Mantel and Table

Easy Elegant Entertaining

  • Courses Workshops & Resources
  • Boutique Shopping
    • Tabletop
      • China & Dishware
      • Flatware
      • Glassware
      • Tablecloths
      • Napkins
      • Place Mats & Runners
      • Napkin Rings
      • Place Cards & Holders
      • Miscellaneous Tabletop
    • Decor
      • Candle Holders
      • Pillows & Covers
      • Art & Mirrors
      • Candles
      • Throws & Blankets
      • Miscellaneous Decor
    • Tea Time
      • Teacups & Saucers
      • Tea Sets & Serveware
      • Teas & Condiments
    • Floral
      • Faux Florals
      • Vases
      • Floral Supplies
    • Kitchen & Bar
      • Serveware
      • Barware
      • Small Appliances
      • Bakeware
      • Kitchen Tools
      • Cookbooks
    • Furniture
    • Organizing & Home
      • Cleaning & Home Tools
      • Storage
      • Office Supplies
    • Party & DIY Supplies
      • Ribbon
      • Craft & Wrapping Paper
      • DIY Tools & Supplies
    • Garden
      • Outdoor Furniture
      • Planters
      • Garden Tools
    • Books ~ Games ~ Etc
      • Books
      • Games & Puzzles
      • Movies
    • Gifts
    • Holiday
  • Menus & Recipes
  • Tips & Inspiration
    • Mantels and Decorating
      • Mantels
    • Tablescapes
      • Tables for Friends
      • Tablescape Competitions
    • Tea Time
      • Teacup Tuesday
      • The Traveling Teacup
    • Miscellaneous
      • Travel
      • DIY
    • Organizing
    • Party Planning
  • About
    • Dedication
  • CONTACT
  • Members Library
    • Charter Subscribers

November 9, 2018

Four Simple Secrets for Decorating a Beautiful Mantel

Decorating a beautiful mantel is as easy as 1-2-3 … four!

Here’s my – not too secret – four-step strategy for easy mantel decorating in any season.  For any occasion, or just because you want to!

Full mantel with mirror, white pumpkins, pink flowers & candles

You can use a combination of things you already have to make your mantel beautiful, and express yourself at the same time. I wrote this post in the fall, but you can use this concept all year long!

Pink Fall Mantel

1 – Put up a Mirror or Picture as an Anchor

A mirror or picture or large-ish work of art is a great way to anchor your mantel decoration.  I usually put my mirror a little to one side of center – a bit more interesting that way.   You can choose your anchor piece to complement the rest of your decoration.  For instance, I started this mantel by putting up my antique dark wood mirror.  (I love this one and use it a lot – you can see another example in this post.)  It’s heavy and solid, and added a little fall color and weight to the other light and bright decorations I had in mind.

White pumpkins & pink flowers, eucalyptus draped on the mantel

2 – Choose One or Two Items to Feature

I wanted to feature my white pumpkins – I’m so loving them!  I’m also loving the mixed metals this season.  (Well, every season, to be honest!)  So since I had gotten a lot of flowers and needed something big to hold them all, the silver wine bucket was a great fit.  It brought some extra metallic shine to the arrangement, added some height, and made a great second feature!

White pumpkins with seeded eucalyptus & pink flowers in front. Candle glow in back.

If you have larger items, you can put up just a few like I did here.  If you have smaller ones, say books or shells, you can use more of them and group them.  You’ll probably want to have some height variation to make it more interesting.

Full mantel with mirror, white pumpkins, pink flowers & candles

Here, I put a group of white pumpkins at one end, and effectively balanced out the arrangement by putting the flower bucket and another large pumpkin at the other side.  Since nothing is smack in the middle, it doesn’t look lopsided.  If you want a more formal look, you can set up your items to be perfectly symmetrical.  Ultimately it’s all about what makes you happy!

Angle shot of the white mantel with white pumpkins and pink flowers, brass candlesticks.

3 – Add Greenery &/or Flowers

After you’ve gotten your featured items settled to your satisfaction, add some greenery &/or flowers!

White Pumpkins Pink Flowers, brass candlestick

I layered seeded eucalyptus over the mantel then tucked my flowers in, for kind of a loose garland effect.  But you could add greens or flowers any way you want – in a vase, in bottles, scattered over the mantel, as a wreath, in cloches – your imagination’s the limit!

Deep pink roses, white alstroemeria, pink carnations, & seeded eucalyptus on the mantel

Choose plants and flowers that you love.  Like this gorgeous dark pink variegated rose!  I TOTALLY love the beautiful coloring!  The carnations are pretty ok too!

White pumpkins, pink flowers, brass candlesticks, candle glow

Here are some more!  Doing the flowers is the super fun part for me!

