How to decorate a mantelpiece and fireplace for Christmas
The order to work in, the garland length for your shelf, how to space the stockings, what to put in an unused hearth and how to keep it all safe when the fire is lit.
Christmas fireplace decorations look best built in layers: something above the shelf, a garland along it, a few objects on it, stockings below and, if the fire is not in use, something in the hearth. Think of the whole fireplace as a pyramid, with a mirror or picture at the top and the bulkiest pieces at the base. Below are the garland lengths for common shelf sizes, the order to work in and the rules for a fire that is lit.
Christmas fireplace decorations, layer by layer
Work from the wall down, so nothing gets knocked once it is in place.
- Above the shelf: a wreath, or a mirror or picture dressed with a short garland and battery lights. Hung a little above eye level, a wreath reads from across the room; the door wreaths in our wreaths and garlands collection work here too.
- The garland: laid along the front edge of the shelf, with the ends falling down each side.
- Lights: wound through the garland, unless it is pre-lit.
- On the shelf: candles, bud vases, figures and cards, grouped at different heights.
- Stockings: hung from the front edge, evenly spaced.
- The hearth: lanterns, a log basket or wrapped boxes, but only if the fire is not in use.
How long should a mantelpiece garland be?
Measure the shelf from end to end, then decide how far the garland should hang down each side. A short garland gets lost against a chimney breast, so err on the long side. Artificial garlands mostly come in 1.8 m (6 ft) and 2.7 m (9 ft) lengths:
| Shelf length | 1.8 m garland | 2.7 m garland |
|---|---|---|
| 1 m | 40 cm hanging down each side | 85 cm each side: swag it across the front or double it up |
| 1.2 m | 30 cm each side | 75 cm each side |
| 1.5 m | 15 cm each side | 60 cm each side |
| 1.8 m | Lies flat, no drop | 45 cm each side |
| 2 m | Too short | 35 cm each side |
For a fuller look, lay a second garland under the first, or let a long one dip in a swag across the front of the shelf: a swag 30 cm deep across a 1.5 m shelf uses about 1.65 m, so a 2.7 m garland still has about 50 cm to hang down each side. Keep any swag well clear of the opening if the fire is lit.
Vivo Technologies
9 ft (2.7 m) green pre-lit garland with 30 warm white LEDs, batteryFixing a garland without nails
- Removable adhesive hooks on top of the shelf or under its front edge.
- Mantel clips that grip the front edge of the shelf, for a stone or tiled surround you would rather not stick anything to.
- Weight: heavy candlesticks or lanterns set on the back of the garland hold it in place.
- Cable ties or florist wire round a bracket or the end of a timber shelf, where there is something to tie to.
Lights on the mantelpiece
A pre-lit garland is the tidiest option: the LEDs are already in the branches and the battery pack hides behind an object at one end. To light a plain garland, wind a string of battery fairy lights through it, pushing the wire deep into the branches so only the bulbs show. Our plain Christmas garlands come in pine, snow-tipped and berry styles.
What to put on a mantelpiece at Christmas
Group objects at different heights rather than lining them up, and leave gaps so each group reads on its own.
- Candlesticks and pillar candles at three heights, real or LED.
- Bud vases or small jars with sprigs of spruce, eucalyptus or berries between the candles.
- Mercury-glass tealight holders set in front of the garland, where they catch the light.
- Paper star lights hung from hooks on top of the shelf.
- Ceramic houses or a small village lit by LED tealights.
- Nutcrackers, gonks or a pair of small trees at the ends.
- Christmas cards, standing along the back or pegged to a ribbon.
Symmetrical or not?
A symmetrical mantel puts matching pieces at each end, larger ones on the outside and smaller ones towards the middle, with a wreath or mirror in the centre. It suits a traditional fireplace and is the easier look to get right.
An asymmetrical one builds a tall cluster at one end, such as candlesticks of different heights or a small tree, and lets the garland trail off the other end. Arranged by eye, it often looks livelier on a modern fireplace.
How to hang stockings on a fireplace
Space them evenly: divide the shelf length by the number of stockings and hang each one in the middle of its share. On a 1.5 m shelf, four stockings sit 37.5 cm apart, the outer two about 19 cm in from each end; on a 1.2 m shelf, three sit 40 cm apart. The stockings in our range are mostly 20 to 25 cm across and 40 to 47 cm long, so a 1.5 m shelf takes five at 30 cm apart with a small gap between each. Measure from the shelf to the top of the fire opening too: a long stocking can reach it.
