created this holiday mantel using natural elements such as pinecones, topiaries and a boxwood wreath. 

16 of 31

17 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Christmas Countdown

Christmas countdown

Turn your mantel into countdown to Christmas by hanging an advent calendar on the front and adding a pretty paper wreath above.

Chicago-based Paper Source makes holiday crafting easy with a variety of holiday ideas. 

For a DIY Advent calendar, pop pieces of candy, small toys or clues (to find larger gifts hidden in the house) in 24 tiny envelopes or muslin bags. Rubber-stamp numbers on circular labels to seal envelope flaps, or write numbers on bags with a marker. Hang envelopes or bags along the mantel with mini clothespins. 

Related: Easy Christmas Crafts

17 of 31

18 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Red-and-Green Cheer

More holiday decorating ideas

Fabric doilies shaped into trees and spray-painted red stand next to a lime green homemade wreath on this cheery holiday mantel. The petals and flowers of the wreath are cut-up newspapers spray-painted green.

18 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creative Stockings

Creative stockings

A simple mantel arrangement complements whimsical Christmas stockings. Draw some colors from your stockings into the mantel for a cohesive look. Here, colorful ornaments, white candles and evergreen garland complete the display.

19 of 31

20 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Winter Wonderland

Winter wonderland

A touch of winter white stands out against the sparkly wall. Display an assortment of white items, such as frames, candlesticks, vases, ornaments and holiday figurines.

20 of 31

21 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fa La La

La la la

Cover your mantel with fresh evergreen branches and hang two types of ornaments on sheer white ribbon: clear plastic ornaments that you fill with strips of metallic gold foil and large circular chalkboard ornaments. If you can't find any chalkboard ornaments, you can always make your own by applying green chalkboard paint to wood or cardboard. Remove ornaments before using the fireplace and rehang them when you're finished.

21 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Striking Wreath Display

Striking wreath display

Hang your wreath on an unusual item, such as this old garden gate, for an eye-catching display. Other holders that can easily lean on a mantel: vintage shutters, fencing sections, trellises, window frames or a wooden sled. Frame the arrangement with candles, topiaries or vases.

Related: Beautiful Holiday Wreaths

22 of 31

23 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Color Pops

Color pops

Accent mostly-white decorating with pops of bright red and green. Run white tinsel along your mantel and put red and green ornaments on top. Hang a red and a green stocking from the mantel to complete the look.

23 of 31

24 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Red-and-White Wonderland

Red-and-white wonderland

A rosy wreath makes the perfect backdrop to this elegant winter vignette. Create a faux forest by wrapping festive paper and cloth over foam cones; hot-glue to secure. Use varying sizes of felt balls for "snow."

24 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Candy Jar Mantel

Candy jar mantel

Fill clear glass containers with candy that coordinates with your color scheme for an easy mantel or tabletop decoration.

25 of 31

26 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lovely Leaves

Lovely leaves

Fabric leaves glued to a velvet ribbon make a simple garland for a mantel—or a buffet table.

26 of 31

27 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Festive Amaryllis

Festive amaryllis

Red and red-tip amaryllis blooms pop out of a rustic collection of birch-bark vases.

Related: Easy and Elegant Amaryllis Displays

27 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Country Chic

Country chic

Create a rustic Christmas feel by making plaid stockings the centerpiece of your mantel. Accent them with pinecones, carved wooden statues and simple candles.

28 of 31

29 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Flower Power

Vase and garland ideas

Wow guests with a mantel of green flower "presents" and fresh red flowers. Use pearl-top straight pins to attach green-tinted mini mums to foam squares, then tie on red velvet ribbon bows. Accent the scene with glass vases filled with red tulips, amaryllis heads and berry branches.

29 of 31

30 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Nature's Mantel

Nature's mantel

To jazz up a boxwood wreath, we tucked in hypericum berries then wired on a magnolia branch, feathers, pinecones and an antique bugle. Finally, we wrapped burlap ribbon around the wreath. A blanket tops the mantel, and we made a small tree by covering a floral foam cone in boxwood clippings.

30 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Glittering Statement

Glittering statement

The combination of old and new ornaments layers on the charm in this wreath, made from glass ball ornaments hot-glued to a foam wreath form. For a sparkling mantel to match the wreath, coat foam cones with spray-on glue then tinsel glitter. When dry, seal with an acrylic clear-coat spray.

31 of 31

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Midwest Living editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 31 Tiny Tannenbaums
    2 of 31 Hide-and-Peek Paper Cone Trees
    3 of 31 Lantern Collection
    4 of 31 No-Fuss Festivity
    5 of 31 Gold-Leaf Sparkle
    6 of 31 Green-and-Blue Mantel
    7 of 31 Snowy Wreath
    8 of 31 Christmas Window
    9 of 31 Pinecone Mantel
    10 of 31 Candles and Glass
    11 of 31 Gold and Gilded
    12 of 31 Vintage Shine
    13 of 31 Christmas Carnations
    14 of 31 Natural Simplicity
    15 of 31 Extra Ornaments
    16 of 31 Natural with a twist
    17 of 31 Christmas Countdown
    18 of 31 Red-and-Green Cheer
    19 of 31 Creative Stockings
    20 of 31 Winter Wonderland
    21 of 31 Fa La La
    22 of 31 Striking Wreath Display
    23 of 31 Color Pops
    24 of 31 Red-and-White Wonderland
    25 of 31 Candy Jar Mantel
    26 of 31 Lovely Leaves
    27 of 31 Festive Amaryllis
    28 of 31 Country Chic
    29 of 31 Flower Power
    30 of 31 Nature's Mantel
    31 of 31 Glittering Statement

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Gorgeous Holiday Mantel Decorating Ideas
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.