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Simple Christmas Mantel Decor (Branches & Bulbs)

Simple Christmas Mantel Decor (Branches & Bulbs)

4 Dec

This post was most recently updated on September 23rd, 2019

Yesterday, I mentioned that our neutral Christmas tree this year is a really big departure for me.  Well, the same can be said for our Christmas mantel decor.  Last year, I had a very traditional Christmas mantel, with lots of layers of full greenery, and pops of saturated color.  (That Christmas mantel decorating tutorial is found here).  I’m a really big fan of that look, but this year I was ready for a change.

Christmas mantel decor with branches

I liked the very simple, wintery mantel I decorated back in November, which consisted of branches and pillar candles.  So, for Christmas, I decided to simply build on that, rather than start from scratch.  I added some white lights and my sparkly reindeer, and hung some pretty glass bulbs from the branches, and called it a day!

Winter Mantel Decor

I lie: it was a little more tedious than that!

It took me awhile to figure out how to layer all the branches so that they wouldn’t fall off the ledge if you happened to push one in the wrong direction.  Until I figured that out, the whole things was like a house of cards.  I only smashed one glass bulb though, but said more than one bad word I think (oops!).  I ended up with an armful of branches and bulbs a few times before I straightened the whole mess out, lol.  I shudder to think about hanging stockings from it, eeek!

Simple Christmas mantel decorating

I used very neutral glass bulbs in colors like champagne and muted blue. The long  cherry tree branches came from my parents’ yard after a big storm this Fall. The storm destroyed the tree, and the branches were literally on the curb awaiting  City collection until I salvaged them! Every time I visited my parents back in October, I’d stuff more and more of the branches in my car. I think they thought I was crazy, but then again, they know me by now!

decorate a mantel with branches

I learned afterwards that the cherry tree had originally been planted in my grandmother’s yard.  I think it’s kind of cool that I have a little piece of my grandparents’ garden on my Christmas mantel this year!

Christmas mantel decor

The thing I like best about this mantel is that, in January, I can remove all the Christmas touches, and keep it as is through the winter. (Unless, of course, I get the itch to change it…hmmmm…)

Do you decorate your mantel especially for Christmas too?

Until next time,

P.S., Sharing my Christmas mantel with Layla & Kevin…

The Lettered Cottage

and Beth…

Home Stories A2Z

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By Kerri, December 4, 2012 Filed Under: Christmas, Christmas DIY Projects, Christmas Home Tours, Home Decor Tutorials & DIY Projects, Seasonal & Party Decorating, Seasonal Mantel Decorating, Winter Decor

About Kerri

Kerri Roche is the owner, editor and voice behind A Pop of Pretty, a Canadian home decorating blog, where she shares her love of modern coastal and cottage home decorating style, from beautiful Newfoundland, on Canada's east coast. Home decorating has always been in her blood, even while earning a Marketing degree and MBA, and working in strategy and planning in a busy ad agency for over a decade. She aims to inspire other style seeking home lovers to decorate their own homes with confidence, by sharing home decorating ideas, shopping tips, and DIY tutorials from her own suburban home and lakeside cottage - all l while juggling the schedules of a world travelling husband, 3 busy and energetic kids (including twins), and a scrappy little Havanese named Finnigan.

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Comments

  1. Mindy says

    December 8, 2012 at 12:20 am

    I love the wintery feel of your mantle. And the sparkle. I try to get away from sparkle at Christmas but it keeps drawing me back…

    • Kerri says

      December 14, 2012 at 3:02 am

      Thanks so much Mindy!

  2. Lisa says

    December 5, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Hi Kerri,
    I love this mantel, it feels rustic and natural yet glam all at the same time!

Hello & Welcome

Welcome! I'm Kerri. I love pretty modern cottage and coastal home decorating style. I aim to inspire style seeking home lovers to decorate with confidence, by sharing decorating ideas, shopping tips, tutorials + inspiration. Read More…

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Instagram post 2199546629053153974_180915959 I call this little area of our cabin entrance the boot drop 🥾 . The plan called for an open foyer, but I had nightmares of tripping over a dozen (or more) pairs of wet, snowy boots in winter, or sandy flip flops in the summer . So I added this little pony wall with a long storage bench behind it. So the boots stay hidden from sight of the entrance and I keep my sanity. Win win 🙌🏻. Don’t be afraid to use a little creativity with your house plan to make it work for you (and your quirks lol).
Instagram post 2198771720970315221_180915959 Happy Saturday vibes. Hope it’s a great one no matter how nutty it is with recitals and gift wrapping (shopping?) and decorating and parties and oh me oh my. This last stretch before Christmas Eve can be stressful. My plan: put my favourite Christmas music on blast and do some deep breathing 🙏🏻 . What are your favourite Christmas songs? For me: Snoopy’s Christmas, Do They Know it’s Christmas (1984), All I Want for Christmas is You 👏🏻
Instagram post 2198045651741073220_180915959 Hope you are having a happy Friday 🙌🏻 I used lots of plaid in my Christmas decorating this year! Plaid doesn’t have to be a traditional red to feel cozy or festive. This more neutral, grey and cream plaid ribbon does the job in this space without feeling too busy or overwhelming. Have a great day! #alltheplaid
Instagram post 2197584273452407676_180915959 Binoculars or magic Santa tracking 👓 ? 🤔 I’m sure they’ll be used as both in the coming weeks lol. We’re getting excited around here about the upcoming school break and Christmas festivities. Counting down the days! Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet?
Instagram post 2197275828505338429_180915959 Plaids and chunky cable knit textures are giving our cabin all the cozy vibes this holiday season! I think I’m going to leave the plaid pillows and throws out all winter. It’ll feel so bare in this space once the Christmas decorations come down. It’s usually so neutral and airy, but the red definitely makes it feel more festive. Do you love traditional plaid too this time of year?
Instagram post 2196821717846656015_180915959 Anybody else love a Christmas village as much as I do? 🙋🏼‍♀️ This little nordic village has been on my mantel a few Christmases now. (Swipe to see this year’s version.) These were white when I bought them, but you could always paint an older set. In fact, I think my friend Christina @thediymommy had a tutorial on her blog last month for a dollar store set that she painted white and they turned out 👌🏻. Have a great evening!
Instagram post 2195778852643198838_180915959 I have a feeling these might be the only snowmen we see this Christmas ⛄️ . We’re back to rain and high winds, after a pretty sprinkling of snow this weekend. My hopes of skating on the pond during Christmas are slowly dying.😭 Elsa, where you at? I need your magic. #frozen
Instagram post 2195310366066415524_180915959 My latest blog post is all about how to get a cozy lake house vibe in any space, and without adding too much extra decor. I’m sharing some pics of our cottage decorated for the holidays, along with my 5 best tips for cozying up your home with a rustic, cabin-y charm. I’ll link up the post in my bio, or find it on my home page at apopofpretty.com.🙌🏻 Hope your Monday is going great!
Instagram post 2195059738064742916_180915959 Just your 2-week-before-Christmas reminder to keep calm and carry on. This is the point in December when the frenzy gets real. But, my new motto is #dontgetyourtinselinatangle 🌲 It’ll all get done, it always does. And, even if it doesn’t, the world won’t come to an end. 🤛 Instead of stressing about my to do list, I’m going enjoy my kids’ excitement.
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