The Merry Mantel

During the holidays, the mantel is a place by which to gather with friends, to exchange gifts with family, and if you have little ones, to patiently wait for Santa to make his grand entrance.

So it’s worth your while to go the extra mile to warm up the hearth—and there’s more to it than hanging those stockings with care.

This gallery wall goes green in this inventive look, which feels all the more charming thanks to a fireplace stacked to the brim with logs and hung with shibori-accented stockings.

Photo by Tony Vu.

Try a handsome take with a mix of masculine accents and Christmas classics.

Large-scale abstract art makes a bold statement in a space filled with antiques.

Photo by Lesley Unruh.

A pair of marbleized lamps feel decidedly daring on the classic Christmas mantel, contrasting nicely with the traditional gilded mirror and beribboned boxwood wreath.

If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, try out this DIY, which uses sprigs of fresh greenery to create a festive frame around a mirror.

Photo by Manuel Rodriguez.

This mantel look is all about sparkle, shine, and high glamour, incorporating a mix of florals and greenery with a few special metallic accents.

Here, it’s all about the classics.

Antique candelabras, chinoiserie jars, brass fireplace accessories, and fir branches accented with citrus and pinecones harness the power of symmetry for a look that feels utterly elegant and timeless.

Photo by Nicole LaMotte.