Whatever your style may be, I hope the following images give you a bit of inspiration as you decorate your home for Christmas:
STYLE: French Provincial
- Elements: Rusts and golds look great in a French Provincial home. Try symmetry with little clutter, keeping in mind that fruits, busts and statues, mirrors, candles and clocks make great mantle accessories.
- Must Have: With the mantle relatively bare, live garland adds that festive touch –Eucalyptus or Magnolia work well.
- Stockings: My personal favorites are created from antique grain sacks, but a luxurious velvet would be nice as well.
- Where to Shop: Arhaus, Pottery Barn, European antique shops, EloquenceInc.com
- Elements: Begin with driftwood, starfish and white flowers. Add pops of traditional Christmas red or green for holiday flair. Experiment and see what color combinations would work best in your home.
- Must Have: A driftwood forest from Petite Surprise – I know I’m a little biased, but these driftwood trees are adorning my coastal mantle this year!
- Stockings: I’m really loving the recycled sweater stockings (customized in your home’s color scheme!) from Handmade Pretties which can be found on Etsy.com.
- Where to Shop: April Daze, Gumbo Limbo, Petite Surprise, the beach
STYLE: Vintage-Bohemian
- Elements: Bright colors, organized clutter, vintage finds and a random mix of accessories pulls off this look. It helps to have a bold backdrop, but even white walls can be transformed into a vintage haven.
- Must Have: Multi-colored tree trimming lights in the larger bulbs. If you can find vintage ones, even better – just be sure to check the wires!
- Stockings: The hand-knit sherpa stocking from Anthropolgie is a great option for new, or hunt at second hand shops for something vintage.
- Where to Shop: Anthropologie, Petite Surprise, Etsy.com, second hand shops
STYLE: Rustic Woodsy
- Elements: Raw woods and little color are the foundation of this look. Add rusted metals with recycled or repurposed architectural pieces. Throw a bit of greenery in, and you’re mantle is complete.
- Must Have: Unfinished wood is key. Whether it’s the mantle, candlesticks, picture frames or architectural finds, the more the better!
- Stockings: Hand-knit stockings are hard to beat. Creams, reds, greens –you pick!
- Favorite Shops: Restoration Hardware, architectural salvage yards, the great outdoors
By now, I know many of you are wondering what to do if you don’t have a mantle to decorate. Unfortunately, our older Florida home puts us in the same boat. Know that you can always decorate what you have - pick a room you use often and adorn the focal point of that room. Is it a buffet in the dining room, a large bookshelf in your living area, an armoire in the bedroom? You can still incorporate many of the same ideas with any piece of furniture.
Your other option is to create a faux fireplace. My husband and I purchased an old pine mantle and simply leaned it against the wall (as seen in several of the above photos). Add a cluster of candles in the opening, and you’ve got the same effect – only your “fire” can be kindled in 5 seconds!
I’d love to see what you create in your own home– send photos to info@petitesurprise.com to be posted here on my blog. Share your inspiration. Happy decorating!
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