Holiday Decor ~ lsxs114

Welcome Sarah!
Sarah is a a quintessential Midwestern mom in her late 30s who works as a freelance copywriter for
Tree Classics.com.
http://www.treeclassics.com/Default.aspcompany.

How to Make Your Mantel Look Festive

This Thanksgiving, I highly recommend using festive mantelpiece displays to add warmth to your fireplace. Personally, I really like dressing up my mantel because it makes my home feel so much more inviting! On that note, I’ve picked out some ideas for mantelpiece displays that I hope will transform your home into the holiday abode you’ve always wanted.

1. A traditional combination of a wreath and garland

The combination of a beautiful wreath and garland on your mantel definitely makes the fireplace a great focal point. I recommend accenting the wreath and garland with some clear or multi-colored Christmas lights. The warm glow from the lights really ties in well with the holiday theme, creating a cozy look. Adding other natural decorations, like holly berries and pine cones, make it look even better!

2. A big basket filled with pine cones

Get a big basket and fill it with some charming pine cones. Since these are really versatile, you can dress them up however you like -- in gold paint or glitter! To add visual interest, I also suggest using pine cones in different sizes and adding other decorative accents like red berries and nuts.

3. A seasonal arrangement made with fruits, vegetables or flowers

Source: Southern Living Source: conspicuousstyle.com via Valerie on Pinterest

One recommendation I could make for decorating your home would be a harvest theme to celebrate Thanksgiving. In line with a theme like this, you can create a mantelpiece display made with fruits, vegetables or flowers in season. I like using butternut squash and pumpkin flowers because of their lovely orange and yellow colors. After placing these in classy, silver bowls, I usually add fresh flowers or dried flowering branches as decorative accents.

Images from: Country Living and The Lettered Cottage
4. A well-chosen selection of your favorite decorations and photographs

This is a great chance to display your favorite decorations and photographs that you normally would place elsewhere. I really like displaying framed photographs of my family taken during previous holiday get-togethers! Not only does this bring up good memories, but it also adds a personal touch to your decor. To complement the photographs, I like adding other favorite decorations that I’ve picked up from vintage stores or flea markets.

You’ll see for yourself that using festive mantelpiece displays really does make quite a difference! Just remember to use decorations that blend well with the overall look and feel you want to create. A final suggestion: You can make this more fun by creating these mantelpiece displays together as a family (just don’t forget to ask for help with clean-up afterward). Enjoy!