Festive ideas for the mantelpiece this Christmas

A well-decorated mantelpiece for Christmas is key to creating a successful, homely, festive mood at home. Read on for our best mantelpiece ideas.

Decorating a mantel, open fire, or log burner is the perfect way to anchor your decorating scheme because it tends to be the natural focal point in your room that creates a balance with your Christmas tree. Here, we hope to inspire your 2023 Christmas decorating with our festive ideas to update the look of your fireplace for Christmas, whether it's the shimmering party mood you're after this Christmas (be inspired by our lametta draped trend Midnight Mood) - or you're hoping to bed down to a Scandi-inspired Christmas or a cosy country look this winter.

The traditional choice to decorate the Christmas mantelpiece is a garland; the rich, dense greenery delivers that special festive feel - and with so many faux Christmas garlands to choose from, it’s easy to match one to the overall look you're going for in your Christmas decor. For a traditional festive look, you might opt for classic green pine to slot into a nostalgic red, green and cream colour scheme. With our Holiday Christmas trend, we capture the grand look you see in the movies - to do the same, make sure you have a generous garland or fireplace swag and consider positioning an oversized wreath above the mantel to match. Pairing your tree with your garland and wreath gives a cohesive look to your festive home.

If you're looking for something more whimsical, a row of fleecy stockings adds a heartwarming feel and a colourful felt garland or golden pine garland is a playful spin on the traditional. For a modern and minimalist look, a eucalyptus garland is always a timeless choice - and if you want the look to feel natural - but want the sparkle - choose a pre-lit option for your natural garland, such as our Faux Olive Leaf Light Up Garland and Gypsophila Lit Garland to amplify the festive atmosphere. 

‌“Pre-lit garlands and accessories are the best investment for the festive decorator because they’re battery-powered, and sockets can be a real challenge when dressing the mantel.”

A modern way to decorate a mantelpiece is to keep it simple and choose a statement mantel decoration. Choose a few pieces, such as a large paper tree or a single Light Up Brush Trees Forest, perfect as a centrepiece to the table or on top of a mantel as a contemporary alternative to a traditional garland. Add a Christmas ornament or a few small decorative items on the hearth, a row of Christmas lanterns or a festive-style log store. Another modern take on the Christmas mantelpiece is to style only one colour or material - an approach we have taken with our trend, Bali Boho. Experiment with asymmetrical arrangements, placing objects off-centre for a more dynamic look.

‌“Pre-lit garlands and accessories are the best investment for the festive decorator because they’re battery-powered, and sockets can be a real challenge when dressing the mantel.”

For those seeking Scandinavian Christmas style, it's all about choosing festive decorations that create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. For a rustic, homely Scandi look, opt for natural-looking evergreen garlands and layer on a warming, homespun feel with the odd candy stripe or gingerbread house. Lighting is central for the hygge style Christmas - candles suit a traditional style, whereas a single decorative light, such as a pre-lit star or snowflake, is a contemporary alternative to the classic wreath for a modern Scandi Christmas. 

When introducing more accessories, keep the palette tight and opt for winter woodland motifs for a rustic edge. Simple, Scandi-style wreaths, lit paper stars, wooden stars and kraft wrapping paper parcels suit a Scandi-styled Christmas - and anything with a handcrafted feel. 

‌“Measure your fireplace and select a garland that is longer than your mantel. For those seeking a drape, use clear removable hooks at intervals or use the weight of a stocking hook to secure.”

Flickering candlelight adds ambience, and Christmas decorating is all about creating an atmosphere. Don’t hold back when decorating with candles at Christmas. Find complementing candleholders, lit star motifs and Christmas lanterns, and for a sumptuous festive style, group two or more candles together on the mantelpiece. If you’re not keen on adding a naked flame, opt for a Pre-Lit Garland, and in the case of our Frosted Brush Tree Garland lights, you can add height and battery-powered lights - at the same time. Adding wire lights to your glass Christmas tree jar is a great way to create a portable festive light source - the display can be moved easily from the mantelpiece to the dinner table.

“For those looking to add lights, a pre-lit garland is an easy option, or alternatively, you can add a lightweight wire leaf garland to light the whole length of your existing one.”

There are two approaches for homes without a mantelpiece - to create a central display on top of a sideboard or console - or to style small vignettes across the whole room. Position a garland down the centre of your console table as the base for your festive display, and decorate your shelving with stylishly wrapped parcels or carefully placed Christmas accessories to unify the look. Add Christmas lanterns where there isn’t a hearth - lanterns are a great way to mimic the warm glow of the fire, and they add festive decoration to boot. Alternatively, create the same focal point as a fireplace by hanging a wreath centrally on the wall and positioning an alternative pre-lit tree beside it for added glow.  

Give the same attention to styling your hallway table as you do your mantelpiece. The hallway is the entranceway for your winter guests and the first impression of your home and its festive style. A Christmas hallway should have a welcoming wonderland look, and if you reflect the style of your tree and your mantelpiece, you achieve that special whole-house look. An effortlessly way to tie the look together is by using beautifully designed wrapping paper, and an easy way to add festive lights into the hallway is by placing a pre-lit narrow tree in a planter beside the console - or, for narrow hallways, by draping a light-up curtain garland from the stair.

“One or two lanterns grouped together are one of many great festive ideas for creating the look of a fireplace or console. Stack a display of presents in luxury wrapping paper to add more decoration‌.”