How to Decorate a Mantel All Year Using the Same Basic Pieces

Decorating a mantel can be tricky.

Accessories need to be properly scaled to the fireplace, the size of the room, and each other. They need to look good together, and, ideally, they need to be pieces that you won’t get tired of looking at after a few months.

I’ve learned a thing or two about decorating my mantel. Looking back at some of my mantels in the past, I’d say I’ve had a few misses, but I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’ve had 9 different mantel masterpieces over the last year, and I’m here to share what I know for sure about decorating a mantel all year long using the same basic pieces.

We’ll start with my mantel from September 2013. She was a beauty. I had recently turned an old window into a chalkboard. This chalkboard window is one of the basic pieces that you’ll see me use over and over and over again. I love how simple it is to change up the chalkboard for each season, and as a result, totally changing the look of my mantel. I was going for a monochromatic look using blues for this mantel.

To transition my mantel from September to my October Halloween mantel, I simply added a spooky garland and some Halloween decor. Notice that the chalkboard, branches, and coverless books remained, I just rearranged them a little. I often use coverless and/or vintage books to add height  to vignettes and mantels.

Next came November…my daughter’s birthday month! Her 2nd birthday’s theme was “A Butterfly Picnic”. You’ll see that I switched up very few pieces for this mantel. I just added the happy birthday pennants, and clipped butterflies to the spray-painted branches. Easy!

Alright, we’ll keep on chugging. I finally took the stars off of the chalkboard window for my Christmas mantel, and hand-scripted the holiday message. I also added a boxwood garland and a mounted star with burlap bow. I added some vintage chairs and new pillows to complete the holiday look. I love the red pops of color!

When January 2014 rolled around, I was wanting a calm, clean, and simple look after the holidays. I sketched a new message and artwork on the chalkboard, and added a new {and essential} piece to the mantel:  An old window grate. I often use the grate for photo displays or for hanging a wreath. I love the way that grate looks with the chalkboard window for a couple of reasons:  1) The scale. {It’s the perfect slope down from the window}. 2) The shape. {The rounded shape next to the rectangular shape look varied and interesting}. 3)  The style. {Both the style of the window and the style of the window grate are rustic and vintage. They make a perfect combo.

In February, I really kept the same basic pieces:  The chalkboard window, the window grate, the large blue ball jars with curly willow, and the mercury-glass votives. I  took down the winter pictures, and replaced them with a Valentine wreath. I also added some scrapbook-paper wooden LOVE letters for Valentine’s Day.

Now we move into my Spring 2014 mantel. Notice that I am using the EXACT same pieces, I just {again} switched up the chalkboard, created a springy photo display on the grate, added some fake-succulent planters {in the votives}, and added some springy flowers to the large blue ball jars.

Summer 2014 Mantel:  Same basic pieces, same arrangement, new summer display! {I was onto something good…and I wasn’t varying from what was working for me.} 😉

So here we are:  Fall 2014 mantel. A little over a year from the first September mantel, and I’m using the same basic pieces. 😉

So what’s the take-away? I think it is the following:  Find basic pieces that work well with the scale of your room, your fireplace, and each other. Use pieces that can be switched up easily and that you wont’ get tired of looking at after a few months. Be creative and have fun decorating!

Creating this post was really fun. It’s kind of cool to look back and see how much better I’ve gotten at decorating than when I first started this blog  {If you don’t believe me, click here.}

Have a great day!