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RP: How to decorate a long holiday mantle

15 years ago

We have a LONG mantle (about 9ft long) and I am looking for new ideas to decorate it for Christmas.

Here is a pic of the mantel... this is after we installed it so the decor is lacking..

here is the mantle last christmas. Its a little dark but I have faux greens up there and we have the stocking holders and some other accessories. There is also colored lights. DH hates white - says its not festive enough. Some of the accessories I have on there usually is: white ceramic santa, candleholder with burg and white candles, clear snowmen, red hurricane, stocking holders are 2 deer and a santa sleigh (can't see the sleigh too well) and I am looking for another deer maybe or something different for the dog stocking.

We will have an additional stocking up there this year as we have a new baby.

I like the greens up there butmaybe just not those. Not sure what I can add. It is not one long garland.. those were too bulky and fake. I had bought a bunch of picks at AC Moore a few years ago and those are scattered up there with some regular greens. THe picks are different kinds of greenery. I add red and white berries as well as pinecones in there.

I saw these lights but I am not sure how these would look or what to put with them if I did them...

Can I see some of your mantles for inspiration and if you can give me details on what is on them that would be great?

What would you do with this LONG mantel?

TIA, Ruth

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Comments (4)

lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
Hi Ruth! With such a long mantel . . . and your very prominent fireplace, my take is that you need to balance it out with taller, larger items. Things that won't be overwhelmed by the sheer bulk of your very pretty fireplace. A couple larger, framed pictures with a large clock in the middle would be the first thing I'd try. They don't have to be Christmas themed art, although that would be lovely as well. Two matching large mirrors would also work, if they'd reflect something you want to highlight. 2-3 big chunky candleholders, or two of the red ones you have in your pic already. I'd then add greenery and lights. The bottom line, IMHO, is that you need larger items to balance your fireplace's mass.
Lynn
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yachter123
15 years ago
I was looking at Rate My Space last nite & saw quite a few mantels decorated for xmas.

Go to their site & on the left use the tab "holidays" and you can browse thru the pictures there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rate My Space
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yachter123
15 years ago
Here is a link to a slide show of mantels decorated for xmas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Xmas Mantels
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ncnana
15 years ago
You have a lovely fireplace and mantle. I can't wait to see how you end up decorating it. - Gail
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