Hey, friend! If you are new around here, I’m Sharlie and I’m so glad you’re here. I switched out my mantels the other day (yes, you read that correctly, but more on that in a bit) and I had some fun giving the mantel a new look. Today, I’m going to share how to decorate your mantel using items you probably already have in your house. Let’s get started!

Let’s Talk About the Mantel, first

I scored a mantel off FB Marketplace (best place ever) for $35 about three or four years ago. It had layers of paint on it so I bought some stripper and got to work on it. We don’t actually have a fireplace in our home so this mantel is just decorative and sits against the wall.

A couple of months ago, I found another gorgeous mantel on FB Marketplace for a steal of a deal so I grabbed it and switched the mantels out. This new (but old) mantel had a built in mirror and there wasn’t much I could do to decorate it. While it’s really pretty, I ended up bringing the original back in (so glad I kept it!) and I had some fun making it look pretty.

Start With A Large Focal Point

I think there are dozens of ways you can decorate a mantel, but my philosophy is keep it simple. I like to start off with a large piece right in the middle. Sometimes that’s a mirror, but I’d recently bought a piece of art at an antique store so I started off with it. Don’t have any good antique stores nearby? Check out etsy! They have lots of cool pieces and you can find some for a good deal!

Let’s Add Some Supporting Characters

We have our big pretty focal point now, but it looks a little lonely by itself up there. The key is to add pieces that compliment your focal piece, but don’t compete with it. I added some gold candles from Hobby Lobby in a cluster to one side. I like collections of things because it takes up space, but doesn’t overwhelm the space with several things to look at.

Let’s focus on the other side now! I chose to use an old stack of books that compliment the color of the art. These green books have become a favorite of mine.

I needed a little bit more height though so I used a clock I got from my friend, Jackie, at her new shop Rodworks Asheville. She has lots of other beautiful decor pieces so check out her shop!

Other ideas for every day mantel accents: lanterns, garland, plants, antique canisters/tins. Feel free to add more ideas in the comments!

Love home decor on a budget? Check out my post on how I gave my kitchen a totally different look for under $100.