Christmas Mantel Ideas (My Mantel Through The Years)

This was a fun post that I decided about 5 minutes ago that I wanted to write.

It’s always fun (for me) to look back at my designs over the years.

We moved into this house 6 years ago three days before Christmas. That’s right, on December 22nd we had a moving truck in our driveway.

It was the most stressful/hectic thing I’ve done and something I will never forget.

I would not recommend moving that close to Christmas. Santa was awfully confused when it came time to look for the boxes he packed the gifts in.

The following spring I started this blog of mine and I cannot believe I have been “blogging” for almost 6 years now. It has been the most stressful and rewarding “job” I have ever had.

I am very lucky to say that I decorate my own home for a living. But let me tell you, the learning curve has been a steep one.

And looking back is really fun to do.

Every year I decorate my mantel for Christmas and I try to change it up every time.

What you’ll likely notice is every year I strategically try to hide the reflection of the fan in my mirror.

I love having a mirror on my mantel but I hate that dang fan.

But if I replace the fan with a chandelier my husband might divorce me come mid July when it’s 100 degrees outside.

I guess I want to stay married….or maybe I do want a chandelier instead of a fan?!?! Oh the decisions.

So let’s go down memory lane, shall we?

But first let me just show you a picture from our very first Christmas days after we moved in.

My husband found a 5 foot Christmas tree from the Home Depot lot and I threw the stockings up on the mantel for Santa.

The house was a disaster but for some reason I have nothing but fond memories of those days.

Nobody pin that picture on Pinterest. Deal?

Christmas Mantel 2022

The theme of this year’s Christmas decorating is to go big or to go home.

I added more garland around my house than I ever have. I think there is at least 5 or 6 strands of garland on this mantel

And then I added dried orange garland

And then I added a strand of lights

And then the kids told me it all looks stupid.

But ask me if I care?

Click on any image to shop:

I used craft wire and lots of hooks to get this garland on this mantel. It was lots of trial and error and naturally I didn’t take any pictures.

Just because I have been blogging for many years does not mean I am a good blogger. Let’s just get that straight.

Christmas Mantel 2021

Last year I also went big and heavy on the mantel

And the kids told me they hated last year’s mantel too.

I think one kid even asked if the mantel was going to fall off the wall

My kids are way too opinionated.

I think last year’s mantel is my favorite so far. And I am still debating if I want to add garland to my mirror again this year.

The wool garland I got at Hobby Lobby and I haven’t seen it this year.

My stocking are also from Hobby Lobby and I am not sure if they are around this year or not.

Christmas Mantel 2020

Oh 2020, the year we all want to forget.

The garland on the mantel this go around was also from Hobby Lobby.

Can you tell I like Hobby Lobby?

I kept it more simple that year. That seemed to be the theme of 2020.

Christmas Mantel 2019

I could not wait to decorate my mantel that year. It was right after I added the peel and stick tile to my fireplace surround and gave my fireplace a little makeover. It was a much needed makeover

You’ll see here shortly

I still have those red and white stockings. Fun fact that no one will care about is that every Christmas Eve, still to this day. I put those stockings on the mantel for Santa. The kids refuse to use to other stockings

I have no idea why but I learned to not ask questions.

Christmas Mantel 2018

Take a moment to look at the difference those peel and stick tiles made to my fireplace.

They are still rocking out on my fireplace too. I haven’t had any urge to find someone to install real tile so fake tiles it is for now.

Looking back, this mantel really reminds me how far I have come.

I remember using old garland we’ve had for years and shoving faux eucalyptus stems into the garland. It was a great way to update the look of my tired old garland.

Christmas Mantel 2017

The first year I ever decorated this mantel for Christmas and this was the very first Christmas blog hop I ever did. It was so much fun to do. That post still lives somewhere on my website.

I guess I decided against garland on the mantel that year. I think this was the last year we put our real tree we cut down in that corner.

This house was not made for Christmas trees. There isn’t a perfect spot for a tree. But we shoved one in that corner 5 years ago.

I feel like I took these pictures for this Christmas blog hop yesterday.

I still cannot believe it’s been 5 years of blogging.

And 5 years of decorating my mantel for Christmas.

Pretty soon I will run out of ideas.

If you want to save this for later you can pin it here: