Decorating for Christmas is more than just a yearly habit or obligation… for many, the action of putting up the tree, decorating the mantel, and adding festive touches throughout the home evokes a sense of nostalgia for years past – while also creating new magical memories for your children and grandchildren.
Whether your decorating style is traditional red and white, whimsical vintage, sophisticated metallic, modern farmhouse, or rustic, you’ll find inspiration below for stunning Christmas mantel decor ideas. Easily recreate these looks in your home to welcome the heartwarming spirit of the holiday season. You’ll also find some budget-friendly mantel decor suggestions too.
This charming Christmas living room is full of vintage and colorful decor – find lots more photos at Addison’s Wonderland.
Cascading greenery, stockings made from vintage Turkish rugs, and shades of brown ornaments hanging from a tree branch complete this charming neutral Christmas mantel against a modern black wall – via Haneen’s Haven.
Brooke Riley from Re-Fabbed decorated her rustic Christmas mantel with mostly red and white decor with some soft greenery – and a lifelike painted Santa who’s making sure everyone behaves!
Festive mantel adorned with traditional Christmas colors and decor – via Grandin Road.
Refresh Restyle decorated their rustic stone fireplace with a vintage wooden sled, gifts covered in chalkboard wrapping paper, glowing candles, and other plaid and wood decor. The large rectangle “gift” on top is a great idea for a tall fireplace.
A tall fireplace decorated for Christmas with gold mirror, custom artwork, and charming wooden village – plus greenery woven with ribbons, beads, and ornaments. Decorated by Remington Avenue.
For this soft white and green Christmas mantel, Liz Marie made a DIY dried orange garland and combined it with a base layer of real cedar garland, glass and bottle trees, ribbon, a Christmas sign, and thick knit stockings.
Here’s a faux fireplace decorated for Christmas with simple neutral decor and a bit of red for color – via Survival of a Suburban Mom.
Craftberry Bush created this Christmas mantel to look like a scene from a winter village – complete with flocked greenery, birch logs, knit gloves and stockings, ice skates, and vintage skis.
Green and white Christmas mantel adorned with natural decor including greenery, pinecones, and antlers. Scandinavian style mantel by Hip and Humble Style.
Here’s an easy Christmas DIY project: hang ornaments from ribbons on a large mirror over the fireplace. Use strong tape or staples to secure the ribbon on the back. Image credit: Malcolm Menzies © Future. Via Real Homes.
Harlow and Thistle created a faux fireplace by painting a secondhand mantel and attaching self-adhesive tile inside. Then they decorated it with cascading greenery, gnomes, and deer for Christmas.
Create a dramatic look with high ceilings by decorating a tall mirror with garland on the mantel. Neutrals and metallics make this living room Christmas decor stylish and chic. Decorated by Jennifer Maune.
Floral and Pearls decorated this antique painted mantel with a variety of Christmas art, personal greeting cards, and bottle brush trees.
This bright and whimsical Christmas mantel features colorful garland, nutcrackers, vintage books, and a DIY painted “village” by PMQ for Two.
This Christmas mantel by Tapia Home Co. is full of texture and coziness. We love the idea of adding brown kraft paper to write a holiday greeting (feel free to use a stencil).
This cozy Christmas living room in red and white decor gives us all the festive feels – via Start at Home Decor.
Remodelandolacasa calls their Christmas decorating style “rustic glam” – with mostly muted colors of green, brown/gold, and wood.
A variety of thrifted brass candlesticks helps create a simple yet stunning Christmas mantel – via Making Home Matter.
Bring the beauty of outdoors inside for a woodsy mountain Christmas mantel – complete with flocked greenery, pine cones, and deer. Via My Mountain Retreat.
Vintage bells and traditional Christmas colors give this texture-filled mantel a warm, inviting feel – via At Home With Astra.
Create charming farmhouse Christmas decor with gold frames layered on a shiplap fireplace mantel, white knit stockings, and realistic looking evergreen throughout the living room – via Rain and Pine Blog.
Add to your existing decor to easily update a room for the holidays. This Christmas mantel is a bit formal, and looks like it can easily transition through the seasons with just a few decor changes. Via House on Hideaway.
If you think it’s hard to decorate for Christmas when your TV is above your fireplace, take notes here. Velveteen and Grace used low-profile decor like short trees, greenery, and ribbons on her mantel. Also, add a cozy bench in front of this modern firebox for a toasty spot to sit.
Here’s a recap of top tips for decorating a Christmas mantel:
Start with a large mirror, empty frames, or artwork above the mantel. Add greenery, garland, or a wreath. Across the mantel, add more greenery, garland, or ribbons. Add trees, a Christmas village, candlesticks, and then nutcrackers, gnomes, or deer. Hang knit stockings or sleigh bells from the mantel. Below, use birch logs, a basket of pillows, more trees, and a sleigh or lanterns for decor.
It’s your choice to stick with a certain color and theme, or just use whatever decor makes you happy, even if it doesn’t match perfectly. What matters is how you feel when looking at it. If you feel happy, cozy, and in the Christmas spirit, you’ve achieved the perfect look!
Finally, discover budget-friendly decor to make your Christmas mantel complete with the handpicked finds below.
Affiliate links are included for your convenience, at no extra cost to you. Click on the items below to see the current sale price.
1. Set of Gold Brass Candleholders. Available as a set of 3, 6, or 12. Also available in black.
2. Antiqued Gold Brass Mirror. Several sizes and shapes available.
3. Real Touch Norfolk Pine Faux Greenery. Available in 5ft, 6ft, and 9ft.
4. Metal Christmas Lantern with LED Candle. Two ribbon options available.
5. Vintage Tin Bells, 20 Pieces. Available in gold or silver.
6. LED Lighted Christmas Village Mantel Decor.
7. 12ft Wood Bead Garland. Several colors available.
8. Gold and White Christmas Trees, Set of 2.
9. Wood Snowflake Decor, Set of 3.
10. Christmas Gift Box Decor with LED Lights, Set of 3. Several colors available.
11. Bottle Brush Trees with Wooden Bases. 45 pieces included. Several colors available.
12. Plaid Christmas Pillow Covers, Set of 2. Several colors available.
13. Personalized Family Name Christmas Art. Several sizes available.
14. Colorful Vintage Pillow Covers, Set of 4.
15. Colorful Antique Glass Christmas Ornaments, Set of 25. Several colors and styles available.
Need cozy fall mantel decorating ideas? Click here to be inspired.