Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A dazzling mantel display fires up seasonal cheer
Next to your tree, your fireplace mantel is the most important part of your holiday decor. After all, this is where Santa makes his big entrance. The sky is the limit when it comes to dressing this long, thin stage.
Some of us like a display that has a few discreet touches of seasonal cheer. Others light up with joy when their mantel is brimming with layer after layer of opulence.
The visual design team at Nell Hills in Kansas City, Mo., does our Christmas mantels up big, with grand displays in every room, each one different from the last. While all our mantels have unique looks, they share four key ingredients. You can use our checklist as your guide.
1. START WITH GREAT GREENS
A garland of holiday greens is the base layer of every mantel display we create. You can use yards and yards of a very full garland, dipping it below the line of the mantel and trailing the ends toward the floor. Or you can keep the greens close cropped to the top of the mantel. It’s a
matter of personal preference.
To secure your garland so it doesn’t slide off the mantel in a colossal crash, tap brad nails into the seam between the mantel and the wall, on the right and left sides. Twist thin wire around the nail head and tie it to the garland.
Your greens do not need to be traditional ropes of pine boughs. If you never have before, try something different this year, such as a magnolia leaf garland. We have been using it for years and love the sophisticated look.
Once you have a garland of greens in place, embellish it with interesting picks, such as berries, sticks, pine cones or contrasting leaf colors and shapes.
2. ADD DRAMATIC FOCAL POINT
We love mantel displays that have a touch of drama. And to pull that off, you need an arresting focal point. Get creative on this one, because the sky is the limit.
Do you have any family holiday mementos you want to spotlight? This is the perfect place. A holiday collection you want to showcase? Pick one or two of your favorite pieces and work it into your design. Go for some vertical height and a mix of sizes and shapes for maximum impact.
3. EMBELLISH WITH ORNAMENTS
This year, our bliss is lots of lush layers. Forget minimalism. To create an opulent mantel, we added an assortment of ornaments, laced throughout the greenery, held tightly in place with plastic zip ties (be sure to trim the ends of the ties so they don’t show).
When picking the ornaments to include in your mantel, approach it as you would your Christmas tree. Make a pile of small, medium and large ornaments. Make sure there are a variety of shapes, colors and finishes. Start with the largest ornaments as your base layer, then build up.
4. FINISH WITH RIBBON AND TRIM
We really like to use ribbon in our holiday displays. They offer a dash of glamour or charm.
Lace your ribbon through your garland or dot in bows or knots. For a fuller look, add in garlands of beads and pearls.