Simple Winter Mantel Decor Ideas
repurposed dresser mirrors become the perfect dIY chalkboard backdrop for rustic winter mantel decor
Sometimes making a small decor change in your home can inspire your decorating. That’s what happened when I decided to give our fireplace mantel a simple refresh. If you need some inspiration to decorate your home in this post-Chistmas slump, today will be just the boost you need! This Simple Winter Mantel Decor Ideas is just part of a 20+ blogger Cozy Winter Home Tours blog hop!
Thanks to Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home for hosting. I always enjoy seeing her wonderful vintage pieces, perfectly styled in her home. If you’re visiting from Cloches and Lavendar, I’m sure you enjoyed Cindy’s pretty winter decor. I’ll have all the other links at the end; hopefully you can soak them in!
Simple Winter Mantel Decor Ideas
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I had noticied when decorating the Christmas mantel {“Christmas Mantel with Bottle Brush Trees”} that the white paint we had painted our cedar mantel years ago was getting pretty chippy. It had started out with a very 60’s orange-y stain when we moved in; the white paint had neutralized it. But it all was looking a little tired and ready for a refresh.
I hauled it out to the driveway and attacked that white paint with some 60 grit sandpaper in my palm sander (I like THIS one for smaller hands). I realized this old board had some cool saw marks that had been hidden on the underside. The smooth side was boring; this mantel needed to be flipped cool side up!
Once it was all sanded to my taste, I brought it in and gave it a couple coats of my favorite poly to seal (you can get it HERE). The whole family is amazed at the difference!
The white paint perfectly stayed in the recesses of the wood, and the sanding brought out all the character. We put the chippy smooth side down so we can enjoy the rustic look from the top.
A refreshed mantel calls for a pretty winter scene!
Vintage Mirror Chalkboards as the Backdrop for a Simple Winter Mantel Scene
For my farmhouse-styled hot chocolate bar {Here} I added a Buffalo Check stencil from Old Sign Stencils to one of my vintage mirror chalkboards. (you can find them HERE) I liked it so much, I added some Grain Sack Stripes to my other 2 chalkboards. The stencils add great detail to whatever I decide to chalk on these. For a simple, wintry night-sky look, I sketched white snowflakes all over the 3 chalkboards.
Old Sign Stencils provided me with complimentary stencils for this project. All opinions about their products are my own. Note: their prices are in Canadian currency; see their conversion link to adjust.
Natural Evergreen Trees in Vintage Containers as the Main Characters
Natural-looking evergreen trees with fairy lights are the main characters on this simple rustic winter mantel. They each got placed in a different textured vintage container. Rustic wood, patinaed metal and burlap sacks combine for a subtle, yet interesting display. {Most of these are from my “Latest Vintage Finds and How to Refresh Them”)
A couple of the trees have snow on them and a couple are glistened, which add a touch of wintry beauty. The fairy lights can be set on a timer so they come on with the early nightfall. My recent refreshed stool {“Easy Stapled DIY Feedsack Mini Stool”} gave one of the trees just the lift it needed.
Add Soft and Rustic Textures around the Base of your Winter Mantel Scene
Natural pinecones and soft yarny poms add more texture layers to the wintry mantel. A few yarnballs in light gray are here and there, too. Place them directly on the mantel and tuck into the trees and containers.
Animal Figures Add Life to the Simple Winter Mantel Scene
Adding some type of animal figure to the scene brings a touch of whimsy and life. I picked up this vintage velvet deer figure before Christmas and have been in love with him ever since. He is the perfect touch for this wintry forest scene.
Finish Off with Real and Fake Candles
Faux birch candles, along with a real wax tree add the perfect flickering light for winter nights. Having a variety of sources of light-the fairy lights, along with the real and fake candles-makes for a cozy, pretty scene on dark winter nights.
Become a Lora B Insider and Get My Free Winter Wreath Printable
My Winter Wreath printable (which you can get for FREE as an Insider) fits in perfectly, clipped to a vintage clipboard. The soft, subtle colors blend nicely with the rest of the wintry elements. Paper adds one more texture to the scene.
Shop to Create the Look (Affilate links)
Old Sign Stencil’s Buffalo Check Stencil
Old Sign Stencil’s Grainsack Stripes Stencil
Can you see how one little decor refresh can inspire a whole decorating scene? I hope you enjoyed this Simple Winter Mantel Decor Ideas, and it got you planning out your next mantel. For much more Cozy Winter Decor Ideas, I hope you’ll enjoy all the links below. If you’re going in order, pay a visit to Debbee’s Buzz, where she’s setting a Ski-inspired table!
Pin, Share, and Enjoy the Rest of the Inspiration!
Cozy Winter Homes Tour Blog Hop
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An awesome winter tour. I love your home. You have a very cozy and welcoming home. Love it!
Thanks, Terrie! Where we are, cozy is a necessity for several months!
Lora, thanks for sharing your charming mantel at Vintage Charm!
Your welcome, Cecilia!