White pumpkins & pink flowers on the right, Brass Candlesticks Left

4 – Candles for the Finishing Touch

Candles are the finishing touch on almost all my mantels.  Besides adding to the structure of your design, they’re so gorgeous when you light them!  There’s just nothing like candlelight!

White pumpkins, pink flowers, brass candlesticks to the right. Candle glow

I used several different kinds and heights of candlesticks, and put them in among the eucalyptus and flowers.  Sometimes adding the candles changes my idea of where the flowers should go.  It’s ok to change your plan and move things around as you add or subtract.  Plus, it’s a good excuse to play with the flowers and pumpkins again!  You can choose a candle color that goes with your scheme, too, although white goes with just about anything.

Mantel reflected in black framed full length mirror behind piano

Here’s another view of the mantel, reflected in a full length mirror we have behind the piano.  You can see how all four elements will work together to make a beautiful focus over your fireplace – the heart of your home!

Leave me a note in the comments and let me know if you tried the simple not-quite-secret 4-step plan to decorate your mantel.  I’d love to hear your stories!

———————— Shop The Look ————————

Click on the pictures for links to pieces I used on this mantel.  If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.

* This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and buy anything from that site during your visit, I get a small commission and there’s no extra charge for you! It really helps toward the cost of publishing Mantel and Table, and I seriously appreciate it. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!

And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!

Brown ornate wall mirror from Amazon. Click here to buy.
Silver Wine Bucket
Brass Candle Holders from Amazon. Click here to buy.
White mini pumpkins from Amazon. Click here to buy.
White dripless taper candles from Amazon. Click here to buy.

This Post Shared With

  • Thursday Favorite Things – Hosted by Shoestring Elegance
  • Metamorphosis Monday #693 – Hosted by Between Naps on the Porch

Related

About Barbara Leone

« Tea Time! 10 Easy Steps to Throw a Jane Austen-Inspired Tea Party.
Beautiful Thanksgiving Tablescape + Free Printable Place Cards Exclusive to Mantel and Table! »

Comments

  1. Kim says

    May 9, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    Barbara, your mantel is beautiful! I love the white pumpkins! I was trying to figure out from the photos how deep your mantel is – maybe 5 or 6 inches? I think they make them not so deep now as I don’t think a white pumpkin would fit on mine. But thanks for all the great tips and I hope you had a fabulous Mother’s Day!

    Reply
    • Barbara Leone says

      May 9, 2022 at 7:23 pm

      Hi! My mantel is 9 1/2″ deep! I guess that just happened to be the size of board they had available when they built the house. I just learned the other day that there weren’t any building codes back when our house was built, so they could do whatever they wanted! 🙂 (That aesthetic shows up in several places … ) Maybe you can find some tiny pumpkins for your mantel when the time comes! Mother’s Day was great – hope yours was too.

      Reply
      • Kim says

        May 10, 2022 at 4:51 pm

        Ahhhh. Ours is 5 inches but how lovely to have 9 1/2 – you can do so much more with it. The pumpkin link that you posted has a variety of sizes (although all out of stock right now) so I’m sure I can find something that will work when they restock. Thanks for all the inspiration and Happy Tuesday!

        Reply
        • Barbara Leone says

          May 11, 2022 at 6:02 pm

          Right back at you my friend! Hope you have a lovely week. 🙂

          Reply
  2. cindy@countyroad407 says

    September 20, 2019 at 8:50 am

    Your mantel looks lovely. The eucalyptus leaves looks so real! I’ve been meaning to find some. Enjoy your fall!

    Reply
    • Barbara Leone says

      September 20, 2019 at 9:07 am

      Hi Cindy – thanks so much! The eucalyptus actually is real. I’ve found some artificial varieties that look close, but there’s nothing like the real thing if I can get it! 🙂 Your blog looks beautiful – I’m excited to sit down and take some time with it later. Thanks so much for stopping over! 💗

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Barbara

Search

Click the Pic for Mantel and Table Academy

Affiliate Disclosure

My posts include affiliate links to make it easier to buy the pieces I've used. If you click and buy items from these links, I get a small commission with no extra charge to you. It's a Win-Win, and helps cover the cost of publishing Mantel and Table. (You can read the whole disclosure policy in the footer of every page.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!

Subscribe to Mantel and Table

Popular Posts

How to Host a Tea Party - The Essential Guide for Tea-Lovers
A Peach Burrata Tomato Salad Recipe for Fabulous Summer Feasts
How to Set a Beautiful Formal Table - It's Easy!
A Fabulous Champagne Cake Recipe You'll Absolutely Love
Easy Cucumber Sandwiches with Dill To Make Your Tea Party Delicious
What would you do with some beautiful birthday flowers?

Stay in Touch –

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Sign up for News & Library Access

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Disclosures & Privacy Policy

                                     HERE

Copyright © 2025 · Mantel and Table