Thanksgiving Ideas to Decorate your Mantel
It’s that time of the year again – the holidays are just around the corner; dry leaves begin to crunch under your boots as you walk in the crisp evening air; and family and friends gather for Thanksgiving in a room that hopefully welcomes them with vibrant, warm and rich colors of the new season.
And if you’re looking to spruce up your home for the upcoming holiday season, the fireplace mantel is an excellent place to begin creating your decorating theme! So go ahead and curl up with a hot cup of apple cider, and join us for some beautiful and inspiring ideas to help you decorate your fireplace mantel for Thanksgiving.
Pro-Tips from OWS!
– Space: Make sure you’re aware of the size of the room, the height of the ceiling and the dimensions of the mantel. Try to arrange the decorations so that they are appropriate for the dimensions of the fireplace – this will help create a visual balance.
– Style: Symmetry is easy to achieve and helps create balance in the room. A pair of vases, urns or sconces, one on each side on the mantel, creates a balanced look that goes well in a formal setting.
– Color: Take inspiration from surrounding areas. Are the leaves outside a rich shade of red and orange or have they browned? Are there gold frames or ornaments nearby that can be used to create harmony?
1. Colorful Fabric
Make sure your mantel is clean and then evenly place your fabric onto the mantel. You can use a single colored piece, or use multiple colors layering them alternatively – example: a dark red piece on the bottom and an orange or gold at the top.
However, don’t be afraid to skip this step if you feel that your beautiful mantel looks perfect without covering it up.
Photo credit: Cynthia Cieminski
2. Attractive Vases, Filled With Flowers
Rich, warm colors like deep red, orange, yellow, gold and brown can easily warm up your fireplace mantel and provide a seasonally welcoming Thanksgiving atmosphere. A great way to add color to your mantel is by taking your favorite vase and filling it with fresh or dried flowers.
A tall vase can also become the focal point of your fireplace mantel – place it in the middle of your mantel and add smaller ornaments around it. Alternatively, using a few smaller vases around the mantel can fill up the empty space and give you room for a different piece to place in the middle.
Photo credit: stakeyourclaimny.com, midwestliving.com
3. Place A Cornucopia Basket
A modern cornucopia basket usually consists not only of foods like corn, squash, apples, oranges and grapes but also other festive and seasonal items, such as changing leaves, pine cones, nuts and berries, and is the perfect all-in-one package for your Thanksgiving feast.
Fill your basket with fall fruits and vegetables to give your mantel the feeling of Thanksgiving abundance. Filling with vegetables first, and then cascading artificial fruits out of the basket will give it a more abundant look. Place a few fresh fruits like pumpkins and pomegranates on your fireplace mantel so when the fireplace begins to heat, the oils in the fruit will disperse, creating a beautiful, welcoming scent.
Photo credit: sheknows
4. Tea Light Candles For An Aromatic Glow
Placing small brightly colored tea light candles around your mantel will give the mantel a warm, old-world charm. And the aroma from the candles, mixed with fresh fruits and spices is bound to create a very homely, welcoming atmosphere.
Warning: Make sure you do not place the candles anywhere close to your dried flowers or other materials that can catch fire. Always place your candles in special holders that will keep the candles upright and catch excess melted wax.
Photo credit: verymerryvintagestyle, doctorflue
5. Ornaments, Pumpkins And Gourds
Place a few small pumpkins and gourds on your fireplace mantel, as well as any other ornaments like ceramic turkeys and decorative figurines to add a festive touch to your mantel, while keeping in the theme of Thanksgiving. Seasonal figurines such as turkey and ornamental pumpkins can be purchased at a craft stores and many retailers that sell seasonal home decoration items.
With just a little bit of effort, your fireplace mantel too can become the center of attraction during the holidays.
So what are your thanksgiving decor ideas? Share a picture on our Facebook page, and you could get featured in our newsletter! Visit us at www.facebook.com/oldworldstoneworks
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to thank all our readers for taking the time to visit our blog. Thank you for your encouragement and support.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!