I don’t know about you, but I am always amazed by the creativity and lavish Christmas displays I see at Christmas-time around blogland. I love looking at them. I enjoy seeing them so much, but I prefer a light touch when it comes to holiday decorating in my home. I love to collect, but don’t have having too much going on in a room, or it feels cluttered to me. Now that I am a ‘woman of a certain age’ I don’t do a lot when decorating for the holidays. And so there you have it. I decided a long time ago to be honest with you and to be myself. I figure some will leave my blog because I don’t do enough Christmas decorating. (That’s okay.) But I know there are many people out there like me, who are looking for a few things they can do quickly and simply to add Christmas spirit to their homes. And when you come here, you won’t feel pressured to spend a week hanging holly and mistletoe everywhere. I don’t judge!
Do the amount of decorating you are comfortable with. I think some people love going overboard, and I think if that is your thing, you should do it. But if not, sit back, have a cup of tea and let’s take a look at some simple changes I made to our mantel. So I really love these pitchers on my mantel. One idea I had was to fill them with greenery.
And then add lights.
The greenery is cedar I cut from (you guessed it) our Farm, Cedar Hill.
I love this simple look and it’s pretty easy to do. I used battery operated lights.
I thought I would show you another look also.
So I moved one of my blingy deer to the mantle and added many little bottle brush trees.
Then I also moved my Santos doll to the mantel. I’ll probably add some fresh greenery to them when I can get my hands on some.
I popped some pillows into this antique basket and moved it over by the fireplace. And I added a wire basket filled with mercury glass ornaments and white faux antlers.
A few bottle brush trees in a larger size gave my ottoman some color. I also added one of my favorite trophies with a boxwood ball.
And here it is all together. It’s simple, yes, but I like simple. I’ve heard people describe my style as simple, and rather than be insulted, I felt it was a compliment. I want it to feel simple and easy, and approachable. So my point is be yourself. You don’t need to apologize or explain for what you do or don’t do.
So that’s two very simple looks I created very quickly. I hope that gave you some ideas. Now check out some more mantels.
Decorating styles can vary all over North America. Enjoy visiting these other fabulous blogs to see how they’ve decorated their Christmas mantels in the region where they live!
CANADA:
EAST:
Atta Girl Says || Golden Boys & Me || In My Own Style || StoneGable ||The Everyday Home || The Rustic Life || Worthing Court
CENTRAL:
Cedar Hill Farmhouse || Edith & Evelyn || House By Hoff || It All Started With Paint || Maison de Pax || Town & Country Living
WEST:
At The Picket Fence || Classic Casual Home || Tidbits || Twelve On Main
Gorgeous! I, too, prefer simple over anything else … not just in decorating but in life. It may not work for everybody but it certainly does for me.
Thank you for the lovely mantel ideas. I am always struggling to make my mantel look Christmas-y. I love your ideas!
Less is more !! Love the ideas as I am changing over my decor this year and great inspiration!
Thanks Anita!
I like your different choices…I’ve gone white his year with glitz. My green tree is in the attic.
One white pencil tree on each side of the mantel withe rhinestone garland from Cracker Barrel. A white Santa on the Mantel with a lace minitree adorned with rhinestone pins as ornaments is down in front of the fireplace opening between the two trees. It may sound tacky but honestly because the room is koi pond green with white trim and all the slipcovers are so white..it blends well.
love your blog ! inspirational!
Your mantel is beautiful Anita! I loved seeing the different options, but I love the blingy deer with all the little bottle brush trees! Perfect!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Christmas decorating. After 53 years of marriage I just don’t feel the need to fill my home with Christmas décor. I do small areas with favorite things but that is it. Simple is better for me. Merry Christmas!! Love all of your ideas by the way..
Susie
I totally get that Susie. Enjoy the simple decor.
I love it! Simple and elegant.
Simple, yes. But, OH that “blingy deer” – beautiful!
I love the simple beauty of your mantle. I’m also at the season in life where less is becoming more!
Thank you for sharing.
How beautiful! I love your pretty style!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Oh the mantels are just gorgeous Anita….love the different looks and how special to have the cedar clippings from The Farm!
