Before central air conditioning and heat, homes are kept warm by fireplaces in many of the rooms. In our historic home, we have 5 fireplaces inside and two outside. Each fireplace has a mantel that is begging to be decorated for the Christmas holidays. Here is a compilation of some of our decorated mantels over the years.

Back Terrace-2023

In our restoration journey, we add this valuable space to the back our our home. In the beautiful weather months here in Phoenix, it is the gathering place for family and friends. The large stack stone fireplace on one end is the focal point.

During our Fall Styling Workshop, Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate transforms the fall decorations to winter/holiday ones. Using this beautiful Norfolk pine garland, she adds large pinecones, elk sheds, festive balls and two different kinds of ribbon.

This beautiful 5″ elk ribbon (source: Decorators Warehouse but out of stock) and the 4″ silk plaid one (from my ribbon stash) are striking together. Vintage snowshoes and poles from thrift store finds add some charm and interest.

Here is the same fireplace but with a snowy, winter theme in 2020.

Living Room-2023

I recently shared this lush and luxurious mantel with you. If you missed it, you can see it here.

Here are some photos from previous years. In 2022 I repeat the use of magnolia and pine garlands and red berry clusters, but add faux amaryllis in blue/white ceramic pots.

The blue and white ceramic pots are filled with greens, ornaments and pinecones, as well as the same faux red amaryllis. The addition of our homemade stockings with brass holders keeps the simplicity of this mantel decor.

Here is another Chloe mantel, when she was visiting Bella Terra in 2020. Every time Chloe comes to Phoenix, I learn something new and I get a beautifully decorate mantel! Lucky me!

Dining Room Mantel

With such an abundant mantel in the adjacent living room, I decide to do a simply elegant one in the dining room this year. Using a magnolia garland, I add a faux lamb’s ear garland, glittery pine cones, pink and blush ornaments and a few strings of sparkly pink berries. This all goes nicely with the coral orchid pot from Dear Keaton.

In previous years, I use bottle brush trees, lights and pink/blush ornaments.

Some years I add garland and others not. This time I hang round pink ornaments with fishing wire on one side of the mantel.

Breakfast Room

Adjacent to our kitchen is the breakfast room. This sweet fireplace warms up both rooms during the winter months. Sometimes I change the artwork and sometimes I don’t. I do have to take care that any decorations are not too close to the flame too.

I’ve yet to decorate this for 2023, and hope to accomplish that in the next few days. In 2021 and 2022 I make the garland~red/white beads and tassels (see blog post), and dried orange slices (see DIY here).

In 2020, I hang a “clothesline” and with miniature clothespin, hang tiny Christmas sweaters, hats and mittens.

Originally, the breakfast room fireplace held all the nutcrackers we’ve collected over time. But it’s a bit of an effort to get them up from the basement and unpacked, so in 2010, I only display a few. In 2019, I go for darker shades of red.

Though the fireplace in the art room doesn’t typically get decorated, I love how my friend, Barbara from Mantel and Table, adorns this in 2020. Her use of faux peonies, gold berry clusters, pinecone ornaments and sheer ribbon makes an elegant statement.

The goal is to have the house fully decorated before this weekend. My guess is that you are already finished with holiday decorations~but I will get there eventually.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the various holiday mantels.

The only reason my living room mantel is completely decorated for Christmas is due to the Fall Styling Workshop. Chloe, from Celebrate and Decorate, demonstrates her technique for layering garlands for a luxuriously styled mantel. I can honestly say this mantel is so gorgeous that the room doesn’t require any other decorations.

The Before

Typically, the fireplace and mantel are simply adorned with 3 oil paintings of my children as toddlers and 2 large oriental vases. The mantel is long (10 feet) and deep (17″). After finding another home for the vases, we remove the paintings. However, hooks are remaining and embedded in the plaster walls.

Chloe comes up with a clever way to hide the hooks by making festive swags. For the center hook, we hang a Christmas-themed piece of art (a DIY project that I don’t believe I’ve shared yet). Brass candlesticks and Simon Pearce Hartland Hurricanes are added to the sides and will provide illumination at night.

Using Command hooks, Chloe wires the garland to the mantel. Subsequent garlands are wired to either another garland or the hooks.

With 3 different garlands providing depth and interest, Chloe adds the 4″ wide nutcracker ribbon I purchased earlier this year from Decorator’s Warehouse.

Chloe pairs the nutcracker ribbon with a 4″ Duponi silk plaid ribbon from Etsy. Note how she tucks the ribbon into the garland. In the center of the mantel, she makes a proper larger scale bow.

All the layers and textures of the garlands and ribbons, create a very luxurious effect.

The finishing touches include several nutcrackers from our family collection, which rest on top of the mantel. Using vintage stacked books, the nutcrackers sit at various heights

As you can see, this mantel decoration is a showstopper!

Items Used on the Living Room Mantel

Please note that I purchased most of these products as early as May (at Decorators Warehouse in Dallas, Texas) and as late as October. Many items are currently out of stock online but you may still be able to find them at your local store. The key lesson is if you see it, but it, because waiting too late in the season the items may be gone.

Cedar Garland (the soft plastic one used on the living room mantel)here. Note: Sold out online, but may be available at your local Hobby Lobby store. This garland might be a good substitute.

• Flocked Pine and pinecone garland here.
• Regular Pine garland (mine is years old) here
• Nutcracker Ribbon here
• Duponi Silk Plaid Ribbon from Etsy
• Command Hooks here
• Floral Wire here
• Assorted Nutcrackers here

I am considering adding soft twinkle Christmas lights as I did order this set but haven’t used them yet. Since we will be in the living room more during the holidays and with the early darkness, I think the twinkle lights are a must.

To see another Chloe mantel in our living room from 2020, check this out. I am so lucky to have such a talented friend!

Hope you are in the midst of joyfully decorating or relaxed because you are completely finished!

Happy Tuesday!

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