Before buying our first home, I dreamed of having a fireplace mantle. I even went so far as to construct a makeshift shelf "mantle" above our television in our little condo. Upon moving into our home, I opted for a contemporary electric fireplace with our television mounted above. Designing a holiday mantle is one of my favorite parts of decorating for Christmas and have a few tried and true tips to make the perfect contemporary Christmas mantle!
A Mod Remix Mantle
Unlike the traditional look of most holiday mantles, I prefer a more contemporary, mid-century modern meets luxurious glam design. My biggest pet peeve is cheesy holiday decor. However, I do believe that we can mix in some more traditional items into a contemporary mantle. I have sentimental items that were my Mother's that I like to combine with newer Christmas trinkets. It can be done, let's explore how...
Here are my top tips for designing the perfect contemporary holiday fireplace mantle...
Create a triangle visual effect. Start with a tall mirror or artwork above your mantle that is more narrow than your fireplace surround, as the tip of the triangle, and then place other items such as vases or glass trees on the corners of the mantle top.
Add a juxtaposition of style with a classic, ornate brass mirror. This can be your sentimental piece, perhaps your grandmother's antique mirror or this Louis Phillippe Gilt Mirror by Restoration Hardware.
Trade traditional Christmas colors, red and green, for blushes and teals. Try CB2's Flash Milk Glass Trees, a modern tree silhouette trimmed in shiny gold and perfect for the modern design lover, available in colors including teal, grey, burnt sienna, mint, and more!
Replace cheesy satin Santa's with other symbols of the holiday, like this Acrylic Nutcracker also by CB2.
Introduce a new texture with a faux fur Christmas stocking to add the perfect amount of glam. Target's Deer Look Faux Fur Christmas Stocking has pom pops and plush!
And Finally, to pull it all together and add a little something to the lower half of your mantle, a basket will be the perfect storage option of extra pillows and knit blankets. Joss & Main's Braided Storage Basket is suitable for indoor or outdoor use, so once the holiday's are over you can bring it outside to store your backyard essentials!
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