Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas to Elevate Your Home this Holiday

It's hard to beat the classics when you're planning Christmas decor. If you want a look that oozes traditional charm, focus on rich shades of red and green. Some people like solid colors, but plaid can be particularly festive. Pile lots of fresh greenery and berries on the mantel, and accentuate it with gold accents. This look pairs especially well with traditional, red velvet stockings, and wreaths topped with red velvet bows. For decorative accents, consider elegant gold candlesticks and seasonal figurines like Santa or nutcrackers. 

If you love minimalist decor, you don't have to sacrifice your aesthetic just for the holidays. Minimalist mantelpieces start with a neutral palette of white, cream, black, or gray. To get this look, focus on clean lines and sparse decor. Consider a simple garland with slim leaves and white stockings on black holders. We also recommend you choose decor that has a slightly holiday theme, such as white ceramic trees, and pair it with minimalist favorites like clear candles and rectangular mirrors. (Image credit: @ourarkansashome)

Want your Christmas to remind you of cozy bonfires on a farm and walks through an apple orchard? Rustic mantelpieces are a great way to evoke holiday charm. This mantel style focuses on warm earth tones and rich textures. We find they look particularly good with pine garlands and pinecones or garlands with wooden beads. You should also consider incorporating natural textures, like carved wood or leather ornaments, and using warm metal accents like bronze or copper. As a finishing touch, add some stockings from vintage fabrics. (Image credit: @haneens_haven)

Modern farmhouse decor is all about an elevated version of country classics. To keep things looking fresh, pick lighter greenery options, like eucalyptus, and select paler colors like white and beige. Some textures that we love for modern farmhouse looks include untreated wood, burlap, linen, and galvanized metal. The best modern farmhouse mantels we've seen usually incorporate some vintage decor like antique metal candleholders, vintage signs, and old milk pails. For stockings, ribbons, and other textiles, pick chunkier plaids in minimalist color schemes. (Image credit: @antiquefarmhouse)

If "understated" isn't a word in your vocabulary, this is the Christmas mantelpiece for you! This showstopping style wows your guests with lights, glitz, and glamor. To get an opulent feel, blend sparkling metallics with lush greenery. We suggest using a garland with frosted greenery, glittering beads, and thick swags of leaves. For decor, pick light-reflecting objects like metallic ornaments and glass candle holders. You can also experiment with some plush textures such as satin, velvet, and crystal. The finishing touch for this type of mantel is lights. Incorporate lots of string lights and LED candles to make the whole thing shine. (Image credit: @bloom_jennybrooks)

Think outside the box with this whimsical style. If you love nontraditional colors like pink, turquoise, and purple, it's still possible to get in the Christmas spirit. To keep things stylish and festive, pick a strong color palette and choose fun figurines in matching colors. Evoke the feel of a toybox or a vintage Christmas with design touches, like kitschy details and 1950s-inspired elements. For a look that's a little maximalist, select a layered garland with a lot of contrasting details and some quirky, mix-and-match stockings with unexpected details like sequins. (Image credit: @aurelie.erikson)

When we're in the mood for something eye-catching and unusual, dark maximalist decor is a great option. Design elements like jewel tones and black metal pair surprisingly well with holiday items. Greenery for this look relies on dark, evergreen garlands and crimson berries. Next, pick some stockings, ribbons, and other textiles in shades of navy, plum, charcoal, and burgundy. For design objects, select vintage elements, like antique brass vases, and natural items like deer antlers and dark floral arrangements. We love the feel of this style when you're hosting evening gatherings, so consider adding some warm, dim candles that flicker in the dark. (Image credit: @candiceleechamberlain) 

You don't have to skip a Christmas mantel just because you don't have a massive fireplace. When we want a similar look but are in a small space, creating a faux mantel along a console, shelf, or floor mantel works surprisingly well. To decorate a smaller area, pick petite items with a bold impact. Choose slimmer, taller decor, like oval wreaths and tapered candlesticks, and find mini stockings and shorter garland swags to accent your decorative centerpiece. (Image credit: @lecadeauhampers)