I think you need something more arched shape to rest at the top of the painting, and to make your whole compostions half-moon shaped... like it so far though!

I'd either drape something all the across the painting or find a new home for the intact swag. Personally, I think your mantel looks great as is.

I think the problem with the swag is that it appears so stiff which makes it look awkward. It needs to drape more naturally. I'd take it down too.

Lynn, personally, I like the mantel decorations as they are without the swag on the picture. It looks too contrived, IMHO, to decorate what is already a lovely painting, with greenery, just because it's Christmas. To me, art is to be appreciated as fine ART, not as something that needs to be decorated!

The mantel will look lovely and festive without decorating the painting, too.

a) LOVE the mantel! :)

b) Remove the swag .... and use it elsewhere. The painting is visually strong enough without any more decoration.

c)Do you have anything "holiday seasonal" to replace the two small artworks on each side? JUST for the season? Perhaps something silvery/pewter and southwestern? Like two silver plates/platters to hang? JUST a thought!!! Really! Then you could add a touch of greenery to the top of each plate as it hangs on the wall?

Too stiff and too much of a clump to work there, imo. I do love the feel of your room!

I would take the greenery from the back of the swag (spruce, perhaps) and tuck that in behind the reindeer, so it creates a bit of a greenery backdrop and the antlers and head don't blend into the frame behind it. See if you can get a couple of pieces of greenery to sit under the statue and drape down on the mantel a bit, too.

Now you should just have the soft cedar pieces left, which might work on the painting. Personally, tho, I don't think you need it. I would take it and tack it up on the beam that is right in front, where the spotlight is hitting.

I think you could use taller red candles.

Just a quick thank you for the input! Per your opinions, I decided not to cut apart the swag and use pieces of it on top of the painting. Instead, I moved it to another area of the living room. It looks very nice there IMO.
Les, I agree and will look for taller candles.
Teacats: last year I just took the 2 side paintings down for the season. I have many other paintings, but none that would work in their places. No plates I could use there, either. I may just take them down again.
Lynn

Hi Lynne! Good to see you. I think it looks just great. Your decor and mine are totally different, from totally different areas of the country, and I really enjoy looking at yours. We don't have houses like yours with the great southwest flavor up here in rainy ol' Washington. I think you have a great flair with your home.

I need to update the Fireplaces thread in the Gallery too, and I do have some holiday ones. I'll have to pick those out. I'll try to get to it later today.

Good move! Is that a gourd pot on the shelf next to it?

I would have a hard time NOT carrying it around fanning myself just to get the wonderful smell of the fresh greens. Did you make it? It's very pretty.

Oceanna: thank you! One of my very favorite cousins lives up near you. She's in Tacoma. I need to get up to that part of the country someday soon. It looks beautiful and so green there!!!

Natal, yes it is a gourd pot! I have 3 or 4 different ones and really admire the work and creativity the artists put into them. New Mexico is a mecca for artists of all kinds, especially around here where I live. Wonderful, original art can be had for such great prices out here.

Cam, you made me laugh, as I did just that when I first got it! BTW, I bought it at Walmart out in their Garden area for (I think) $6.
Lynn

Back in the early 70s my ex-dh and I took a camping trip out west and spent a couple days in NM. We bought a piece of Acoma pottery. I think it's called a wedding vase. I have a gourd pot that was made by a Louisiana artist. I love things like that!

Natal, an Acoma wedding vase? How wonderful! Did you get a chance to actually visit the Acoma Pueblo, high up on top of the mesa? It's an amazing place.
I keep a wedding vase on our mantel when it's not Christmas. Wedding vases have the double handles. Here's mine.
Lynn

No, we visited the Taos Pueblo before continuing on to Colorado and a visit to Mesa Verde then on to the Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful trip!

My wedding vase is much smaller than yours.

. . . and it's beautiful!!! Acoma and Santa Clara are my two favorites of Native American pottery. Acoma's can be so intricate, especially with their rainbows, parrots, fish and hummingbirds. Oh, BTW, I meant to say that wedding vases have 2 spouts, not 2 handles (LOL)! That trip of yours does sound wonderful. You managed to visit some of New Mexico's most beautiful places.
Lynn

Lynn, regarding taking down the two pieces of art on the sides. If you get taller candles, and move the candlesticks out to each side just a bit, I don't think the walls will look bare if you do decide to take those down.

The other thing you could do - oh, you're gonna love THIS, LOL - is to take those down and get another two swags like the one you have, and hang them on each of the nails or hooks where the art was hanging.

Late - as usual - but, I like the idea of something swagged there. If it were me I would dismantle the swag and rewire it into a thin delicate swag and drape it either symmetrically or asymmetrically across the picture. That way the main focus is still the exquisite mantle as is but then there is just a tiny little highlight above the mantle that draws your eye up and begs your attention for the holiday.

PS - wanted to say that I LOVE your Christmas decor on the console table behind your sofa.