The Steen Style

Hey there and welcome back to another installment of, ‘what does your house look like at Christmas?’ Today is all about the mantel, which is the focal point of our living room and my favorite renovation we have done so far!

Keeping with the look of our Christmas dining room table, I used green, white, silver and natural elements. Can I be 100% honest with you? I LOVE IT! This is my most favorite mantelscape or mantel look or whatever you want to call it that I’ve done so far. It is full but still clean and simple and so, so pretty!

The 52″ TV above our thick and chunky mantel is my husband’s pride and joy. He loves telling the story of us winning the money to pay for this while playing roulette (always betting on Cowboy Black – Go Pokes!) in the Bahamas on our honeymoon. The only time of the year I’m allowed to put anything tall on the mantel is at Christmas and I take full advantage of it. I got these silver reindeer at Pottery Barn three years ago on clearance and they are the perfect little/large guys to flank our TV.

The silver JOY stocking holders I got in college from Hobby Lobby. It was my first-ever, grown-up Christmas purchase and I love still using them. The three stockings were a little splurge from Hobby Lobby when we bought our first house. Even though we have two dogs now, I still just use the three stockings…I think they can share one. 🙂

It was so cold while I was taking these pictures, I put a fire on. It is tough business, let me tell you. Totally kidding – I flip a switch and put a lighter by the gas outlet. One of the million reasons I love this house is this fireplace. Nothing is better during this time of year than a large fire and a cuddly blanket! I am very careful about fire dangers so the pillows got moved out a little and the stockings were put to the side…not really interested in seeing those go up in flames!

To add some natural and texture to the top of the mantel, I tore strips of burlap up and tied it around the tip of the stocking holder. I can’t tie a perfect bow but I like the little extra ‘something-something’ it gives this area and helps bring up the burlap from the Mr. and Mrs. pillows on the hearth.

The little mercury votives are more of what is on our dining room table. $1/each…not too shabby! The Dollar Tree LED votives inside are my favorite candle item as well. So easy and no worries about wax dripping, etc.

The tall mercury bud vase was an after-Christmas purchase from Pottery Barn last year. I only got 2 and am kicking myself for not getting more when they were so cheap! Of course that always happens, right?

The white Nutcrackers on the mantel are a new addition this year and are so stinking cute! I saw these in the West Elm catalog for $26/each…not interested, but thanks! My mom and I were at Hobby Lobby the day after Thanksgiving and I saw a pack of six natural colored nutcrackers for $7. They were running the 50% off special so I got all six for $3.50. Now we’re talking! After using several coats of white spray paint, these bad boys are almost identical to the $26/each ones. No offense, West Elm.

When we picked up our live tree this year (I’ll show you the full tree in another post), we put it in the living room and I’m so glad we did – I love seeing the lights from the tree reflect onto the mantel! For the first time, I got real greenery to put on the mantel and love it. I got a 7′ cedar garland from my local garden center and it smells amazing! It is so full and thick, I’m glad I went with this instead of using my old, lighted garland. Here’s hoping me sprizting it with water every day helps it last and doesn’t dry out before Christmas!

Here’s one last look at this year’s mantel, my favorite so far! (I’m getting my new camera very soon…after looking at this picture, I am even more anxious to get one and start taking much better pictures. Can I get an “Amen!”)

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you’re enjoying the season and enjoying decorating your spaces. I’ll be stopping by soon to see your special mantels, too!