Use snowy whites and gleaming metallics to create a festive focal point.
During the holidays, the hearth is the heart of the home, where friends and family gather and the mantel becomes a display space for your creative flair.
How you use that space is up to you — and truly, the options are endless. You could choose a minimalist display with one or two strategically placed objets d’art. Or you could go for the full-on maximalist look, with glamorous layer upon layer of colour, texture, greenery, lighting and ornaments. You could opt for a DIY crafty arrangement, or a retro mid-century one, or a nostalgic traditional one all in cute red-and-green baubles and bows.
We especially love the cool sophistication of wintry whites and modern metallics. They work in any décor from charmingly Victorian to elegantly contemporary to warmly whimsical.
Consider: Garlands of shiny gold, silver or copper. Tiny string lights. Votives in shiny mercury glass. Tall brass or silver candle holders. Metallic sculptures of animals or fruit. White ceramic houses or woodland creatures. Heirloom ornaments. Pictures in pretty vintage frames, perhaps layered over each other. Small gifts with golden bows.
Whatever you choose, aim for variety in height and texture, and make sure everything is securely placed. Add an element of light or sparkle. If you use candles, arrange them so there is no fire risk or, better yet, use flameless ones. And if you don’t have a fireplace, create a central tablescape instead.
1. White ceramic houses, Crate & Barrel.
2. Mixed metallic ball holiday garland, CB2.
3. Brass sculpted reindeer, Pottery Barn.
4. Sputnik marble-and-brass stocking holder, West Elm.
5. GlucksteinHome plum glass trees with LED lights, The Bay.