Simple Spring Mantle Decor (2024)

Our Spring Mantle this year has a bit of a farm house flair using ideas I found on Pinterest. I added my own twist to create cheap and easy spring decor.

Have you heard the phrase ‘use what you have’ or ‘shop your own home first’? That is exactly what I was trying to accomplish following Valentine’s when I was ready to style my mantle for Spring. My goal was to create a simple mantlescape without spending any money.

This article contains affiliate links. Please see our Disclosure policy.

How much do you love a good challenge?

In case you’re new to the blog, the purpose of the Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants (and you too) to not just pin, but to make it happen! This month’s challenge is about Spring Crafts/DIY Projects, so I chose create a Simple Spring Mantle using ideas gathered from several Pins I recently saved.

DEEP SET MANTLE DILEMA

The first thing you may notice on our mantle is the gorgeous clock. It is our solution to the problem this early 2000’s style mantle created with the deep opening. Our home was built around 2007 when flat screen Television sets had not taken over quite yet. We still had those monstrosities of a TV with deep back sides. Folks had begun to build homes with deep mantles like this one for the purpose of housing the TV. Clever, right! Sure, until those TV’s went out of style and you are left with a giant deep mantle like this one.

It was nice our first Christmas in the house when we styled the area with my Mom’s Christmas village because there are electric outlets installed. Now I am just always staring at it thinking of how to deal with it short of having a contractor come in and conduct a mantleectomy!

DECORATING WITH DOUGH BOWLS

My small dough bowl is placed in front of my large dough bowl which remains empty. If I had filled the larger dough bowl, it would hide the clock. The large dough bowl has been displayed on the mantle before. It works well to fill that large empty space and create a little layering.

CANDLES AND GREENERY

There is always extra greenery in the craft room. When I create floral centerpieces or tabletop decor I tend to ~~hoard~~, I mean save any extra greenery. You never know when those small tidbits might come in handy like right now.

Candles are a home decor necessity so I do have plenty of those as well and want more! Y’all I saw some mantles on Pinterest with nothing but tons of candles all the way across. It was really breathtaking!

Styling The Dough Bowl

My small dough bowl is just that, small. It won’t really hold too much but I managed to tuck in about five candles. I like the odd number. The two smallest candles are resting on the tiny pot the cactus came in from the dollar store. Those are left over from this Americana wreath I made a while back.

After adding the candles, I tucked the greenery in on each end. It was necessary to stuff one end with paper to prop the greenery on to hold it up high enough.

It can all be deconstructed easily so the dough bowl, candles and greenery can all be used again. Frugal living, I love it!

BOOKS AND CANDLES WITH GREENERY

Books are a handy decorating tool for any season. For this spring mantle I decided to use various tones of blue so I selected books with blue in the covers from my vintage book collection. I have used books on my mantle before which you can see in this Simple Patriotic Mantle.

The small candle on the left is perched atop the lid from the Mason jar. Isn’t that a nice farmhouse style touch? One stem of a faux Spider plant displayed in that wonderful vintage blue Mason jar adds the greenery to this end of the mantle.

This Pin which I came across with the search terms ‘spring mantle’ inspired me because it confirmed the idea of pairing candles, greenery and books. Cheap and easy mantle decor folks. That is always the goal!

DECORATING WITH HOUSEPLANTS

This end of the mantle is located near a small sitting area, seen here. The fireplace is flanked on both sides by windows facing the back yard. There is plenty of light filling the room from those windows as well as the transom windows reflected in the clock from the front door. So there is plenty of light for houseplants in this area.

Decorating with houseplants is always fun. They add an element of nature to home decor and are generally speaking a cheap decor solution.

ARROWHEAD PLANT

Arrowhead Plant or Arrowhead Vine is the name of the plant I used for my spring mantle. It came in a dish garden with seven more plants a little more than a year ago. I separated each plant from the dish garden into their own containers to allow them to grow larger. This arrowhead plant has done the best of them all.

I have been using Egg Shell Water for my houseplants for as many years as I have had my own home and we won’t discuss that length of time.

The Spring decor vignette I created on this end of the mantle is really simple, inspired by this Pin.

ON THE HEARTH

The hearth is decorated simply with a Snake Plant and an over-sized pillow. I don’t even remember how many times I have divided that one Snake Plant. If you struggle with growing houseplants, you should be able to grow this one! It is hearty and easy to care for.

I learned to make Envelope Pillow Covers years ago when I gifted myself a sewing machine. Pillows are cheap decor folks. If you can learn to make an envelope pillow cover, you can change your throw pillows with every season and always have fresh decor!

CHEAP AND EASY SPRING MANTLE DECOR

My Simple Spring Mantle was created by shopping my home for what I already own. It was fun to create by mixing and matching things until I found the right combination. First, I looked for inspiration on Pinterest and then I implemented those Pins that inspired me the most.

Follow our Home Decor Board on Pinterest

MORE SIMPLE MANTLE DECOR:

For more Pinterest inspired projects from this month’s Pinterest Challenge hosts, check out the links below ↓

My Pinterventures • Domestic Deadline • Across the Boulevard
Cookies Coffee and Crafts • Farm Girl Reformed • Slices of Life
Decorate and More with Tip • Mom Home Guide • Purple Hues and Me
Intelligent Domestications • Sew Crafty Crochet • Life Beyond Kitchen
Modern on Monticello• Sum of their Stories
Love My Little Cottage • EyeLoveKnots
Create with Cynthia• This Autoimmune Life

Now, let’s see what the other hosts have created ⇓⇓

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FAQs

How do you decorate a simple mantel? ›

For an easy fireplace mantel decorating idea, hang a mirror in the middle and a sconce on either side. Anchor the mantel with a larger vase in front of the mirror and fill in with smaller accessories, such as vases, candlesticks, and decorative objects. Pick up on colors and materials found elsewhere in the room.

Learn More ›

How to decorate a mantel like Joanna Gaines? ›

Overlapping

Overlapping can help create a sense of depth. This is one of the number one things missing in your home If something does not feel right. You can add depth to your mantel or dresser top by overlapping frames or putting smaller or skinnier objects, like candle sticks, in front of the larger objects.

Show Me More ›

How do you balance mantel decor? ›

Pair large and small items to create a sense of balance

Large floral displays don't overwhelm a mantelpiece when offset by small objects, like thin candlesticks and small votives. One of the best decorating tips beloved by design experts is to style a mantel with a balance of items on both ends.

Tell Me More ›

How to decorate a mantel for Easter? ›

Add Décor and Accessories. Complete your Easter mantel décor with themed decorations such as bunnies, eggs, and chicks. Arrange them thoughtfully, interspersing them among the florals. Consider adding string lights or candles to create a warm and inviting ambience.

How do you decorate a mantle like a pro? ›

The more layers, the prettier the finished product. One of our favorite mantel decorating ideas is to layer varying sizes of framed or unframed art on the shelf. Though you don't always have to hang art, if you do, be aware of how high the frames are in your space.

How do you decorate a mantel for spring? ›

Create meaningful layers on your mantel decor.

This is a wonderful place to add a lot of texture and character with architectural salvage, vintage mirrors, and artwork. Accessories such as greenery, candle holders, natural elements, and vintage books are always my go-to pieces.