If I had to confess, I think January is my least creative month to do any decorating. Â We’ve just closed out Christmas and when January rolls around, I’m so lazy and lethargic and can barely think about doing anything really creative around my house. Â It’s still looking a little bare from putting all the Christmas decorations away and I’m not at all ready for spring decorating either. Â That seems to be rushing things. Â It’s that in between month that can feel a little dreary.
I definitely didn’t get too creative for my Winter mantel this year, but it needed something up there after all the Christmas decor came down. Â This vignette feels like the season should feel. Â Spare, natural and no color is what we expect this time of year, so that’s what I did on the mantel.
Pinecones seem to be such a natural material to use during the Fall and Winter months, so I used my collection for adding some texture. Â With my rustic mantel and rock below, just adding more texture above works as an accent. Â A white lantern, natural branches that I’ve collected outdoors and those pinecones that I love create a Winter vignette.
White lantern against the white plank boards and I liked the mix of white painted pinecones and natural ones. Â I added a bit of glitter on these pinecones years ago and they make a fun little accent for lots of decorating this time of year. I keep them all in a big box in my garage and just drag them out as needed.
Those pretty lichen covered branches are ones that have caught my eye outdoors on more than one occasion. Â I’ve been known to be walking outside and spot a pretty branch, breaking it off and bringing it home or even one that’s on the ground has called my name before. Â I just love the natural mossy look of these branches, mixed with pinecones. A reminder that Spring is around the corner, really it is!
On the other side of the mantel, more pinecones in white and natural and this old iron urn that I found years ago at a yardsale for $5, is one that I just can’t get rid of. Â If you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, you’ve seen this piece used many times. I love piling it with pinecones or other interesting things and the shape of it just speaks to me. Â It’s heavy as can be! Â A white starfish is a fun little accent against all the brown.
More collected branches add a nice backdrop to this side as well. Â The tree slice is just another touch of rustic for this Wintery feel.
It’s not super exciting and definitely not colorful, but it was sort of my mood for January. Â Understated, little color and quiet, just like this month usually is. Â As February gets here and there is more promise of Spring in March here in the South, that gets me excited. Â Spring is my favorite time of year and I just can’t wait for it to arrive once again.
How about you? What do you do in January and February after Christmas to decorate your mantel for Winter?  Are you feeling a little natural and neutral like I am or do you go all out?
Here’s to Spring, I can’t wait for more color and sunshine to arrive!
My sentiments exactly on January, Rhoda. Having said that, your mantel is just perfect.
I love winter only wish it were colder. I love the pine cones and the rustic look. As always you make something drab look GREAT!
Hope to see you soon!
Andrea
I love pine cones too. I have an old 5 gallon ceramic container that came down through the family filled and piled high with huge sugar pine cones. My 6 year-old nephew is fascinated by them since most are easily at least half his size!
Your mantel is beautiful. I thought to myself if I had seen a photo of your mantle on Pinterest it would make me yearn for winter!
Rhoda, your understated and rustic mantel is perfect for January! It has a winter feel with the unexpected starfish that adds a touch of whimsy!
January is just that month that things just seem to call for cleaning and purging and not decorating. Love your mantel, looks fabulous.
January is such a dreary, long month! Seriously, this morning when I woke up, I thought to myself, is it really still January? How can that be? It seems like Christmas was ages ago!
I don’t do any winter themed decor once Christmas is over. I look out my windows and dead branches are all I see, so I try to decorate the indoors with a little more color. Lots of green with splashes of blue give me what I need to hold on till spring! 🙂
I so agree about decorating in January. I think I focus so much on getting rid of items and organizing that
January is my month I start out trying less is more. It relaxes my mind and gives my eyes a break from
clutter. I really like your less is more mantle decorating. I was just wondering what are the dimensions
of that fabulous mirror and is it still available to purchase from somewhere? I really like its texture and subtle bling.
HI, Rene, I got that mirror awhile ago at Joss and Main, I’ll have to see if I can still find it out there and link it for you.
Perfect for the season!
I can’t seem to get my creative juices going either. It took me longer to take down Christmas decor because I had bronchitis right after Christmas. As of today, my dining room table and mantle is bare. Come inspiration! Come!
Yes, I think January is more for organizing & less about decorating. Your winter mantel looks perfect but I think a little turquoise added, like the color of your front door, would look really pretty mixed in. I really enjoy your Blog & it’s my favorite one.
I agree it’s hard to get excited about decorating in January! One thing that helped was walking in to World Market & seeing a round brass hammered finished coffee table. It has made such a difference! Great storage for my many pillows & throws too. I love the texture it gives our room too. You deserve a break Rhoda…soon you’ll be at it again. Blessings…
Rhoda – I agree, it’s just wrong to rush spring right now. I was in Pier 1 today and they have all the Easter stuff out. It’s beautiful, but too soon! One thing I’m doing is looking out for some forsythia bushes that I can cut some branches to bring in to force the blooms.
Your mantel is beautiful!
Hi, Kim, oh I love to force blooms and those forsythias would be perfect. I usually do that with my cherry tree branches.
Very inspiring! I like how you explain where you found all of these things. I also like the wood stain you used on the mantel. It looks finished, but not too shiny and formal.
Rhoda, you did a lovely job of decorating your mantel! I always love to use pine cones and faux cedar this time of year.
We have so much snow this year but we are enjoying being home for winter this year! It’s sure a change from wintering on South Padre Island, Texas!
Have a blessed week!
These are some great ideas, thank you! I have a fireplace mantle and we keep family pictures there. While I love having my family on the mantle I’d like to try and be more decorative but I need ideas. Even though these are winter ideas I like them and they would fit with my decor.
Thanks again.
Blessings,
Elizabeth 🙂