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Natural Touch Cedar and Pine Fake Winter Garland - 72"
Afloral
A 72-inch base: measure the mantel and allow extra length for each drop.
Shop at Afloral ↗FOUR MANTELS, FOUR MOODS
Christmas Mantels, Beautifully Collected
A little greenery. Stockings with character. A look to make your own.
Shop four traditional Christmas mantel ideas: classic tartan, blue and white, magnolia and chocolate, and burgundy velvet. Garland, stocking and ribbon sources included.
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A COLLECTED CHRISTMAS
Keep what you love.
Add a little Christmas.
Keep the mirror or artwork you love above the fireplace. Choose a garland shape, add stockings that work with the room, and finish with one repeated color. Each of these four combinations has a focused shopping list and a simple plan for putting it together.
01 / CEDAR AND PINE + TARTAN + RED VELVET + BRASS
Classic tartan & velvet
A familiar Christmas palette with a mix of soft textures. Alternate plaid and velvet stockings, then let the greenery and a few bells do the rest.
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Tartan Stocking
McGee & Co.
Repeat the tartan on the mantel and keep the surrounding ribbon plain.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
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Erika Stocking Holder
McGee & Co.
Order one holder per stocking and follow the retailer’s weight limit.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
Classic Velvet Stockings
Pottery Barn
Choose a deep red or cream finish on the retailer’s page.
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3/8" Velvet Ribbon with Woven Edge
McGee & Co.
This narrow 3/8-inch ribbon suits little bows and napkins; choose Burgundy.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
Hanging Ornate Bell Strand
McGee & Co.
Hang at one end of the mantel as the finishing detail.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
Fluted Mercury Glass Ornaments, Set of 3
Ballard Designs
Use reflective glass ornaments to break up solid-color decorations.
Shop at Ballard Designs ↗BRING THE LOOK HOME
A few details that make it work
Vary texture, keep scale consistent.
Check stocking lengths before mixing designs. Similar overall sizes make a mixed collection look intentional.
Choose your drape.
For a 60-inch mantel with a 12-inch drop at each end, the straight-line starting length is 84 inches. Add more for a swag or extra fullness.
Leave the picture visible.
Place the fullest greenery at one end and use the other for the bow or bells. The art can remain the focal point.
02 / QUIET GREENERY + CREAM TEXTURE + SILVER + A LITTLE BLUE
Blue, white & evergreen
Keep the fresh, familiar appeal of blue and white through December. Cream stockings and silver holders let existing porcelain jars or blue accents stay in the room.
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Natural Touch Cedar and Pine Fake Winter Garland - 72"
Afloral
A 72-inch base: measure the mantel and allow extra length for each drop.
Shop at Afloral ↗
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Trapunto Embroidered Stocking
McGee & Co.
Quiet texture gives patterned ribbon room to stand out.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
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Erika Stocking Holder
McGee & Co.
A silver finish works with blue and white. Order one per stocking.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗Fluted Mercury Glass Ornaments, Set of 3
Ballard Designs
Use reflective glass ornaments to break up solid-color decorations.
Shop at Ballard Designs ↗
Berry & Thread 9.5" Tree Set/3pc - Blue
Juliska
One set of three creates a compact centerpiece; check sightlines when seated.
Shop at Juliska ↗
Etched Glass Votives (Set of 2)
McGee & Co.
Scatter small points of light down the table; use appropriately sized LED lights.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗BRING THE LOOK HOME
A few details that make it work
Use the porcelain you own.
A pair of jars or a blue-and-white bowl adds pattern without a new seasonal collection. Leave space between them and the greenery.
Let silver lighten the palette.
Silver stocking holders and mercury glass give the cream and blue a crisp finish.
Keep the accent small.
If you have narrow blue ribbon at home, add a few bows. The color should repeat the ceramics rather than compete with them.
03 / GLOSSY MAGNOLIA + CEDAR + CREAM + WARM BROWN
Magnolia & chocolate
Magnolia’s green fronts and brown backs bring their own palette. Add creamy stockings, brass and the warm wood or brown details you already have.