Okay, I am totally impressed that day after day after day you show us beautiful settings and objects. How do you keep the stream flowing? Hope it never dries up. Each morning when I sit down to my computer to work, the first thing I do is open your blog. Fantastic!
Gwen you are so, so kind!! Thank you.
Anita, Merry Christmas to you and yours! Looking forward to seeing more of Cedar Hill in 2017!
Just LOVE all the mantle ideas…the doors are a super idea! Are those round ball led lights on the mantle? Beautiful.
Love your simple ideas. My Christmas decorating style too.
Hey…you even put your pretty touch on the tray! Simple and elegant.
Merry Christmas, Anita!
I love, love, love the “grand simplicity” of this mantel Annita, in both versions!!!!
May I ask. is the black-winged angel an antique or have you acquired it recently?
All good wishes from England!
The winged angel is fairly new, I think from last year. Hey back at you Rania in England!!
If you can remember where you got him from Anita,, I will be most grateful!
It would be the ideal present for my wonderful mother in law 🙂
Best from London!
From Joss and Main Rania. I hope that helps.
Bless you Anita!
I’ll send put a search party! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to decorate your mantle twice. I like it both ways but I especially like the one with the deer and all the little trees.
Your mantel is simply lovely, Anita! Love that you were able to gather greenery from farm – how special!
Anita, it is so refreshing to see your beautifully decorated mantel. I am so tired of seeing so many overly decorated houses in blogland! Less is definitely more! Wishing you a very joyous Christmas! Louise
Thank you Louise! Wishing you a joy-filled Christmas.
Love it both ways thanks for sharing.
I just purchased bottle-brush trees and wasn’t sure where I was going to place them. What a coincidence that your blog featured the trees with a deer. I am going casual this year instead of glitzy which my husband considers museum, don’t touch quality. Your decorating is simple, skip glamor and go for “home.” Inexpensive too! Thanks again.
Anita, I love the look of your mantle with the deer statue and the bottle-brush trees. And the Santos dolls are to die for! I’ve wanted one for a long time now, but can’t find a caged one. Do you mind telling me where you got yours? Anyway, the simplicity of this mantle decor really calls to me. I always like the simpler look when I see it in other homes or magazines, but it’s funny, when I come to do my own decorating I always seem to end up with “too much”! If I see a bare spot, I just have to fill it with something. I get very annoyed with myself! I should have someone like you standing behind me saying, “That’s enough”!
Thanks for the lovely post; I’ll look forward to more simplicity.
Just lovely! Everything is so elegant. Thanks for sharing.
Marilyn
I absolutely love your simple, lovely Christmas touches Anita! I’m finding myself gravitating to less each year as well and enjoying freeing myself from stressing about it so much. Thank you for being so honest and sharing such beautiful inspiration! xoxo
Love this idea of a mantel blog tour. I hope I always have a home with a mantel, they are the best for decorating!
There is something very satisfying about simple beauty! I love the blingy reindeer! 🙂
Great ideas for my mantel. Thank you
Love them both! And as I continue on my journey to be a woman of certain age — okay, I am that age just had my kids later than some — I’m working on simplifying too. The kids (okay, now teens) really still enjoy a decorated home so I do have that pressure!
Pinning!
🙂 Linda
You simply amaze me with your ability to keep coming up with new, beautiful and creative decorating ideas every day. Your simple mantles are lovely. Merry Christmas.
Anita, both of these mantels are just beautiful! The candlesticks on the first one are magnificent!! Are they antiques or re-pros? They are all stunning!
I’m not sure I would call your style simple, so much as clean and beautifully presented. I think there’s actually a great deal of complexity to your arrangements, even when they are not brimming over with “stuff”. It’s a pleasure to see a unique and personalized approach… 🙂
Very pretty, Anita. My favorite is the blingy deer with bottle brush trees and Santos dolls. I’m a fan of simple holiday decorating, too (it’s less to put away when Christmas is over).
Thanks for your post. The simplicity of your Christmas decor goes well with your home and reflects a peaceful calm that is welcoming and warm. Being a woman “of a certain age” I now enjoy the more organic decor after years of filling my home with glitz. I appreciate both styles. Good job. Will you please tell me where you found that wonderful blue striped rug? It is wonderful.