As we enter into the new year and the new decade I really wanted a fresh start in our home! As I’m taking all the Christmas decor out I’m honestly really feeling fresh vibes in our house right now & getting back to the basics including our mantel in our front living room. I hope that this post inspires you to get back to the basics this season, to simplify, & to make your homes cozy in this in-between season…

This mantel in our front living room is one of the spaces that is going to be getting a HUGE makeover. Hint: windows, new fireplace, & a whole new look. Before we do that I’m craving a fresh look on this simple mantel of ours. To achieve that look I got back to get basics with a few simple things that I love: My oversized wood mirror that I got at our store, a fresh plant that I picked up at our local greenhouse that I placed in an antique planter, & some chippy old architectural salvage candlesticks. It’s minimal, but oh so cozy because of the texture, wood tones, & the pop of fresh greenery. It needs to be nothing more or nothing less. Mirror + greenery + candles = the perfect mantel styling.

When styling mantels often times we think it needs to be overdone & grand, but with the right textures & balance you can create a gorgeous simple mantel. For this mantel style you could replace the mirror with a piece of art, the plant with some faux stems, & the candlesticks with a picture frame or some different style candlesticks. I hope when you visit my blog you are inspired even when your style is different or if you don’t have all the same items. I hope you can still always draw inspiration in some way from all my posts! Oh, & did you notice that candle holder on the hearth? It’s actually an antique plant stand that I turned into a candle holder…. do you like it?

Want to add another pop to the mantel? Here is a look where I added another layer with a simple piece of art:

With some of these items being antiques, you probably don’t have the same thing. Here is a little blueprint for placement and proportions to follow. The backdrop can be made up of a mirror or large piece of art. To the left and right can be made up of plants, architectural pieces, or unique finds. Here is a simple guideline map for your mantel to achieve the same look:

Winter style doesn’t always have to be pine & and winter berries. It can be clean and fresh like this mantel. I don’t know about you… it feels really good to get our house back after the holidays. We are currently in the middle of purging which is inspiring me to make your decor even more simple. Thank you guys SO MUCH for stopping by the blog today & every single day to see what we are up to! xx Liz Marie

PS. A few of you have been asking for the link to the basket by the fireplace, you can find it HERE!