How to decorate a mantel for Christmas
It’s practically a Christmas decorating rule: If you have a fireplace, you hang the stockings by the chimney with care. And that’s just the beginning. To find out how to decorate a mantel with style, we invited ourselves into three Hallmark designers’ homes to see each of their unique aesthetics on display- from modern Colonial, to natural and kid-resistant. They combined their own decorations with some favorite new pieces. We’ve broken their advice on how to decorate a mantel for Christmas into simple pieces: mantel inspiration, decoration approach, mantel styling tips, and a few of their favorite things peppered in for fun. Here’s their holiday mantel decorating advice.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
How to combine colonial style and modern simplicity

EM BRONSON, DESIGNER
Mantel inspiration:
It started with nutcrackers. And then I made the stockings—the fabric on the top is from the table runners at our wedding. We didn’t really have a theme but our colors were navy, coral, and mint. They don’t sell nutcrackers in coral and mint (yet!) so I got store-bought ones and painted over their outfits. I wanted to do something unexpected.
Decoration approach:
I’d call my style warm but whimsical. I’m from the south but went to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), so colonial mixed with modern simplicity is kind of what feels like home to me. Actually, that’s kind of what’s going on with that whole wall: a colonial mantel between modern bookcases. And décor-wise I like things to feel comfortable—which to me means not crowded or overdone.

Mantel styling tips:
- Don’t make everything symmetrical. Start with a focal point, and balance everything around it. I hung the stockings, then visually balanced everything from there.
- A lot of the pieces I keep out year ‘round are purposely neutral so I can keep them out with lots of my seasonal décor. Some stuff is everyday: the basket, the blanket, the white canister.
- Make it easy on yourself. I use artificial greenery that I don’t have to water. Lights with timers. And those awesome candles that turn themselves off.
Favorite things:
- You can never have too many twinkly lights. In fact, at Christmas I like the entire house powered by holiday lights only. If you put up enough trees, you don’t have to turn on any other lights. I think we’re going with three this year. My record is nine.
- The horn came from my parents’ house and was out at Christmas. Things like this makes our new place feel a little bit more like home. Just put out what you love. You never get tired of looking at things if you truly love them.

How to decorate a mantel with a natural look

NICOLE CAWLFIELD, PHOTOGRAPHY STYLIST
The mantel inspiration:
I’m from Colorado, and I love animals and nature. So I started with greenery—it’s a seeded eucalyptus garland. I love the Birch Tree Branches because my fireplace doesn’t work—this way I have the light and warmth. The little cabin in the lantern seemed like something you’d find in the forest. And I always have these owls.
Decoration approach:
This year I really wanted to focus on mixing things up: Metallics with natural materials. Modern and vintage. Mixing textures and incorporating opposites. I like finding out how you can bring in things that don’t seem like they should belong together. The secret is having a common element to hold it together, like a theme or color palette.

Mantel styling tips:
- Light is always an important part of the mantel—it puts you in that warm mood. So there are always candles. Also, putting some glass in there to add sparkle is important. I put tea-lights in glass holders to give light and a little bit of sparkle without being too much.
- You want your eye to move around the space. I made a triangle to draw your eye up and down. And I used aspen logs to create height—that way you’re not limited by the flatness of the mantel.
- Play with the space in the room, too. Draw people in from a distance, then create little things for them to look at when they get close.
Favorite things:
- There always have to be Christmas cards. I love them, and displaying the cards is always a challenge. I never would have thought to put the smaller birch branches up on the mantel, but it creates height, has lights, and has a purpose—so it works. I just attached cards to the branches with little wooden clothespins.
- When I was laid up for eight weeks with an injury, my best friend taught me to knit. I really like chunky wool, so we hand-knit the stockings. (They weren’t my first project—and she helped me with the heels.)

How to decorate a kid-friendly, cat-proof mantel

TUESDAY SPRAY, DESIGNER
The mantel inspiration:
Sometimes I wish there wasn’t a TV above the mantel, but this is the room where we gather during the holidays. We’re all nestled in and watching TV, and we have this whole mantle thing to set the mood and get into the season.
I love some woodland critters—that’s what our whole tree is. I like little surprises throughout the greenery, so there are some owls and squirrels in there. And I love the nostalgia of the bottle brush trees.
Decoration approach:
Everything’s pretty simple in my house because there are four animals and two children and Christmas isn’t about cussing. All of my holidays are about strategizing to keep the ornaments and decorations alive. Before the children, there were no cats. Now there are cats and children. This will be my entire holiday season: “Don’t touch the nutcrackers. Don’t touch the nutcrackers.” The ones that are really detailed, I just don’t bring out.

