Style your Christmas mantelpiece on a table first!
It’s go time. The holidays are officially here, and we’re helping you with all your Christmas decor, starting with the heart of the home: the fireplace. The mantel is really the best gathering spot around the holidays, and it’s prime real estate for decor.
Designer Sarah Grover shared how to deck out your mantel in style.
Step 1: Start with a Good Base
Sarah emphasized the importance of starting with a solid foundation. “You’re going to start with a good base,” she advised. This could be a high-quality garland or swag. One of her favorites is a deluxe cedar garland, which is six feet long and provides a lush, full look.
Sarah suggested using a swag that is made to look full and is easy to work with. “It has a center focal point, but it also has that droopy look,” she explained. “Then it has a base piece that we can work with instead of lots of different wiring.” Sarah starts with this one piece and builds around it.
Some of Sarah’s favorite greeneries to work with are cedar and norfolk. “They lay nice, they look nice, they feel real… you can mix them because they’re the same shade,” she explained.
Step 2: Select Your Stems and Picks
Once you have your base, the next step is to choose complementary stems or picks. Sarah recommended frosted berries, eucalyptus, or other seasonal greenery. “The difference is a pick is shorter, a stem is longer… but it really doesn’t matter,” she explained. You can cut them down to size as needed. The key is to add these elements every four to six inches along your garland to ensure a balanced and full appearance.
Another fun thing is layering your stems and picks. “You could layer your two picks… that adds a nice touch,” Sarah mentioned.
Step 3: Assembling Your Mantelpiece
Sarah recommended laying out your decorations on a table before placing them on the mantel. This makes it easier to arrange everything just right. “A lot of people try to assemble it, but it’s already on your mantel. That makes it really difficult,” she noted. Using thin green wire, secure your stems and picks to the garland.
Make sure that the direction of the stems is consistent to keep it cohesive. “On your right, have the direction of the stems heading to the right. On the left, heading to the left,” Sarah explained.
Step 4: Add Ornaments and Bells
Incorporate ornaments and bells into your mantelpiece design. Sarah suggested using wire to attach them securely to the garland. “Take that green wire and wire them right to the garland,” she instructed. Group ornaments in small batches and finish off with ribbon.
Step 5: Secure Everything in Place
Sarah uses big command hooks to attach the decorated garland to the mantel. She recommended using the 10-pound strips for the best hold. “I have four on here, and the more the better,” she advised, ensuring that even narrow mantels can support a pretty mantelpiece.
Find more design inspiration from Sarah on Instagram, @sarahgroverhome, and website at sarahgroverhome.com.
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