How To Make A Romantic Christmas Mantel

This year I decided to decorate our Christmas bedroom mantel in more of an elegant, romantic style, rather than my usual straight-on farmhouse style.

It's quite a decorating about-face for me. But I think you're gonna love it!

Before revealing the faux fireplace mantel, I want to share the "mantel" above our bed -- a.k.a. our refurbished farmhouse corbel shelf.

Centered perfectly above our bed, the farmhouse corbel shelf acts like a second mantel -- which I absolutely love! I mean, it's another place for me to decorate! 

If you don't have one of these shelves (or any type of mantel for that matter) you can also decorate a bookshelf, the top of your dresser, a hutch. . . . there are certainly other areas of your home where you can display romantic Christmas decor. Be creative!

While the mirror's frame can look dark in some photos, it's actually a beautifully detailed gold mirror frame.                                

Not long ago I fell in love with an above-the-bed shelf Christmas vignette that used an oblong gilded mirror, horizontally, as the backdrop for a lovely display of candles and festive garlands.  

I made a mental note to be on the lookout for a similar mirror in my thrifting travels. Then I realized that I already had a similar (thrifted from Goodwill) mirror, only it was vertical, rather than horizontal.

But who says I can't turn the mirror sideways and make it into a horizontal one?

  

So that's what I did. Part of the romantic appeal here is the pink and rose gold garland as well as the pink hobnail votive candleholders and faux pink peonies. 

This pressed metal flower ornament just happens to be the perfect color combo for my romantic Christmas vignette.  

All the hobnail votive candles came from Dollar Tree a few years ago.

And the plum colored bottle brush trees were also a Dollar Tree purchase that I picked up this year. 

Now, on to the actual faux fireplace mantel. I think the DIY pink and gold ball ornament garland I made that's strung across the mantel on a velvet ribbon holds the faux fireplace mantel vignette together. And the green chunky knit stockings (JoAnn's this year) add somewhat of a WOW factor with their heavy cable knit texture, plush tassels and green velvet acorns (also JoAnn's) which I added as embellishments.

  

I transformed this basic Target clearance eucalyptus wreath into a romantic Christmas wreath by adding some blush frayed velvet ribbon and copper bells at the top. 

    

I can't get enough of these green chunky knit stockings.

I'd never decorated with nutcrackers before now, but I couldn't help myself this time. Pink velvet nutcrackers for $3 each (Wal-Mart)? No brainer.

I was amazed at how the velvet acorns matched the stockings perfectly.

Match made in heaven. 

Love, love, love.

My thrift store candelabra transformation definitely served me well here. But once I added gold candles and a glittery three star ornament to the mix it was over the top romance. 

Not to mention the romantic rose watercolor painting I placed on the hearth. 

I filled a thrifted vintage French umbrella basket with white birch logs and some faux greens. 

Overall I'd have to say that the romantic Christmas faux fireplace mantel did not disappoint.  

I added some warm white lights to the mantel display. This photo was taken early in the morning before the sun had fully come up.  

Similarly, this picture was taken in the wee hours of the morning just before sunrise.  

The recliner in the corner has become my de facto reading nook. I get to sit, read and enjoy the warm, romantic seasonal decor!  I just turn on the twinkling battery-operated lights, light a seasonal candle and relax. Aaaah.

Have you ever thought of decorating for Christmas with a romantic theme? Let me know in the comments!

Well, that's it for today, friends! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about 

How To Make A Romantic Christmas Mantel

and that I've inspired you in some way. 

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