Decorating a mantelpiece for Christmas
When it comes to decking the halls, it’s pretty tough to beat a fireplace for decoration! As a festive focal point, the fireplace is the first sign of welcome! No, not just to Santa Clause, but to all your other visitors too! So why not take the chance to create a Christmas conversation piece and an amazing place to hang your stockings? Here is how you can make your fireplace one worth remembering:
Traditional or funky
With such a dizzying array of things to choose from, it can be tough to narrow down just what you want. You can create an opulent traditional display with garlands and sways, candles and trinkets, lights and so much more… Well, first things first. If you’ve got a traditional fireplace, then going modernist might be a bit too much of a contrast. So, take a step back and see what suits your space. If you’ve got an ornate Victorian style mantel, then why not do a historical take on it? This design looks gorgeous with its garlands of foliage and illuminating candlesticks!
Remember you can always stick to choosing things that match your Christmas tree and home décor. Whatever you decide, it will look lovely so long as it fits the design of your space! Just don’t forget to leave room to hang your family’s stockings for the big day!
Fresh foliage
There’s nothing like the fragrance of pine and evergreen foliage to make you think of Christmas. Creating beautiful sways of greenery and accessorizing them can really make a fireplace look fabulous for the festive season.
Created in the same way as garlands for your staircase, fireplace swags are a great way to decorate for Christmas. To keep them fresh, soak them overnight in a bath tub of water before shaking off the moisture and hanging them. That way, they’ll look great for longer! If you’re using foliage and want to make your fireplace twinkle with lights, use energy efficient LEDS. They’re cheaper to run and have the advantage of not heating up, so they won’t dry fresh foliage out.
All around decoration
When it comes to fireplaces, decorating doesn’t have to stop at the mantelpiece. Use your imagination when thinking about what’s above it and what’s in the hearth. You could replace an over mantel mirror with a Christmas themed mirror or picture. Also, don’t forget to about candles! To add this warming touch, you could either go for wax or battery-operated candles. If you’re worried about naked flames, then choose the battery-operated ones. With faux flickering wicks, no one will know the difference and you won’t have to worry about accidental fires.
On the hearth itself, pile presents either side (if you’re not using the fire) or add groups of church style candles. Just make sure you leave a space for Santa’s milk and cookies with a side of carrots for Rudolph!
Simple and sophisticated
If you’re looking to decorate a more contemporary fireplace, there are lots of ways to do it. From simple paper decorations to very plain garlands. If you have a modern fireplace, it’s likely you’ll enjoy a less traditional look. In this case, check out some of the interior design stores in your area. They often have alternative decorations and Christmas accents that you can choose to fit your style and color scheme. For truly modern decorative styles, remember the design mantra that- in some cases- less is more!
No fireplace? No problem!
Finally- for those folks who don’t have a fireplace, worry not! There’s an alternative to watching a fireplace on the TV or computer. If you really wanted to, you could go as far as decorating around the device that will showcase your fire!
