Since the beginning of time, mantels or hearths have been the heart and soul of every home. In folklore, St. Nicholas would drop presents into chimneys, where they would eventually land in the stockings awaiting beneath. Whatever the case may be, it’s become tradition to decorate mantels in celebration of the cheeriest day of the year!
48 Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas
If you’re looking for new and exciting ways to spruce up your mantel décor this year, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’re going to share 48 Christmas mantel décor ideas, many of which go beyond standard red-and-green themes!
No Red in Sight
Credit to victorycottage
At first glance, this may look like any well-designed mantel in any home. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice a lack of deep red hues in the mantel decorations. This was done intentionally by the designer who went with a new style. Frosted garlands and miniature Christmas trees are certainly within the norm, but what might have captured your eye is the super-fuzzy stockings on the right-hand side of the fireplace!
Rustic Vibes
Credit to magnolia
Following a rustic theme this year doesn’t mean sticking to matte tones. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your design choices, especially since this time of the year is all about sharing your ideas with others! This person maintained the rustic appearance natural to their home while also sprucing things up with lively garlands and colorful stockings. A wreath hanging in the middle of the upper mirror is also a neat touch.
Colorful
Credit to tatertotsandjello
Do you remember when, as a child, you were in love with all the colors? As adults, you’re more than free to give your mantel a splash of color beyond red, green, and gold! This homeowner went with all the colors of the rainbow with tremendous results! Pink and orange aren’t seen as very Christmas-y, but they work well against the solid-white backdrop of the paneled walls and fireplace. What colors do you think would fit your mantel this year?
Cozy and Festive
Credit to wilshire_collections
If you’re looking for something more traditional this year, here’s a great source of inspiration. This designer envisioned a classic mantel décor for Christmas this year, which led to this wonderful piece. The fireplace is flanked by two frosted Christmas trees, but the mantel itself is where the magic happens. The garland is filled with red and white dots, with jingle bells hanging on either end.
Darkness
Credit to 1930sarang
While Christmas is supposed to be the most festive time of the year, that’s not exactly what this homeowner had in mind. Regardless, it’s still a wonderful mantel décor that breaks the norm with darker-than-normal hues.
The fireplace is all-black, creating the perfect background for the golden jingle bells, ribbons, and mirror frame. Crystal Christmas trees, white flowers, and ivory candles add some much-needed contrast to the overall design.
Embellished Garland
Credit to kelleynan
When it comes to Christmas décor, the garland can tie everything together into a cohesive, wonderful decoration. This homeowner virtually left their mantel untouched for Christmas this year, but the garland screams intention.
The garland here is a stand-alone piece that has been embellished with bells and contrasting sprigs of pine. Below the garland are stockings that aren’t just fluffy but also match the white backdrop of the fireplace facing.
A White Christmas
Credit to randigarretdesign
Going with a singular color for your Christmas décor isn’t an issue. You can choose black for a more mystique look, green for a livelier appearance, or white to symbolize faith and purity.
This Christmas mantel décor is virtually missing any color, which gives it a stunning look. Golden trim and some spattering of green here and there help amplify the purity of this all-white design.
Muted Red
Credit to courtneyfitzp01
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: red is a common color in Christmas. Strangely enough, the designer here never experimented with red in their Christmas décor.
So, it makes sense that they went conservative with red rather than making everything as ruby as can be. The main tones are ivory, gold, and green, making red ribbons become even more pronounced.
Non-Traditional
Credit to ourss9
This image shows a mantel décor for Christmas that’s completely out of the norm. That’s not to say it’s bad—on the contrary, the pinkness of the room is as lively as the holiday.
The framed prints on the mantel are to die for, as is the wallpaper that spans the entire length of the wall. Would you like something like this for your mantel on Christmas?
Ribbons Galore
Credit to ourlittlewhitebungalow
Do you know what pairs well with stockings? Ribbons! What could you decorate a garland with? Globe ornaments are nice, but do you know what else is nice?
Ribbons! You see, ribbons are incredibly versatile during Christmas since they pair well with virtually anything—presents, Christmas trees, you name it! The only problem this homeowner faces is keeping their pesky cats away from the mantel!
Symmetry
Credit to kelly.elko
Everyone loves symmetry! When it comes to mantels, you can have an even number of anything to help maintain balance.