Mantel styling tips:
- I couldn’t put big things on the mantel because of the TV, so I worked down. That’s why I did the red beads and the ornaments. I love the basket with the big fuzzy blankets. In our old house, I would have been more careful about keeping things away from the hearth, but this is the fakest fire ever.
- We have a fairly new house and I didn’t want to nail into the mantel—once I start putting holes in things it’s downhill from there. I use Joe’s Sticky Tape: Our photo stylists use it to hang pictures and stick things to shelves.
I don’t do tons of glass or big bauble-y ornaments because kids and animals. I think this year even my feathered birds will be a problem—one of those owls is probably going to bite the dust.
Favorite things:
- The whole purpose of a mantel is stockings, so this year I’ll be shopping for more stocking hooks. We have eight: two cats, two dogs, four humans. I wait to put all those up until later, because at their age, the kids will grab them and pull them down to see what’s inside.
- I love the lights. I love the illumination of the fire below and the twinkly lights above. That warm happy Christmas feeling that goes away December 26 and you feel like you’re getting stabbed in the heart…yeah, I take Christmas seriously.
- I’m collecting nutcrackers. I intend to buy one or two every year. I’ll eventually get so many it gets creepy and will freak me out when I go downstairs.

Shop Christmas Decor
See allYou may also like
See more-
Spring History of Teacher Appreciation Week
People in the United States started celebrating National Teacher Day in 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Cong...
-
Spring History of Nurses Day
In 1953, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed that President Dwight D. E...
-
Congratulations Rewards for Kids: 10 Parents Share Their Tips for Celebrating Achievements
One of the most important tools parents have to shape their kids’ behavior is the power of positive feedback. But as ...
-
Congratulations How to Give a Toast from the Heart
At some point in your life, you’ll need to give a toast. You might get advance notice as a Maid of Honor or host o...
-
Congratulations How to Say Congratulations (Even When You'd Really Rather Not)
Congratulating others is easy and fun, right? Like when your friend worked really hard and got that awesome job ma...
-
New Year's Guilt-Free New Year's Resolutions
“New Year’s resolutions.” To some, those words are filled with pure possibility...an invitation to start anew, comple...
-
New Year's New Year's Resolution Ideas for Groups
New Year’s resolutions are pretty lonely deals. It’s just you and that thing you have to live up to. Ack! No wonde...
-
Christmas A Christmas tribute: meaningful ways to weave memories of lost loved ones into new holiday traditions
For many of us, Christmas is the time of year when we miss our lost loved ones the most. Finding ways to memoriali...
-
Thanksgiving The History of Thanksgiving and Alternative Ideas for Celebrating Gratitude
Many of us in the United States have celebrated Thanksgiving through the years without knowing its origins, perhaps h...
-
Christmas Baby’s First Christmas Ideas
Baby's first Christmas means more fun, more cuteness, more joy...and definitely more wonder as you see the holiday se...
-
Mother's Day What to Write in a Mother's Day Card
Tell her just how much she means using this guide from Hallmark writers.
-
Mother's Day How to Wrap Flowers for Mother’s Day
Flower bouquets are a favorite gift for Mother's Day—and no wonder! This time of year, you can find amazing flowers e...
-
Gift Wrapping Giftology: how to wrap a Mother's Day gift
Make Mom’s day with these simply stunning Mother’s Day gift-wrapping ideas. Watch our video tutorials ...
-
Mother's Day How to Write an Appreciation Letter for Mom
No one has loved you (or put up with you) like Mom has. Or let’s say it wasn’t “Mom”—maybe it’s been a stepmom, grand...
-
Drinks Perfect for brunch: Easy, refreshing beer cocktails
You don’t have to remind yourself it’s 5 o’clock somewhere: The red beer, beermosa, and radler are perfect beer co...
-
Valentine's Day Free Printable Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages You'll Love
Valentine’s Day is all about love. Not just the romantic kind, either. More and more, people are using Valentine’s Da...
-
Valentine's Day What to Write in a Valentine's Day Card
Hallmark writers offer up inspiration to help you find just the right loving words to add when you sign a valentine.
-
Birthday What to Write in a Birthday Card
When it comes to signing birthday cards, there are people who have no problem picking up a pen and adding a warm, per...
-
Christmas Christmas Wishes: What to Write in a Christmas Card
Get sample messages, tips and watch our new video guide to write the perfect Christmas card.
-
Anniversary What to Write in an Anniversary Card
Here’s to lasting love! From still-newlyweds toasting with wine glasses they opened on their weddin...