I found this lovely picture at our large fall flea market in September, and knew instantly I wanted to decorate my fireplace mantel around it for Christmas. There was something about the picture that spoke to me and made me feel so peaceful.
Snow falling and softly covering everything, always fills me with a sense of peace, especially when I don’t have to drive in it.
I propped the picture against an oval antique mirror centered over the mantel, and then paired it with a green candle in an old crock, and a tall evergreen tree I found at Hobby Lobby this fall. Although I found this picture at a flea market, in case you’re interested, Hobby Lobby also carries it at a much better price than I paid for it. I love its double wood frame that gives the picture more dimension.
Now the problem was, to balance the other side of the mantel with something coordinating. I started shopping my house and found a vintage metal grate from a fanning mill to use for a backdrop, which gave height to the other side. Other than the stacked green books, everything else came from Hobby Lobby.
I love this “Joy” sign that sends the simple message of Christmas.
Although two separate vignettes, they compliment each other very well, with the oval mirror anchoring the whole arrangement.
To finish off the mantel, I used a simple garland of rusty bells (also from Hobby Lobby) that compliments the wood tones.
I try to keep my Christmas decorating simple. The older I get, the less I like all the glitz of Christmas, which I so easily tire of and want out of my sight by December 26th. I have found by using a natural, woodsy look, it not only covers Christmas, but takes me all the way through winter. And since my living and dining rooms are already green, white, and wood tones, it coordinates very nicely.
Although nearly everything was purchased at Hobby Lobby, this is not a sponsored post.
I love the natural look, Cindy. Very pleasing to the eye. You’re inspiring me!
Thank you Eliza. It’s not the traditional Christmas look, but I think that’s what I like about it. I like the reds of Christmas, and I have an attic full of Christmas red decor, but I find I get tired of it so fast. I’m always ready to put it away and feel like I can breathe again when it is gone. Although winter is not my favorite season, it can be very restful and peaceful, especially when the snow is falling and all the world is white.
Have you started decorating yet?
I have only put together the outside arrangements of greens, cones and winterberry in the windowbox, wooden tub and basket by the light.
There is a reason red makes you weary. Do you know kinesiology (muscle testing)? Seeing red actually weakens the body, sounds crazy, but it is true. Try it with a friend: Put your arm out to side, close your eyes and have her test your strength for a baseline. Open your eyes and look at something red and have her try again. Astonishing!
You do a wonderful job of decorating, Cindy. Your vignette isn’t in-your-face CHRISTMAS but it marks the season beautifully and doesn’t have an implicit “sell by” date on it like most Christmas decorations.
Thank you kindly Kris! Eliza just explained to me why red wearies me. I like it for about 2 days, and then I need serenity. That explains why I can hardly wait to get it out of my sight. I don’t have red in my gardens either, except in the echinacea. I’ve never liked those big, bright, in-your-face colors, inside or out.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving even if your remodel didn’t get finished in time. My neighbors are doing a major remodel and it was supposed to be done by now, but it’s not. I can see their kitchen cabinets sitting in their living room. That’s a long time to live in such disarray.
It all went together well and the best part is that it can stay up for the winter.
I think that’s why I like it so much. I’ll probably take the bell garland down after Christmas, but the rest will stay until March at least. I feel like I really get my money’s worth out of it as it transcends right into winter seamlessly.