Decorating A Mantel For The Holiday's
Decorating for the holidays is probably one of the things that I look forward to the most. I do have to admit though that it can give me stress with all the other tasks that need to be accomplished like buying gifts, cooking meals and party planning. However, I have found that if I start early, I feel better about what needs to be done and ultimately, I do finish everything on time to enjoy the holidays.
Each year before I decorate my Christmas tree and mantel, I choose a theme and color that I want to design around. It just makes it less complicated for me and allows me to focus on the task at hand. This year I chose gold and red for the colors and the theme is simply classic Christmas using natural evergreens and other elements from nature.
I honestly want more natural elements in my home these days to promote a more healthy and sureen environment since we are home much more as of late.
Just as many of you, because we are moving through a pandemic this holiday season, I will not be hosting an open house and will only have my husband and daughter for dinner. Honestly, it is the first time in 22 years that I have not had a houseful here for Christmas.
You have to look for all the little blessings in this turmoil. My daughter has been able to come home and work remotely from Connecticut instead of her apartment in DC. It will be the first time that we will not have to rush through our day. We can enjoy each other and spend time giving thanks for our health and wellbeing. I think that is pretty special.
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.”
I purchased a beautiful red silk ribbon this year and decided it would be the foundation to my design. I also had a gorgeous earthy gold tone fabric ribbon with lovely gold embellishments on it. I decided to use both and intertwine them throughout my mantel design.
For my tree, I chose to use simple gold, white and silver with just a few touches of red. I also have included those ornaments that traditionally have graced our tree for years. I am going for a more tranquil design that will brings calm and a feeling of wellbeing to my home.
Silk Red Ribbon with Gold Glitter
my mantel
I bought a 6-foot mixed evergreen garland from my local garden nursery. I then laid it out on my table outdoors and loosely wrapped both ribbons around the garland. I then placed the garland on my mantel and fixed the ribbon a bit more to be sure both colors were visible.
Hint: You will need about 1-2 extra feet of ribbon if you want to wrap it around your garland.
Earthy Gold Ribbon with Glitter
I then placed a set of reindeers on both ends of the mantel to be sure I have a symmetrical balance through my design.
A little about symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance occurs when equal weights are on equal sides of a composition, balanced around the center.
For this mantel, it means that if you place an item on one side of a certain size or weight, add it to the other. I placed a champagne gold reindeer on one side of my mantel therefore I also placed another very similar one on the opposite side of the mantel. It created symmetry and balanced the design equally on both sides.
I tend to design using symmetry therefore, when I add a design element to one side, I will add the same size or weight to the other side. On my mantel, I added a red ornament to one side of the mantel and added the same color and size to the other side. It wasn’t exactly the same but very close.
I then added additional evergreen that I found in my yard, some pinecones, magnolia leaves, additional ornaments, and some artificial elements that brought more color and sparkle to the mantel.
I wanted to further embellish my design by hanging a boxwood wreath over my fireplace using similar design elements from my mantel. My garland had boxwood in it and by adding a bow using the same ribbon I had in my mantel, it helped to create an overall cohesive look and feel and it helped to further anchor my design.
I finished off by hanging the stockings that I have hung for the past 22 years. The year my daughter was born we went out and bought our stocking and they have graced our fireplace ever since.
“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
My daughter’s santa stocking always sits front and center.
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together”
Ambiance is essential during the holidays. After my mantel is complete, I thread twinkle lights throughout my design to set an enchanting mood during the evening.
The Tree
Every year we go to find a real Frazer Fir to bring home and decorate. This year was no different. We decorated This tree with a combination of different gold and white ribbon. We used gold, silver and white ornaments along with some very special ballerina’s, violins, and Disney princesses that are reminiscent of years gone by.
““ Fresh-cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin - inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.” ”
The thing is…the holidays should be special no matter how elaborate you decorate your home. Using elements from nature along with beautiful ribbons and ornaments just make it that more magical. Although this is an incredibly challenging season for so many, we must look for the small blessings in our lives to make it special. Bring out the cherished holiday treasures that help conder up warm feelings of joy and happiness. We really are in this together.
Relax and enjoy your day
As with everything I post on my blogs, if you have any comments or questions, please leave them here or email me through my contact page. I would love to hear from you and welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining and season’s greetings my friends!
Mary
“may your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows.”
Happy Holidays!
