Christmas Mantel 2016

I do know that this is Thanksgiving week, but in blogland we get a head start on Christmas decorating. I used to start decorating Thanksgiving week, but now that blogging is in full force everyone starts early, including the stores, so I know you’ve already been inundated with Christmas by now if you’ve been out and about, is that right?  It’s hard to ignore that Christmas is just around the corner, so today I’m sharing my Christmas mantel all decked out.  I do love getting it all done early, so I can enjoy the entire month of December with my family and friends.  I can relax and enjoy, just the way I like it!

I’m working with Tree Classics again this year as a Brand Ambassador and using some of their products around my house.  I have a beautiful flocked Christmas tree this year that I can’t wait to show you. It’s beautiful!!  I don’t go out and buy all new things every Christmas, but I have a lovingly collected group of Christmas decorations that I’ve had for a long time.  It gets hard when you are sharing your home online to make things look all fresh and new every year, but I try to move things around and come up with different ideas on how to use what I have.  Most of us don’t buy new things every year and since this is my 10th Christmas in blogland, it’s even more challenging to make my stuff look fresh every Christmas!

I’m using the Classic Fraser Fir Festive wreath and garland again this year from Tree Classics and this year, I added their lighted (battery) wreath to my living room light fixture.  I used 2 garlands to drape from my rustic mantel for a full and lush look.

I’ve used faux wreaths and garlands for years now and just by adding a few things to them, you can make them look much fuller and more real.  Magnolia leaves are my favorite to add to faux garland and they add so much festiveness to this time of year.  Just find a nearby tree to cut some magnolia branches.

This garland already has pine cones woven in as well as a little bit of glitzy berries and the different tones of the foliage is very appealing. See that hit of bright green?  I wove a gold and white sheer wired ribbon into my garland to add some more color and interest.  I don’t usually go all out with a lot of color for Christmas. I save the red and green traditional Christmas colors for my kitchen and go more neutral everywhere else and it just works in my house to do that.

This beautiful sign is from Scripted Simplicity, a local girl here in Atlanta who does beautiful work.  I love the sentiment on this one and you’ve seen it before.  Perfect for this time of year!

Magnolia branches and glittery gold birds perched on the garland add a woodland feel.

Those gold trees I have had for probably 20 years and I just keep using them.  I do love gold and silver accents at Christmas.  Those tree slices are really fun this year, I picked them up along the way and decided they were fun to use on the mantel this year. They are real tree slices, so easy to find if you have a tree being cut down. Someone passed these on to me.  An antler and gold balls under a glass cloche add a fun gleaming element to the rustic mantel.  I also have a thing for sticks and limbs.  If I’m outside I see those lichen and moss covered limbs and can never resist bringing them home for display.  That one to the right behind the cloche that is covered in wispy moss came from my parent’s mountain house. It was on the ground and I spotted its texture and brought it home.  I’ve always been a nature lover.

These garlands are battery operated and look so pretty at night all lit up.

This side has more pretty shimmery Christmas balls in a glass vase, along with some of my faves for Christmas, jingle bells and little white vintage trees. Pinecones are free and so great to use this time of year.  I added glitter to these years ago and pull them out every year.

I just love the texture and brown backing on magnolia leaves, they add so much to Christmas decor.

I used Command hooks to attach my garland to the front of the mantel and they are holding up well.  One on either side and 3 in the middle did the trick.

It was nice to drape the garland where I wanted it on the front of the mantel and leave the top open for layering more pretty things.  I really love how festive it feels and it all works with my rock fireplace!

On my glass coffee table, I just added a simple brass tray with a tiny village scene underneath.  I used to do a full fledged village at my house, but it just got to be so much work so I sold it.  But, I kept a few pieces to use under glass and love the feel of these.

I’ll still be working this week to get the rest of my Christmas decorations all up and will be sharing it all along the way in the next few weeks leading up to the big day.  I just love this time of year and want to enjoy every minute of it.  I really try hard each year not to get stressed out here in blogland. It’s easy to feel the stress as there is so much going on and so many home tours to take in.  It can make you feel that you don’t measure up if you’re not careful and I hate to feel that way!  My home is not magazine perfect, but I use what I have to make it festive.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my mantel this year and as always I wish you a wonderful Holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving this week.  It will not be forgotten or ignored and I’ll be spending it with my family and my sweetheart.  Lauren and her family are home with us too and I can’t wait to spend time with them and those baby girls!  I’ll be sure to take pics along the way!

Note: This post is sponsored by Tree Classics! 

Don't Miss a Post, join my list!