What you see on the left is perfectly reflected by identical items on the right, from faux Christmas trees on top of the mantel to the disco balls on the bottom. What you may not have noticed immediately is the chalkboard. The homeowner can use it to write personalized messages or to count down the days ‘til X-Mas!
Twinkling Lights
Credit to 2ladiesandachair
A little bit of twinkling lights can go a long way. If this is true, then imagine what a lot of twinkling lights can do! We see exactly that—a garland bedazzled with more lights than you can imagine.
But it doesn’t end there! The lights go up and into the wreath, creating a sparkling show at eye-level. We just adore how the dark fireplace stands out among the white surroundings.
Flocked Garland
Credit to pollies_place
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a bit of snow indoors but without the freezing cold air? It’s entirely possible, although you’ll have to be a bit creative with your design.
Flocked garlands are garlands that have been given a frosty finish, so it looks like it recently snowed in your living room. The flocked garland meshes well with the rustic vibes emanating from the room, starting with the stone fireplace to the imperfect finishes on the wooden furnishings.
A Lot to Unpack
Credit to toni_marianna
Oh, boy, there’s a lot we can talk about here. Looking at the mantel, we see an arrangement of mirrors that reflect some of the candle light around the room.
The mantel is also decorated with an assortment of seasonal knick-knacks, such as porcelain and crystal statues of Christmas trees. But the real star of the show is the winter village scene popping out of the fireplace.
A Hint of Blue
Credit to karintentori
The color blue isn’t particularly associated with Christmas, but hey—design your mantel as you wish! This designer went with a traditional garland with touches of something that is anything but traditional: eucalyptus.
It’s the eucalyptus that lends a hint of blue to the lush green. You can even find bits of blue here and there in the wreath and in the modern-style Christmas tree decorations.
Poinsettias
Credit to wallerhomeinteriors
Starting from late fall, you’ll find all kinds of flowers in bloom. Pansies, cyclamen, and camellias are just a few examples, but the flower most in-line with Christmas is poinsettias.
These “short-day” flowers have become a common decoration for Thanksgiving and Christmas due to their stunningly red hue. If you can get your hands on a bundle of poinsettias, consider placing them around your mantel for a more natural décor.
Bright Nutcrackers
Credit to vintage.victorialouise
Color contrast is the spice of design. You can stick to a monotonous color palette, or you can choose opposing colors to add another layer of depth to the final product. This person went with the latter option, though the top of the mantel wouldn’t give that hint.
It’s dark and gloomy, which may be partially due to a lack of lights. However, it’s at the front of the fireplace where the magic happens. Two brightly colored nutcrackers stand guard to prevent curious fingers from finding their way into the blazing logs!
A Bushy Wonderland
Credit to the_found_home
If you’re going big, go as big as you can. That’s what went through this designer’s mind when contemplating how much natural greenery to include in their mantel decorations for Christmas.
Apparently, buying out the entire nursery was just the right amount of “go big” in their mind, and we gotta say, it looks great! Some might think this is taking it several steps too far. But what do you think?
A Touch of Red
Credit to anettevs
Do you feel like using a singular color tone and plastering it everywhere on your mantel? That’s probably what this person had in mind!
As you can see, there’s hardly a square inch of mantel space that isn’t covered in red. It’s Christmastime, after all, so go with whatever red objects you can get your hands on. Poinsettias, candles, ribbons—the works!
Easy Does It
Credit to debtrette
If you’re low on time and energy, then you should probably take things easy when it comes to your Christmas décor.
This person has given us the perfect example of a mantel décor that’s fancy yet as simple as can be. A bushy garland and a few stockings really go a long way, but you can go the extra-mile with a few seasonal decorations on top of the mantel.
Bottlebrush Trees
Credit to rarecorners
But if you’d really like to take things easy this Christmas, just follow what this person did. They found several bottlebrush trees and placed them on top of the mantel.
A few twinkling lights will increase the magic tenfold, but even the trees themselves should suffice. The miniature wreath on top of the center-most tree is absolutely adorable!
An Explosion of Colors
Credit to justtracytalk
As far as decoration choices go this Christmas, there are no wrong answers. You can go as minimalistic as you want, or you can set off a bomb of festive cheer in your living room. The wreath in this picture has way too many things to talk about in such few words.
