photo courtesy of BHG
I’ll admit it. I’m stuck. The house is starting to look quite festive – everywhere, that is, except the family room. That is because I am having a hard time refining my mantle decorating ideas for Christmas this year.
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Typically, I have two urns of greenery flanking the fireplace and an abundance of boughs tucked in here and there along the mantle.
Totally frugal. I use the uneven, scrawny-looking boughs my hubby cuts from the bottom of the Christmas tree to fill the pots and the mantle – if there is enough to go around.
Just in case, I always score a few extra boughs at the Christmas tree lot. While the kind gentleman is helping darling husband wrangle the tree onto the top of the car, I politely ask if I may collect the fallen branches littering the ground. More often than not, the answer is “Yes.”
This year, I have decided to shake things up a bit and go a little more mod. So…I have been searching out new mantle decorating ideas for Christmas. Of course, they have to be inexpensive!
Here are a few of the photos I have gathered for inspiration:
photo courtesy of Southern Living
This next one looks like an easy DIY project…and a great way to use those way-ward ornaments that just don’t seem to fit in anywhere else. I love the fun and playful colors, but it would also look cool to replicate this with different ornaments all the same color.
photo courtesy of Flickr
This one features newsprint snowflakes sprayed with glitter! I love it!
photo courtesy of Flickr
photo courtesy of BHG, December 2009
photo courtesy of BHG, December 2009
Here are some tips to help with your mantle decorating ideas for Christmas:
Make a fresh start and clear everything from your mantle.
If you do use greenery, position that first.
Nestle items in an out of the boughs.
Use containers of varying heights for interest.
Group items for impact. Consider collections, but avoid clutter.
Remember to make it personal.
Edit, edit, edit!
photo courtesy of Southern Living, December 2009
What do you do to decorate your mantle this time of year?
I miss magnolia leaves. One woman I knew would have an old neighbor mail her a box of these every Christmas! Not so frugal anymore…
I do my mantel different every year. My fireplace looks pretty country but that is the only thing country in my house. I prefer modern decor. I am also into using blue and green together-especially a more turquoise blue with a lime green. Last year I did turquoise,silver and white but this year I think I will add the weird green to it and see what happens. I have to go through my boxes of ornaments and see what I have.
Love, love, love the turquoise, silver and white combo…in fact, that is what FDG has in her own dining room! I think adding a splash of green will be an awesome POP! Send in photos to Admin@frugaldesigngirl.com and we will post them.