LOVE… is in the air and on the mantel {Valentine’s Mantel}

Ok, so yesterday I sort of confessed I was having the winter blues.  Well, you know what I found the cure!

Scrub your bathroom literally from ceiling to baseboards for 3-4 hours till it is sparkling clean (you know so clean that it makes you open the door again and look in and smile cause it looks and smells so good? ), spend the evening recuperating while gluing hearts and red ribbon on everything in site, decorate a super-cute Valentine mantel, and wake up to a gorgeous sunny day! ;)  Ok, well it worked for me at least, and for today at least – so maybe give it a try!

I typically don’t do an all-Valentine themed mantel.  I usually do a winter mantel and throw in a little red.  Because usually once Valentine’s Day is over, it sort of seems funny to still have Valentine themed stuff up in the house?? But since it is almost the end of January and I am just now decorating my mantel, I decided to go all Valentine’s this year and just deal with it at least until the end of February when I can’t contain the spring fever anymore.  And I am so glad I did, cause this mantel is cheery and fun and I love it!

So here is my fun, romantic, black and red . . .

Valentine’s Day mantel!

I don’t always have a vision for the entire finished product, although I always have some definite ideas of some things I want to do.  I knew I wanted a subway type print and I knew I wanted to use the red lanterns (more on that below).  I didn’t plan to have it all black, red, and white, but as soon as I got the lanterns and the black frame with the red bow up there, I knew that was going to be my “theme!”  So I rummaged through the house to find any and everything black or red.

Here’s how the lanterns were inspired…  During Christmas I saw a display at Kirkland’s where they had used a lantern hanging over a mirror on a mantel and I loved it!  Then I realized I had already seen that same idea on Sarah’s Christmas mantel and the red lanterns she had used were perfect for Winter leading into Valentine’s Day. 

They are from IKEA and they are only $3.99.  Our store didn’t have the red ones in stock anymore, but you know there is always a cure for that, right?  (Yep, spray paint!)  They are the only things I bought specifically for this mantel, but they will be used over and over again I am sure!

Here’s the rest of the details:

Lanterns – IKEA, $3.99 ea.

Shutter – Goodwill

Small black frame  -  50¢ yard sale frame with a wedding picture in it

“LOVE” sign – $2 from Target dollar spot bought sometime last year

Roses – from my stash

I added the red bow on the frame (idea from here).  I also added the red heart in the “O”  – from a dollar store pick bought last year.

Large black frame – Goodwill, $1.01 (already black, no spray paint needed )

Print in frame – from Peppermint Plum (you can print your own too!), matte is just red paper

Roses – from my stash

Candle holder and berry ring– yard sale

Red + silver frame – borrowed from guest room 🙂

“XOXO” sign on mirror – I made from burlap just like my “FALL” sign

I need to pick up some battery operated tea-lights to go in the lanterns, but I have real candles lit in the pictures.  They are fun and romantic at night

So there is my fun Valentine’s Day mantel!    I LOVE it!   I think I am inspired to add a some more Valentine touches to my house …. hmmm.. I am off to browse Pinterest for some ideas!

How about you?  Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? 

{cj}

Linking to:

Beth’s Valentine’s Day mantel party on Thursday