Love that room!!!! I used some artificial flowers and twigs with dried magnolia leaves. I have 2 feather trees, and one of my angels. the candles were already there on the mantel. I think I need to purge something ...and suggestions how to make my mantel look better?

Looks like Brenda's house. :)
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/christmas-tablescape-opinions-please-dsvw-vd~757084

oops, here is my above mentioned mantel. I think I will tweek it some.

I've done NOTHING yet. This weekend, it all happens. Will definitely update with a photo!

This is the mantel with garland and pine cones and lights! Added two silver bows to the left and right side this morning, not shown. I love it! Simple but homey!

Love the way the one up top looks, but my remote control will not work with the garland going across the top of the mantel...lol!

I can show you the one I have "done" last year - we were just moving in, boxes and stuff everywhere, couldn't find a thing, so I went with the minimalistic approach (meaning: those were the only matching things I could be bothered to find in that mess) and was complimented on the 'clean look'!!! (note the paper blinds...)

PS (please consider the usual disclaimers): around where I live (very stick up the proverbial *** middle class!) it's considered tacky to put Christmas décor up before 15th of December so, sorry, nothing to show this year so far.

i don't have a mantel. :[

but we haven't decorated anything yet.
we usually do it closer to xmas.

My mantels went when the multi-fuel stoves came in. So I have a shelf in the entry hall that I decorate every year - and I'm waaaaaaaaaay behind my usual deck-the-halls date of Thanksgiving weekend. I'm excusing myself by claiming 'last year of empty-nest' but I did mean to have it all up by tonight. Oops.

Beautiful, Keitha! We haven't decorated yet so I think I will use the Tobi Fairley photo as my inspiration. Thanks for posting it, Emily! :)

We had just refaced our fireplace with stone (from awful maroon brick) and painted right before Christmas 2013, so there was limited time to decorate, but we did our best to create our usual casual/country vibe. Happy Holidays.

I meant 2012...haven't gotten around to 2013 yet...so i cheated a little.

I can keep this up all winter

My mantel is decorated with some cherished Santas. I keep a bronze metal urn with a big gourd on top and change garland with the seasons. Two large dowels are on each end with hand painted Santa faces on them. Hanging are two stockings. One my Mom made for me (cross stitch) and a burlap one by a friend. Another stocking is a crazy quilt. I have an etched and beveled mirror from my Great Aunt Adell over the mantel. I always decorate it first.

I love your mantel, we've decorated ours, but it's just some garland and lights. this weekend I may add more

I love these mantles! but I have to invent a rustic/contemp mantle decor... grapevines with led lights and ornamental balls?

Any updates after having time to work on it over the weekend? Let's see!!

I have one!!! :) Made homemade stockings on Saturday from scratch! And hung them! It is now complete and ready for Santa!

I still need to add ribon and hang ornaments. What color should I choose for ribbon?

Mine needs some serious tweaking, but I'm too busy redoing the dining room to get to it! ;)

How about a wide burlap ribbon, add a moss green velvet ribbon and some dark shiny red ornaments?

not yet.....still working on trees! this is from previous year:

more from before

Every one has such lovely ones, I have a mantle with three oil filled lamps and a box of matches (in case power goes out) and where all the extra drillbits, driver bits, adapters, and my 'if you touch it you die' Phillips screwdriver are living. I should hang the dead cordless drill instead of a stocking, maybe Santa will bring me a new one...

It must be great to live on eightpondfarm.

Lol, Rivers300, I was thinking the same thing!

I finished everything over the weekend, now it's time to enjoy!

Gorgeous bluenan! you must like on the east coast or in the south, you have great classic taste!

Thanks so much, Lidia. I live in Missouri with deep southern roots.

bluenan . . .I KNEW IT! So elegant and honest. Please post more pics, would LOVE to see them! And I l;ove your silver pheasants on the mantel are they new or old?

Good call, Lidia! The pheasants are somewhat old but new to me. I just bought those and the interesting silver bird and oak branch candle stick in the middle on ebay, they came all the way from England! The large candelabras are family pieces.

bluenan, we could so hang out together! Thanks for the info and please post more pics of your gorgeous American home!

Hello all!
If you're looking for window & door decorating ideas you may like this ideabook-
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/20994001

There's our mantle, it's simple but cute, Merry Christmas!