It just hit me the other day that I have yet to create an everyday mantel design for our home. By the time we moved in and I started blogging, it was time to decorate for 4th of July. Then came Fall & Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. You get the picture. As I was taking down the last of little man’s Lorax party decorations I found myself at a loss for what to do next. It’s still very much winter here in Indiana, and I’ve never been a huge Valentine’s day decorator. Then I realized that I have never come up with a general mantel plan for these times when we don’t really have anything to decorate for.
So, of course, I got on Pinterest for some inspiration. I quickly figured out that I love the look and feel of these elements: decorative plates, ceramic animals, stacks of books, metallics, and sticks/branches. All of these things give me a homey feeling while being very eclectic in nature.
The first thing I did to begin work on our everyday mantel was to shop my home. I’m sure you’ve seen this from many bloggers…I first heard of the concept from John & Sherry. 99% of the decor you see was found in other places throughout my house. Can you guess which item I purchased for the mantel?
If you guessed the ceramic animal you’d be right! I was perusing Target the other day and saw this adorable yarn-wrapped gazelle. At only $15 I absolutely had to have it! Plus, I realized after I got home that this was actually on my photoshopped mantel. Coincidence? I think not!
The stack of books were ones that we had in the bookshelves upstairs. As you can see, I was going for as much of a neutral color palette as possible. Most of these were covered in book jackets. I was so excited to find out we had so many books that were perfect for my vision. The two darker books are early printings of Charlotte’s Web & Stuart Little that my husband’s Grandfather gave to him. I love the sentimental value behind them and think this is such a beautiful way to keep them on display.
If I could not have found enough books that were the color I wanted, the plan was to make book covers out of brown craft paper. I might still do that though, because I am currently obsessed with that look.
My mom gave me that gorgeous blue plate up there. It’s handmade and has some amazing color & character. Originally this was sitting on my china cabinet in the dining room. But, I thought it deserved more of a place of honor. I can’t imagine the work that was put into it!
I still have some work to do, and several things that I’d like to purchase. However, I’m over-the-moon excited about the direction it’s going. Maybe this sounds silly, but I feel like my everyday mantel design has motivated me to get the family room finished. My vision is more on-track now.
What are some of your favorite mantel decor elements?
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this is just lovely. That blue bowl is terrific and just as a great POP of color! I’d love for you to link up at my party (and share any other posts you have) http://www.addhousewife.com/2013/01/pin-inspiration-party-time.html
Wonderful! It’s a great mix of things and that bowl is fab!! Love it.
I love your blue plate!! I have a similar one in red that I got in England and managed to bring home without breaking it. I’d wished they had a blue one though :) I also really like your ceramic animal additional! Great purchase!
Looking good! I really don’t decorate for Valentines Day either. Thank you for linking this up to Rustic Restorations Weekend!
I am always looking for mantel inspiration…I have a ginormous mirror that I have to work with but some of the elements would still work, don’t you think? I love the wooden figurine, I think they are just so lovely.
Is the mirror hung on the wall? Because that would basically take the place of my pictures & I think it would work really well!