- Removable adhesive hooks under the front edge hold empty stockings. Check the weight limit before Christmas Eve fills them.
- Weighted stocking holders sit on the shelf with no fixings, but a tug on a full stocking can pull one off onto feet or the hearth.
- Never hang stockings over the opening of a fire that is lit.
Stockings, including personalised ones, and the small gifts to go in them are in our stockings, sacks and fillers collection.
Decorating the hearth and an unused fireplace
A fireplace that is not in use is extra display space at floor level, and it is where the bulkiest pieces belong.
- LED pillar candles of different heights standing in the grate.
- A log basket filled with birch logs and a string of battery fairy lights.
- Lanterns, or a large paper window star standing on the hearth.
- A stack of wrapped empty boxes tied with ribbon.
- A bowl of pine cones collected on a winter walk, which costs nothing.
- Baubles on ribbons hung down the chimney breast from the shelf.
Flameless candles are the safe choice in a grate: London Fire Brigade points out that LED candles can stay on when you leave the room. Our Christmas candles range covers both LED and scented candles.
Keep the hearth clear, and keep every garland, stocking and paper decoration well away from the opening, the stove or the heat outlet of a gas or electric fire, whatever a listing says about fire resistance. For real candles on the shelf, London Fire Brigade’s advice applies: heat-resistant holders on a stable surface, nothing that can catch fire close by, never left alone and always out before bed.
Christmas mantelpiece ideas by style
| Style | Garland | On the shelf | Above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Pine with cones and red berries | Brass candlesticks, nutcrackers, cards | A wreath |
| Modern | One loose eucalyptus garland trailing off one end | White LED pillars at three heights | A framed print or a plain mirror |
| Elegant | Two garlands, one layered under the other | Mercury-glass holders, taper candles | A mirror dressed with garland and lights |
| Scandi | Plain fir with white lights | Paper stars, wooden figures | A paper star light |
| Rustic | Pine with dried orange slices and cones | Lanterns, with a log basket below | A twig or dried-flower wreath |
DIY Christmas fireplace decorations
The cheapest additions are the ones you make: dried orange slices wired onto the garland, pine cones from a walk, paper stars and baubles threaded on ribbon. Above a fire that is used, a fresh wreath dries out quickly (the RHS gives one to two weeks indoors, depending on the warmth), so an artificial wreath from our Christmas wreaths range is the practical choice. To make your own anyway, follow our guide to making a Christmas wreath.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decorate my fireplace for Christmas?
Work from the top down: a wreath or a dressed mirror above, a garland along the shelf with the ends falling down the sides, lights through the garland, then candles and objects at different heights. Hang stockings from the front edge last. Use the hearth for lanterns or a log basket only if the fire is not lit.
What are good things to put on a mantelpiece at Christmas?
Candlesticks at three heights, bud vases with sprigs of greenery, mercury-glass tealight holders, paper star lights, a small ceramic village and Christmas cards. Nutcrackers or a pair of small trees mark the ends. Group them rather than spacing them in a line.
How long should a garland be for a mantel?
Add the shelf length to twice the drop you want at each side. A 1.2 m shelf with 30 cm hanging each side takes a 1.8 m garland, and a 1.5 m shelf with 60 cm each side takes a 2.7 m one. Longer garlands can dip in a swag across the front.
How do you hang a garland on a mantel without nails?
Use removable adhesive hooks on top of the shelf or under its front edge, or mantel clips that grip the edge. Heavy candlesticks or lanterns standing on the back of the garland also hold it in place. On a timber shelf with brackets, a few cable ties do the job.
What can I put inside a decorative fireplace?
LED pillar candles at different heights, a log basket of birch logs with battery fairy lights, lanterns, a paper window star or a stack of wrapped empty boxes. Use flameless candles there rather than real ones, since they can be left on safely.
What are some modern fireplace decor ideas for Christmas?
Keep it sparse: one loose eucalyptus garland trailing off one end, white LED pillars in three heights and a framed print or plain mirror instead of a wreath. Stick to two or three colours, and build an asymmetrical cluster at one end instead of matching pairs.
Is it safe to hang a garland over a working fireplace?
Only if it stays well clear of the opening and any heat outlet, and is fixed so it cannot slip. Artificial garlands are plastic, so a fire-resistance claim on the listing is no reason to let one hang near the flames. Stockings should come off the shelf whenever the fire is lit.
How can I decorate a fireplace on a budget?
Use what costs little or nothing: pine cones gathered on a walk, dried orange slices, paper stars and baubles you already own threaded on ribbon. One plain artificial garland can be restyled every year with different trimmings.