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Artificial Magnolia Leaf Garland - 144" Long
Afloral
A long magnolia garland brings glossy green and warm brown; check its 144-inch length.
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Trapunto Embroidered Stocking
McGee & Co.
Quiet texture gives patterned ribbon room to stand out.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗Start here
Erika Stocking Holder
McGee & Co.
Order one holder per stocking and follow the retailer’s weight limit.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗Natural Touch Cedar and Pine Fake Winter Garland - 72"
Afloral
A 72-inch base: measure the mantel and allow extra length for each drop.
Shop at Afloral ↗
Pair of Fluted Candleholders, Brass
Rebecca Udall
A pair of fluted brass holders adds height and warmth. Check candle fit.
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Set of 6 Short Danish Taper Candles, Ivory
Rebecca Udall
Check candle diameter against your holders; keep flames clear of ribbon and greenery.
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Ornate Bells (Set of 2)
McGee & Co.
Keep bells together so they read as one collected accent.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗BRING THE LOOK HOME
A few details that make it work
Show both sides of the leaves.
Turn a few magnolia leaves so their brown backs are visible. That contrast is the reason the combination feels so warm.
Check the garland length.
The featured magnolia garland is 144 inches long. Measure the full route and desired drops before ordering.
Use flameless light near foliage.
If candleholders sit among garland or fabric, use correctly sized LED candles. Move any real flame well clear of decorations.
04 / CEDAR BASE + TRAILING AMARANTHUS + QUILTED STOCKINGS
Burgundy & a graceful drape
A flowing garland and soft burgundy details give a traditional fireplace a slightly more romantic mood. Keep one end long and the other simple.
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Natural Touch Cedar and Pine Fake Winter Garland - 72"
Afloral
A 72-inch base: measure the mantel and allow extra length for each drop.
Shop at Afloral ↗
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6' Amaranthus Faux Garland
McGee & Co.
Layer this decorative strand over an evergreen base for a trailing shape.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗
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Marble & Velvet Christmas Stocking, Burgundy
Rebecca Udall
Let the burgundy bow link the stockings to ribbon elsewhere.
Shop at Rebecca Udall ↗
Quilted Velvet & Silk Christmas Stocking, Burgundy
Rebecca Udall
Quilted burgundy velvet adds rich color without another plaid.
Shop at Rebecca Udall ↗Erika Stocking Holder
McGee & Co.
Order one holder per stocking and follow the retailer’s weight limit.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗3/8" Velvet Ribbon with Woven Edge
McGee & Co.
This narrow 3/8-inch ribbon suits little bows and napkins; choose Burgundy.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗Etched Glass Votives (Set of 2)
McGee & Co.
Scatter small points of light down the table; use appropriately sized LED lights.
Shop at McGee & Co. ↗BRING THE LOOK HOME
A few details that make it work
Build the greenery in layers.
Secure the cedar first, then attach the decorative amaranthus separately. Do not rely on one thin strand to carry the whole arrangement.
Choose one long side.
A deliberate asymmetrical drop looks calmer than several little swags. Keep the opposite end shorter.
Repeat the burgundy.
A stocking bow and a narrow ribbon accent are enough to connect the look. Let cream and green occupy most of the space.
MAKING IT YOUR OWN
A few helpful answers
How much garland do I need for a mantel?
Add the mantel width to the desired drops at both ends, then allow extra for curves or layering. A 60-inch mantel with two 12-inch drops starts at 84 inches before allowing for a swag.
Can I mix different stockings?
Yes. Keep their overall scale similar and repeat a color, trim or material. Check the retailer’s dimensions because photographs can make different sizes appear alike.
How should I attach garland?
Choose fixings rated for the garland’s weight and suitable for the mantel’s finish. Follow installation and removal instructions, and support heavy sections at several points. Stocking holders should only carry the loads their manufacturers allow.