We see a few Santa Claus figures, as well as a knitted hat. If you’re having trouble deciding on what to place on your mantel, go with everything!
White Fireplace with Forest-Toned Garland
Some fireplaces feel like snowdrifts inside a house. This one layers a pale surround with a deep green garland threaded with pinecones and muted ornaments. Candles at the edge create a quiet punctuation, not a blaze. The whole effect works like a winter poem in neutral shades, a study in space rather than abundance.
Angel Mantel with Vintage Clock
Two porcelain angels guard an old clock as if time itself paused for December. Underneath runs a garland of pine and gilded beads, heavy enough to frame the scene but light enough to keep it open. This mantel demonstrates how one strong centerpiece can anchor everything else, from greenery to stockings, without clutter.
Victorian Christmas Mantel Glow
This room feels like stepping into a favorite holiday novel before the first line is read. The mantel itself stretches across the fireplace with a thick garland of pine and holly, sprinkled with tiny lights that look like sparks caught midair.
Gold and brass accents—antique plates, candleholders, and a soft wreath—bring in a rich Victorian mood without feeling stuffy. Three classic red stockings hang at the edge as if waiting for a late-night visitor, and the mirror above doubles the warmth of the fire below.
All together, it’s an example of how mantel décor can set the tone for an entire room—inviting, layered, and quietly grand.
Oversized Wreath with Red and Gold Mantel
A single wreath takes over the wall above the hearth, almost like a sun over a horizon. Below, the mantel mixes pinecones, red ribbons, and small golden pots, keeping the eye bouncing without chaos. This setup turns symmetry into drama: one bold anchor at the top, supporting details below.
Gingerbread House Mantel Arrangement
Think of a mantel as a baker’s window at dusk. Small gingerbread houses in orange and white form a miniature street while candles in wood holders stand like lamp posts. A rabbit statue off to one side makes the whole display look found rather than staged. It’s proof that whimsy beats repetition every time.
Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees Mantel
A sign about cutting trees sets the tone before any greenery appears. Bottlebrush pines and frosted garland cluster below it, evoking a roadside stand in winter. This mantel teaches how a single graphic element — a phrase, a board, a map — can guide the colors and textures around it.
Red and White Mantel with Cozy Glow
There’s a thrill to seeing red walls pull white stockings into focus. Lanterns and small gifts push forward under a garland of evergreen. Instead of a complicated palette, the scene relies on two colors and simple shapes. This approach leaves breathing room while still feeling unmistakably Christmas.
Stone Mantel with Playful Stockings
Cool stone absorbs light differently than wood. Against it, cone trees and topiaries look crisp, and oversized stockings add warmth without crowding the shelf. The scene gives a lesson in contrast — hard texture above, soft fabric below — which can make any mantel look deliberate.
White Mantel Framed by Twin Trees
The first impression is of balance: two Christmas trees flanking a white fireplace, a rocking chair off to the side, and a garland centered with berries. Bright light reflects off the pale surfaces, creating more space than actually exists. Readers wanting a full holiday feel without clutter can borrow this symmetrical approach.
Red Wall with Traditional Mantel Scene
Color arrives before anything else here. A deep red backdrop lets the garland, candles, and wreath stand out like jewels, while a tree at the edge extends the palette across the room. This mantel shows how letting one hue dominate can free you to simplify every other choice.
Woodland Hearth with Winter Owl
Ever wondered what a Nordic cabin might look like dressed for the holidays? This mantel channels that fantasy with its bark-clad backdrop, dark evergreens, and pops of scarlet berries. A white owl perched on a cut log gives the scene a mystical touch, while the low garland and simple wreath echo an untamed winter forest.
Warm Glow Christmas Tree and Fireplace
The mood here is quiet, golden, and almost cinematic — the sort of space where a long evening could stretch softly. A pale stone fireplace with a mirror above reflects candlelight and the tree’s warm shimmer. Tucked around the hearth are little holiday objects and gifts that make the whole scene feel personal rather than staged.
Modern Elegance with Soft Amber Light
Gold tones feel bold yet calm when paired with simple lines. This room uses a crisp white mantel as the anchor and then layers in gold ornaments, soft evergreens, and a wooden reindeer for charm. The glow from the fire sits low and steady, giving the room a subtle glamour without feeling overly formal.
