Red and festive Christmas mantel with DIY lit canvas

One of my favorite places to decorate (and share with you!) is my mantel!  And I just love my Christmas mantel this year.

I usually sort of already have a mapped out plan in my head of what I want to do way ahead of time but this year I really had no clue except that I knew I was going to use red stockings.  I knew I was also planning on making the DIY lit canvas (full tutorial for that here) but wasn’t sure if I was going to use it on the wall or on the mantel.  But once I hung it above the mantel I knew that was where it would stay! 

Then it was time to decorate the rest, and you know when that involves me that means pulling lots of thrifted and yard sale finds from around the house.  Sources for everything at end of post.

I find myself going a bit more simplistic with my mantels more and more and especially this year.  I still love to decorate the hearth but just a few things to make it seem cozy is enough for me.

Here’s how it looks most days during the day without the candles all lit.  I usually leave the garland lit throughout the day when I am home.  Still so pretty and festive! 

Then in the evenings when the battery operated lights on the canvas come on and I light all the candles we are treated to this view!

I love the reminder of what the season is about among the glow of the twinkling lights and candles.  And this mantel becomes my new favorite (until next year )

Sources: red berry trees – $5 yard sale find, wood backdrop – thrifted , white lanterns – BHG Wal-Mart line, red sweater candles – Wal-Mart, garland – thrifted, red stockings – Kohl’s, brown bench – yard sale, throw – thrifted, red pillow- thrifted, burlap pillow – DIY placemat pillow (tutorial here), stained crate – Crates and Pallet, white wood lantern – Kirkland’s, lighted canvas – DIY (tutorial here)

And just for fun here’s all my past Christmas mantels with links for details (thankful that my photography and decorating have grown over the last 5 years! 😉 

2011 – DIY sign and JOY letters for my first year of blogging.

2012 – Neutral + Vintage Christmas mantel.  This was the year I did no-red, all neutral colors Christmas decor.  And although I loved my neutral + vintage decor, I truly did miss the pops of red.  

 

2013 – Red and JOYful mantel – the neutral JOY letters from the previous year got painted red and several thrifted trees graced this mantel.  This was also the year that I found the wood backdrop – didn’t realize I have since used it for every Christmas mantel.

2014 – Red, white, and green Christmas mantel.  The framed art is a DIY project (made from something out of the ordinary!) and a more simple yet festive mantel with lots of red.

 

2015 – and then this year with my DIY lit canvas.  I truly do love each one!  

Which one is our favorite?  And I would love to see your Christmas mantel or decor – share a picture with me over on my facebook page.