Love those chalkboards, Lora… and that printable is lovely, too! So happy to see you at Tuesday Turn About!
Thanks, Julie!
Lora, you’ve brought together some wonderful items to decorate your mantel. It really creates a warm and cozy winter feel. You have a wonderful eye for detail. Happy to be hopping with you and thank you for linking at Tuesday Turn About.
Thanks, Carol! We are enjoying the warm, cozy winter look:)
Love your “new” mantel and your mantel decor Lora! The evergreen trees really pop with the chalkboards as a backdrop. So brilliant using them all together. Every little detail including the wreath print says cozy winter to me. Pinning!
Oh wow what an awesome discovery with your mantel flip! It looks amazing for winter but I know it will also look perfect in every season. Too cool!
I love the repurposed chalkboards as the backdrop with simple snow flakes and all your woodsy winter treasures. I am so happy you have given that wonderful vintage velvet deer a good home!
Thank you so much for joining the winter home tours!
Yes, that velvet deer is one of my favorite recent finds, Amber. I honestly wouldn’t mind finding him a few friends;)
Lora your mantel came out just beautiful! I am so impressed by all of your beautiful DIY projects and seeing how the whole mantel came together was amazing! Thank you for the beautiful inspiration!
Glad you enjoyed it, Kelly! Thx!
Your mantle is perfect! I love the trees and the chalkboards. Darling winter touches!!
hugs,
Jann
Thanks, Jann!
Lora, I love your cozy and whimsical mantel–what fun! It is a pleasure to be joining you for the tour this week. Stay cozy, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
We will, Cecilia! Thanks:)
Wow, your mantel sure is beautiful! I love all the pretty details and winter touches. So great to hop with you again!
Shelley
Thanks, Shelley!
PERFECT winter mantel, Lora. Loving all the different vintage containers for the variety of trees. It’s all wonderful rustic gorgeousness!!!
Aw, thanks Debra:) You and I sure love our vintage, don’t we? These are all my most recent finds from a fall estate sale where I spent way too much money! They’re cleaned up & poly’d, so I decided I needed to enjoy them:)
Oh my gosh, I love what you did with your mantel! The DIY-er in me so appreciates how you took the thing down, gave it a good sanding and gave it new life. I think it looks fabulous. I love those vintage mirror chalkboards, too. I’m all about a good stencil project, so I’ll have to check out that brand you mentioned. Always fun hopping with you, Lora!
Definitely, do, Crissy! I have been so impressed with the thick quality of her stencils. I can use them over and over.
Lora, your mantel is gorgeous! What a wonderful discovery! You have styled it beautifully for the winter months! It has been so much fun being on the tour with you!
Thanks, Shannon! Winter will last a couple more months for sure here, so we need to make the best of it!
What a surprise with your mantel and how it turned out perfect. I love how you decorated it, it looks so pretty, i can’t ever tell when i decorate if i have too much or too little!? Thanks for this winter mantel.
Thanks, Marlene. That is a really good question; maybe I should do a blog on that sometime!
Lora I love love love your mantel! It is the coziest of cozies! And those chalkboards are fantastic! You are seriously so clever. You need your own craft show! Great job on the beautiful mantel too. You amaze me friend.
My own craft show…isn’t that what a blog is? Are you thinking in front of a camera? Cuz video is on my future bucket list, buy oye vey…so many things to learn:( If I could just make stuff & decorate and not deal with all the tech challenges! Thanks for your sweet compliments, friend:)
What a beautiful mantel and your decor is perfect. Love it all
Thanks, Marty!
I love this mantel Lora! It’s so much fun to see how you flipped it over to reveal all that rustic charm. I love how chippy it all is. The trees and deer you have featured on the mantel are fabulous and I love the chalkboards and the great reiminder that winter is the perfect season to slow down too. It’s all so cozy! Hugs, CoCo
It really was a nice surprise to see how well it turned out, CoCo! I’m thrilled to be able to decorate this space; we’ve had a boring old TV up there for the longest time:( Thanks!
Your new mantle looks great, love the washed look. Your thrifted stool you made looks great up there. You did such a great job.
Cindy
Thanks, Cindy! It was a fun canvas to decorate!
Your mantel flipped over to reveal the saw marks looks stunning as does the way that you’ve decorated it for winter. Those chalboards look great as do the winter trees, candles, and fluffy yarn snowballs. I always love seeing how you decorate your home for the season.
I’m enjoying all those cute little evergreen trees a little bit longer, before the spring vibes kick in, Paula. I can usually make it till Vday, then the evergreens get tired;)
Lora, your mantle looks stunning and loaded with rustic chic charm! What a happy discovery and clever idea to flip the mantle wood over too. I especially like your oh-so-real looking little evergreens in the variety of containers. Fairy lights add a magical tough and are so versatile — I often use them myself in table centerpieces.
Luckily all we had to do was drill a couple new holes, Debbee! Sanding definitely revealed it’s true rustic beauty!