In our little corner of the world, winter is here and Christmas is coming. This morning there was a windchill of -1 (what!) and all I want to do is decorate my house for the holidays, eat soup, and listen to Bing Crosby.
To hold myself over, I’m planning our Christmas mantel (and some fictitious ones too) and turning them into shopping guides at three price points – $60, $100, and $200. Build a fire, have a look, and get your shop on!
$60 Holiday Mantel
Photo: Tracey Ayton
My favorite thing about this mantel is the color palette. I love the peachy, blush-colored accents mixed with the traditional Christmas greens. The garland situation is level 10, and probably costs a whole lotta clams. But, the idea is totally replicatable (I just made that word up) for a fraction of the cost.
- Pre-Lit Garland – $15
- Ceramic House Candle Holders (Large and Small) – $16
- Bottle Brush Silver Trees (2) – $20
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Rose Gold-Toned Ornaments – $9
$100 Holiday Mantel
Photo: Martha Stewart
I was raised on straight-up Scandinavian Christmases. Lefsa, lingonberries, and lutefisk. My mom still lovingly prepares the same Swedish Christmas Eve meal she’s been cooking for the entire 38 years I’ve been alive. Therefore, when I see a well done Scandinavian Christmas mantel, I give it a little wink of approval. Straw sunbursts and snowflakes are not my favorite look, but IKEA’s vast collection of paper stars are – and they’re affordable.
- Various Stars (they cast a golden light when aglow) – $18
- Wooden Houses – $45
- White Bead Garland – $20
- Mercury Candle Holders – $3-6
$200 Holiday Mantel
Photo: Anthropologie
Sometimes the simple things are the best things. And sometimes they’re the most expensive. The swaggy mantel garland in the above photo is abundant and from a Sherwood Forest-like dream. I love it so. And those brass candlesticks are probably two-hundred years old and straight outta Monticello. But, you can modernize the look a bit for just under $200. We own several sets of those glass taper holders from CB2 and they are glorious and whimsical.
If you’re feeling all the Christmas decoration feels, tell me about your plans to deck your halls in the comments below!