Decorating a Mantel With a Country Style

Decorate a fireplace mantel with rustic wrought iron pieces.

A country-inspired mantel will complement a fireplace's warm glow. Decorating a fireplace mantel with nature-inspired pieces and relaxed fabrics will infuse your home with casual elegance. Use vintage pieces and fresh items to create a customized mantel look. Use welcoming farmhouses, rustic barns and country fields and orchards as decor inspiration. Mix country pieces with festive items to create a charming holiday mantel; update mantel decor to reflect changing seasons and special occasions.

Things You'll Need

• Country-inspired fabric
• Wrought iron lanterns
• Candles
• Fresh fruit
• Wood or crystal bowl
• Flowers
• Canning jar or vase
• Pine cones
• Mini pumpkins and gourds
• Spray paint
• Red berry sprigs
• Large clear vase

Instructions

1. Set the stage for country-inspired decor with charming fabric. Place a long vintage scarf featuring fruit or floral embroidery details on the top of an empty mantel. Choose a pink, green, yellow or red gingham printed runner for a fresh look. Design your own runner by sewing together vibrantly hued paisley-printed bandanas.

2. Place black wrought iron lanterns on both ends of the mantel as country-inspired anchoring pieces. Set burnt orange, pomegranate red, rust brown or gold-hued pillar candles inside the lanterns to provide a soft glow.

3. Use fresh fruit to infuse the mantel with a pop of color. Place vibrant limes and lemons in a crystal bowl for a summer-inspired look. Enhance a wood bowl with green and red apples as autumn-inspired decor.

4. Display fresh-picked wildflowers on the mantel for an authentic country look. Place the flowers in a vintage glass canning jar or an antique pink or green crystal vase.

5. Create country-inspired holiday decor using pine cones. Fill a large clear vase with pine cones and mini pumpkins and gourds and place it on a mantel to add autumn flair to your home. Cover pine cones with silver or gold spray paint and place them in a vase with sprigs of red berries as festive Christmas decor.

References

• Country Living Magazine: Holiday Fireplace Ideas