How To Give Your Mantelpiece A Festive Makeover This Christmas
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3 hours ago
A very merry mantel awaits
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – especially at home, where festive decorating is in full swing. And while most people have their sights set on the tree (understandably), for others, it’s the mantel taking centre stage this season. Lined with boughs of holly, ribbons and stockings, a Christmas mantelpiece shows just why we consider the hearth the heart of the home.
Below, we share our top festive decorating tips for a jolly Christmas mantelpiece, as well as the trends taking this season by storm.
Why You Should Give Your Mantelpiece A Festive Makeover
Just as the tree serves as a focal point for a festive living room, so too does the humble mantelpiece; the same care that goes into arranging baubles and tinsel similarly carries over to the garlands and candles arranged atop the fireplace.
‘It sets the scene for Christmas by offering a place of warmth and a feeling of comfort,’ says Hannah Bryce, grower and floral designer at Minnow and Wolf. ‘There is nothing better than sitting by a real fire watching a Christmas movie or enjoying festive drinks with friends. It also creates the perfect space to dress with garlands, candles and Christmas stockings.’
Susie Watson Designs
‘At Christmastime, the mantel naturally comes to the fore, offering the perfect opportunity to create a considered decorative moment away from the tree,’ adds interior designer Rebecca Udall. ‘As the inherent focal point of a room, a fireplace inspires an abundant, festive arrangement, that feels both intentional but not contrived.
‘The mantelpiece carries a sense of warmth, nostalgia and homeliness throughout the season,’ she adds, ‘so it’s fitting to celebrate it with thoughtful, layered decoration.’
What’s Trending In 2025?
Now, a classic mantelpiece – adorned with garlands and lined with stockings – will never go out of style, but some decorations are proving particularly popular this Christmas.
The biggest trend? A focus on foliage. ‘I’ve seen some really beautiful mantle designs this year using a mix of foraged greenery and branches mixed together with dried flowers,’ notes Hannah. ‘Dried flowers are a good way to add a pop of colour. Dried peonies in shades of dark pink offer a beautiful alternative to the traditional white or red colour schemes. Look out for dried bracken and teasel for a vintage feel.’
Rebecca Udall (c) Rebecca Hope
She’s also noticed people getting craftier with their decorations – turning to vintage DIY tricks to make their home bright and festive. ‘Paper garlands and bow garlands are incredibly popular,’ she adds. ‘The simple paper chains you can make at home using recycled paper or decorative paper are a quick way to transform a space. Try layering them or positioning them at different angles.’
And who can forget this year’s major decorating trend? Bows have proven popular throughout 2025 (thank you, Marie Antoinette), but Christmas is when we’ll see them shine their brightest. ‘Bows have always been popular but this year I’ve spotted a trend for ribbon garlands – a row of ribbons tied together into bows,’ highlights Hannah. ‘It’s really simple, but effective and elegant.’
But overall, there seems to be a much more curated approach to mantelpiece decorating – long gone are the days of cluttering the mantel with random festive knickknacks. ‘In keeping with the more general shift in interiors toward warmer palettes, timeless luxury and rich, considered layering, festive mantlepiece displays are embracing this too,’ emphasises Rebecca. ‘Artisanal texture and a quietly elevated sense of tradition – giving a nod to nostalgic 90s influences without parodying them – are key.’
Set The Scene: Christmas Mantelpiece Decorating Tips
Get The Right Tools
Before getting started, you’ll need to measure up your space and get everything you need to bring your festive mantel to life. ‘Look at the space that you have and don’t be afraid to be bold,’ advises Hannah. ‘If you use the right mechanics (clamps, nails, sticker hooks, wire) you can add large branches with seasonal foliage such as pine and spruce which smells wonderful, mixed with dried flowers for a pop of colour.’
Layer Up
From there, it’s just a matter of building up your mantelpiece – especially if you’re using foliage. ‘I love to create a layered, gathered look by mixing softer, cascading stems, such as trailing ivy or eucalyptus, with more structural sprigs like holly,’ says Rebecca. ‘The contrast of the gentle drape with the sharper silhouette, and the pops of red from the holly berries feels perfectly festive. Tucking a few dried hydrangea heads at considered intervals introduces depth and rich colour.’
Rowen & Wren
Tap Your Inner Maximalist
Don’t be afraid to be a little out there with your decorating. ‘More is more,’ emphasises Hannah. ‘I love to add foraged foliage, colourful ribbons and candles. Although note that church candles or taper candles in glass hurricanes are a safer option to avoid open flames near the foliage.’
Be Messy
Remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect. You can afford to be a little messy here. ‘Allow the greenery to spill beyond the edges of the mantle for a slightly wild, effortless feel,’ suggests Rebecca. ‘It keeps the arrangement from feeling overly styled and creates the impression of a fuller, more expansive space.’
Appeal To All The Senses
Your mantel might look pretty festive, but why stop there? You can also do some scentscaping to really bring the Christmas scene to life. ‘If you don’t have dried flowers to hand, dried orange slices wired or strung together into a garland looks really pretty draped over foliage,’ recommends Hannah. ‘Alternatively, you could add real oranges decorated with cloves and ribbons to your mantlepiece to add an amazing scent.’
Draw The Eye Up
As you might have guessed, the trick to nailing the look lies in those all-important finishing touches. Think accessories – candles, stockings, ribbons, baubles – that help guide the eye across the whole thing. ‘To draw the eye upward, I like to intersperse greenery with candleholders housing elegant tapered candles and in contrast add a plush velvet stocking or two,’ suggests Rebecca. ‘The best finishing touch is, of course, a roaring fire in the grate.’
Small Space? We’ve Got You…
‘If you are working with a smaller space, a selection of pretty glass bud vases mixed with foliage or flowers can look just as effective as a large display,’ says Hannah. ‘Add vintage or decorative glassware. If the vessel is really special you only need to add a spring of holly or ivy and you have a stunning display.’
Interiors Inspiration
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