Classic Stone Fireplace with Vintage Clock
What happens when a rustic wall meets a storybook clock? You get a hearth like this one, where stacked stones meet a wooden mantel covered in berries and nutcrackers. A round clock and a deep green tree flank the fire, creating a mood that hints at old holiday gatherings in a countryside lodge.
Antique Mirror Mantel with Lush Greenery
At first glance it feels like stepping into a parlor from a different century. A carved mirror rises above the mantel, heavy with trailing evergreens and tucked pinecones. Brass candlesticks line the ledge for a gentle glow, and small ornaments peek out between the branches as if waiting to be discovered.
Playful Santa Mantel with Snowman and Stained Glass
Is it a toy shop, a hidden café, or a family parlor? This corner mixes all three moods at once, with stained glass windows, carved gold mirrors, and an army of Santas and snowmen. Faux snow piles around the figurines and lanterns, and the whole setup feels handcrafted, like a holiday display built over many years.
Forest Friends Gather by the Hearth
What if your fireplace felt like a path into the woods? The moss along the ledge in this photo looks damp and alive, holding pinecones as if they’d just dropped. Carved owls, deer, and a fox seem to pause mid-step, while chunky birch candles give off a muted glow. It’s part fairytale, part winter hike, and the whole thing feels like a secret scene you stumbled upon in nature.
Old-World Christmas Train Display
This mantel seems to remember another era entirely. Instead of glitter and tinsel, it offers toy trains, wooden engines, and worn stockings like you’d see in a childhood drawing of Christmas morning. Above, a rustic garland stitches the whole picture together, and down below, tiny engines cluster at the hearth as if waiting for passengers.
Classic Holiday Colors Meet Bold Style
Some displays wear their tradition loudly and still manage to feel fresh. Here the oversized bows act like curtains for a theater of evergreens, glossy red ornaments, and flickering firelight from the brick hearth. The way the garland sweeps wide and heavy gives it a lushness you don’t usually see in such a classic palette.
Mini Winter Village Under Twinkling Lights
You almost hear muffled footsteps on snow when you look at this mantel. A long row of tiny houses glow from within, their rooftops frosted, their windows warm. The miniature trees create a kind of horizon line, and the mirror behind doubles the sense of space, like peering into a second world.
Cozy Cabin Look with Plaid and Evergreens
The first thing you notice here is how familiar it feels, like a cabin waiting after a day on the slopes. Plaid stockings dangle off the heavy wooden beam, and lanterns with pale candles add height at both ends. The garland isn’t just green — it’s layered, full of berry clusters and pine sprigs that feel hand-gathered rather than store-bought.
Nordic Woodland Mantel
Large wooden stars are not what you’d expect over a winter hearth, yet here they feel inevitable. Around them, small evergreens in stone pots and strands of lights hold the colder tones of a Nordic winter, while white deer figurines on moss below look like ghosts from an old folktale. The whole setup feels sculptural, spare but intentional.
Gingerbread Bakery Mantel
There’s something almost mischievous about this one, like a confectioner let loose. Instead of a garland, rows of gingerbread houses line the mantel under glass jars brimming with candy. Even the greenery beneath has citrus slices tucked into it, hinting at kitchens and simmering holiday punch rather than pine forests.
Ocean Breeze Meets Christmas Glow
This is what happens when Christmas meets salt air. Starfish, bleached wood, and pale blue ornaments nestle into frosted greenery, and a driftwood wreath hangs like a relic from the tide. Rather than deep reds and greens, you get sea glass tones and the sense of a bright winter morning by the shore.
Boho Chic Mantel
Texture drives everything here. Thick knit stockings, pampas grass plumes, and brass accents combine like pieces from a market trip rather than a department store aisle.
The little white houses tucked into the greenery give a nod to the season but leave space for a freer, more collected look that’s more about atmosphere than theme.
Cranberry Garland Bursting with Color
At first glance, it’s just red. Then you see the berries climbing, pooling, and rolling across the mantel as if they’d spilled from an unseen basket.
Lanterns at the hearth anchor the riot of color with black frames and pale candles, making the entire arrangement feel like a living garland that’s grown too wild to contain.
