5 Expert Decorating Tips for a Standout Holiday Mantel

If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace mantel in your home, you won't want to miss out on the opportunity to decorate it this holiday season and create a beautiful display that the whole family will enjoy.

If you're wondering where to get started when it comes to outfitting your mantel so that it appears stylish and festive, you'll want to keep the following tips from pro designers top of mind.

Below, four experts share some of their favorite mantel styling techniques, ranging from the kinds of greenery they like to use to the unexpected colors they look forward to decorating with year after year.

Before you head to the store, look outdoors for some inspiration. There are many natural elements that will look beautiful on your mantel this holiday season; use these as a foundation for your vignette.

Lindsey Gregg, a designer with Big Sky Design in Wilmington, North Carolina, enjoys draping a live magnolia or cedar garland across her mantel and then threading felt ribbon through the greenery and tying bows to the corners. Best of all, this project is easy and affordable, she explains.

«Ribbon comes in so many different colors, is easily accessible, and can be reused year after year,» Gregg says. «I'll often use that same felt ribbon as a garland on my Christmas tree.»

Keep in mind that you don't have to embrace bright reds and other loud Christmasy hues if your aesthetic leans more neutral.

«I love to decorate mine with winter decor rather than holiday-specific pieces,» notes Michelle Gage, the founder of Michelle Gage Interior Design in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

For example, the designer says, to consider displaying glass or bottle brush trees that are icy blue, silver, or white in hue. To mix things up, Gage