Easy DIY Christmas Mantel Without a Fireplace
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Today I’ll show you a simple way to create a Christmas mantel (even without a finished fireplace). Our mantel is still a work in progress, so I hung a shelf above the couch and styled it with wintery Christmas decor.
When we rearranged the furniture in our family room to fit the tree, a bare wall popped up that was begging for some holiday cheer. In less than 30 minutes, the shelf was up, the ornaments and greenery were in place, and just like that, we had a cozy Christmas mantel!
Our Christmas theme this year is a wintery, nature inspired theme using gold, silver, red & white.
How to Create a Christmas Mantel Without a Fireplace
This is the bare wall prior to the shelf being added.
Simply place a level where you would like the shelf to hang.
Draw a line where the bottom of the shelf will hang, and drill your pilot holes for screws.
Screw the screws 95% into the wall (leave a little showing in order to hang your bracket).
$2 unfinished wooden brackets from our local mill store worked out perfectly.
I used a 10″ wide piece of pine board that we had left over from our bathroom renovation project for the shelf.
Two coats of Benjamin Moore white dove paint and it was ready for a wintery Christmas display.
Cozy Holiday Shelf Decorating Inspiration
I made a “dear santa” chalkboard sign using construction paper and an existing canvas art picture.
Fairly easy right? If you don’t have a traditional fireplace mantel, hopefully you find this tutorial on how to hang shelves helpful. Perhaps it will inspire you to create your own wintery Christmas mantel!
This diy Christmas mantel only cost $4 and I think it adds so much character to the room and an otherwise, boring wall.
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
we don’t have a mantel so this would be perfect. love it!
Thank you Ali. It’s a great way to add some character to a wall 🙂
Really great idea!
Merry Christmas!!
Thank you, you to!
what a great idea, and i love the way you used those presents.
Thank you!
I love this idea for people who don’t have a fireplace mantel like me. Great tutorial Jessica.
Thanks Mary!
Your tutorial makes it look so easy!
I am loving your room, too. I love how the red pops off your white sofa. And those curtains…
Thanks for inspiring me.
Amy
Thank you. Yes,it is definitely fairly easy 🙂
That’s really cute! I have a mantel, but you can never have too many decorating surfaces.
Thank you Ashley!
What kind of fabric are your drapes made of? Did you make them or purchase them? Thank you
Hi Sheila! I made the curtains out of burlap. 3 yards per panel (96″). Pottery Barn also sells them but $100 per panel. I paid 1.50$ per yard at Joanne Fabrics 🙂
Absolutely great idea! Where did you purchase your pillows?
Thank you Jane! I got the pillows in Target. They are part of their holiday line for this year 🙂
Seriously…why didn’t I think of this? Great idea! Hubby hasn’t built my mantel yet so this would have been a great solution! 🙂 Pin Worthy!!! Now following!!! ~ Judy
haha thank you! I have those “why didn’t I think of that” moments all the time 🙂 Glad I could be of service! Have a great night.
So pretty, Jessica. Love the little chalk board. Thanks for linking up to our Home for the Holidays Link Party!
You are very welcome Danielle and one of these days, we need to hook up for coffee and meet each other! Did you see the post about Haven next year in Atlanta? Tickets go on sale January 1 I think. Inbox me if you are interested in my experience ect. last year. I think you would love it 🙂
Very cute idea!!! Also, I would love to know where you got your couch. I love it!! It looks super comfy and just what I’ve been hunting for. Thanks!
Thank you:) The couch is from Jordans Furniture in Natick, Ma
I love the blue paint color on the walls! Do you remember what you used??
Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore 🙂