Do you enjoy neutral decor for your home? If you answered yes, then this post is for you. Today I am sharing how to decorate a Christmas mantel with neutral brown tones from warm caramels to deep chocolates.
This is not a traditional mantel styling in red & greens or silver & golds, but rather a muted understated theme, using creams, tans and browns. Although the color pallet is low-key, the festive tones are loud and clear. Come on in, and let me share the neutral Christmas mantel.
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Inspiration for the Neutral Christmas Mantel Styling
I’ve been crushing on brown flocked and velvet ornaments the last few seasons. I had wanted to add some to my decor last year but I didn’t make the commitment. These ornaments and these and these are all inspirational for the look I’m going for.
Then enter stage left all the honeycomb paper decor. I had seen the trees in West Elm last year and loved the look, but once again did not commit. This year I found all the honeycomb ornaments and trees at Hobby lobby and Target, which were very reasonably priced as oppose to West Elm. The Hobby Lobby pieces were actually 50% off, which was a major steal. I share more of the details of all the components below, plus I included similar items in the shopping section.
How To Decorate a Christmas Mantel
You want to build the mantel decor in layers. Some layers go up while others go out. Start with a foundation and build around that. Don’t be afraid to experiment and change things as you go along, ultimately achieving the look you are going for.
Clean Slate
For most projects it’s preferable to start with a clean slate. It clears the mind, getting rid of any “noise” and provides a blank canvas to start creating. The entire mantle shelf is cleared and wiped down. Plus the mirror is cleaned so it will reflect all the decorations with a sparkle.
I wanted to layer garlands, which I knew would have considerable heft to them, so I included Command hooks along the mantel shelf. I didn’t buy anything specific for this project, but used what I had on hand. Full disclosure though I had to run out to the hardware store and get another 5 lb hook when the smaller hooks gave way.
Foundation
I am usually a fresh garland girl. I love the cedar garlands from Trader Joe’s, which you can see how I’ve used them in the past here and here. This year I decided to invest in a faux garland to use year after year. I wanted a full-ish garland, but all the options I loved were a bit spendy. Instead I decide to layer a few different pieces to create the full effect I was going for.
I started by laying down a super basic garland I’ve had in my Christmas stash for decades. This creates fullness under the realistic garland I found on Amazon. This garland looks amazing but needed a bit of help with the fullness I was envisioning. Last but not least I inserted garland picks to add dimension and interest. The different greenery provides fullness and interest.
Main Decor
The flocked ornaments were the driving force behind this Christmas mantle styling, plus I found these beautiful brown jeweled ornaments at Home Goods for a much better price than the brown ornaments I was originally going to use.
A few flocked and the jeweled brown ornaments are sprinkled across the mantel nestled in the greenery. I love the green and brown combination. The realistic brown stems in the store bought garland work beautifully with the design.
Drama
A bit of drama adds that magical detail to any styling. The branches with the honeycomb ornaments swoop above the mantel on one side, creating an asymmetrical design. The faux branches are nestled in an oversized cream farmhouse pitcher. On the other side of the mantle sit a cluster of trees, in chocolate honeycomb patterns and tan rattan designs. All these elements are rich in texture and interest, creating depth and movement across the mantel styling.
On the other side of the mantel hang more honeycomb ornaments to tie-in both sides. One of the ornaments is cream colored, which I was originally not going to use for this styling, but I realized it complimented the cream pitcher. They offset each other and bring both sides of the mantel together on a diagonal. Plus I wanted the greenery to drape and puddle on the floor on this side to add to the drama.
Decor Details
Of course our family Christmas stockings need to be included. The fact the stockings are burlap is an added bonus, blending into the color scheme. The silver noel hangers are a bit hidden by the greenery, but along with the stocking these are traditional pieces, which grace our Christmas fireplace every year.
Traditional pieces are super important, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice freshness and newness to your decor. Along with the honeycomb pieces, velvet bows are also in the forefront of current stylings. Carmel and brown velvet ribbons are sprinkled here and there, providing a small detail with a big punch.
Decorating Pro Tip: As you are building the layers and adding different elements take a step back and assess the styling. Look at everything from deferent angles and also take photos. We see things differently in a picture versus real life. Adjustments can be made based on what you see.
This is the first Christmas decorating project for the season. Now that Thanksgiving is firmly behind us, it’s full steam ahead into the holiday season. There’s a ton of Christmas content scheduled, including decor, crafts, table settings and more.
Closing Thoughts
Thanksgiving was on the later side this year so we have a smaller window to relish in Christmas magic. I’m looking forward to all the old traditions plus the new holiday trends. What are you looking forward to this Christmas season? Is anything grabbing your fancy in particular? Whether it’s family, activities, feelings or whatever it might be, it’s all magical.
We got our Christmas tree today, which is our family tradition. We will trim the tree before Lexi heads back to Boulder to finish her semester before the winter break. I love this time of year! Looking forward to sharing all the merriment with you along the way.
Shopping the Look
- This is the 6ft Garland I used
- Brown Flocked Ornaments
- Brown Velvet Ornaments
- I absolutely love, love this assortment of ornaments
- Honeycomb Brown Ornaments
- Coffee, Light Green, Beige Honeycomb Ornaments
- Neutral Honeycomb Trees
- Brown Ladder Branches
- Light Brown Velvet Ribbons
- Brown Velvet Ribbon
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Christmas is a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.”
Freya Stark