Romantic Holiday Decorating with a Simple Christmas Mantel

In this post: If you love romantic holiday decorating, you’ll be inspired to create a Christmas mantel garland using fresh greenery and flowers.⇒

Is romantic a word you’d use for the holiday season?

With all the hustle and bustle, complete with shopping and spending, parties and dinners and riotous color, I’m guessing not.

But why not?

Why not slow it down a bit?

Why not aim for a gentler time, with a little less bling and a lot more quiet beauty? Not everything needs to light up. Sometimes the most exquisite things are also the simplest.

This has been my goal for everything lately. I seek calm and tranquility, trying my best to live in the moment, finding little pleasures where possible along with micro luxuries. I want things to be easy and avoid drama like the plague.

So naturally, this is my approach, more and more each holiday season.

Christmas Mantel Garland

For the mantel, featured here, I went for exactly this kind of soft gentility. Elegance brought by natural elements, carefully placed and lovely to look at. But ever-so-simple at the same time.

All it took was a trip to the garden center to find fresh greens. I’ve been wanting fresh cedar for weeks now and finally it was there in plentiful bundles. I grabbed a few and headed inside to select flowers.

And that’s when I saw them…

As I shared in the post about my white Christmas tree, I’m talking about peonies!

I don’t know what it is about them, but I find them to be heartbreakingly beautiful. Their lush petals, their delicate ruffled edges, the way they open from tightly held buds to glorious blooms with remarkable presence.

I’m thrilled that they’re being imported now, from places in the Southern Hemisphere where it’s summer now. What a joyous discovery!

And this is precisely the kind of small pleasure I’m wanting to slow down and enjoy. Do you feel the same as I do, like you can’t continue at this warp speed pace?

I long for time to sit by the fire, cuddle against a fur pillow and read a good book.

Or a glossy magazine.

Or listen to my favorite tunes.

Or watch a movie.

Or just stare into space and dream about the future. Plan for a trip or other exciting adventure.

I didn’t expect to find peonies and thought I’d see what was available in the flower shop. I figured it would be something in white or red or perhaps even in a deep claret. Holiday colors are what I expected.

But I’m not one to resist peonies. Life is short. Why would I?

I did select mostly white and I suppose I could have paired them with another red flower. I wanted it to say holiday, after all.

But they had the pink and who could turn away pink peonies?

Not me.

So into the cart they went and home they came.

I delicately placed the cedar branches along my mantel, emanating from the gilded clock. I was careful to drape them over the edges and propped some up along the bottom of the mirror. Then I went to work tucking in my peonies.

The way they fall they remind me of playful children.

And because it’s holiday time I added some ornaments, in gold and silver, sparkled and shiny. Just a few, here and there. Not over the top, but just enough to maintain that charming gentility.

I wasn’t looking for barren or sparse. Just calm and tranquil. So a little bit of glimmer was perfectly ok. Nothing tricky or complicated, but unabashedly pretty would do fine.

I also sprinkled some additional holiday accents around the room, in equally simple displays, to spread out the cheer.

A vintage raw wood bowl plays host to “snow” dusted pine cones and lovely brass cow bells, for the easiest arrangement ever, which similarly reflects a feeling of being immersed in nature.

On a sweet little accent table atop a bed of more cedar, rests a trio of bottle brush trees, reinforcing the soft concept. Neutral baubles are tossed among the trees, for a super-quick but festive table styling.

Cable knit stockings provide the final touch. Soft and pom-pommed with a lovely drape, they foster an air of tranquility like the rest of the scene.

Red velvet would have been jarring and broken the mood. But the cozy sweater knit is just perfect.

This is just a little restful corner in my chaotic world, but it offers me calm and serenity at a much needed time.

I wish you all the same peace for the holidays. Take some time to treat yourself with kindness while spreading cheer to others!

More Ideas for Soothing and Gentle Holiday Decor

• Soft Neutral Palette: Use whites, creams, soft grays, and muted golds for a calming atmosphere.
• Warm Fairy Lights: Drape warm white fairy lights for a soft, twinkling glow without flashing.
• Faux Fur Accents: Add plush faux fur throws or pillows in ivory or blush tones for a cozy, romantic feel.
• Dried Orange Garlands: String garlands made from dried citrus slices for a natural, understated touch.
• Delicate Ornaments: Use clear glass or pearl-toned ornaments for an airy, refined look.
• Evergreen Sprigs: Place simple sprigs of cedar, eucalyptus, or pine in vases or along the mantel.
• Candlelit Centerpieces: Arrange candles of varying heights with greenery for a peaceful centerpiece.
• Sheer Curtains: Replace heavy drapes with sheer white curtains to let in soft winter light.
• Muted Ribbon: Wrap gifts and decorations with silk or velvet ribbons in pale pink, silver, or champagne tones.
• Soft Textured Tree Skirt: Use a chunky knit or faux fur tree skirt to soften the base of your tree.
• Snow-Inspired Decor: Incorporate frosted branches, snowflakes, and faux snow for a wintery, serene vibe.
• Subtle Wreaths: Hang minimalist wreaths made of eucalyptus or dried flowers for understated elegance.
• Gentle Scents: Use natural holiday scents like cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or vanilla candles.
• Muted Garland: Choose greenery garlands with soft white berries or dusted with a light frost effect.
• Feather Accents: Add white or pale feathers to wreaths or tree decorations for a dreamy touch.
• Paper Stars: Hang simple white or neutral paper star lanterns for a Scandinavian-inspired look.
• Elegant Stockings: Use linen or velvet stockings in neutral tones with subtle embroidery or trim.
• Soft Glow Lanterns: Fill lanterns with pillar candles or fairy lights for gentle illumination.
• Simple Tablescapes: Use a linen tablecloth and add natural elements like pinecones or branches for quiet elegance.
• Muted Wrapping Paper: Wrap gifts in kraft paper with twine or soft-colored ribbons for a minimalist aesthetic.
• Calming Music: Play soft instrumental holiday music in the background to enhance the tranquil mood.
• Single Color Tree: Decorate your tree with ornaments in varying shades of white or one muted metallic tone.
• Natural Wood Elements: Incorporate raw wood decorations, like wooden stars or bead garlands, for an organic touch.
• Velvet Tree Ribbons: Drape velvet ribbons down your tree in soft pastel or neutral tones.

Please take some time to look at what my friends are sharing today!

Shabbyfufu

Maison de Cinq

Citrine Living