Have you thought about redesigning the mantel and tree in your new home for Christmas, but don’t know where to start? If so, you are not alone. It’s easy to pull out the same old bins of décor from year to year. It definitely makes the decorating process go much faster, but we encourage you to try something new with your space. We all have Pinterest boards full of Christmas inspiration, but don’t always have the time or guidance to fully make these dreams a reality. The good news is that you don’t have to be a professional to learn to decorate like a pro.

Meet our team of experts – our northern division interior designers Alice Allen, Erin Brigham and Jessica Salinas – who are going to guide your through easy mantel and tree decorating tips that will transform your great room.

Watch the time lapsed video below of the Harris Doyle Northern Division Designers decorating the Christmas tree and mantel located in the entry way to Harris Doyle office in Birmingham. After the video, scroll down for some key takeaways and pro-tips from the designers. Plus, a list of local business that carry all the supplies you will need to get the job done. You’ll thank us later!

Key Takeaways from the Harris Doyle Design Team

Find a Balance: You don’t have to always be symmetrical with your décor, but you always want to be balanced.  With the fireplace mantel, it was setup asymmetrical with the cascading evergreen garland on the left and the stockings on the right. You never want to focus all the attention on one side of the mantel.

Greenery Spray: Don’t forget to spray your live greenery.  It keeps them hydrated and looking fresh for the duration the holiday season. You can create an at home mixture of orange oil and water (that will make your home smell nice) or purchase Floralife spray from any big box store like Lowes or Walmart. Both are inexpensive options and will keep your garland hydrated for longer.

Don’t Overcrowd the Mantel: Mantels can quickly become overwhelming. Overcrowding your mantel doesn’t allow your beautiful treasures to be noticed because they’re lost in the “visual noise.”  Make sure your mantel décor has varying levels of height and that each item has room to breathe and be noticed.  Don’t be afraid of negative/empty space! There is only a limited amount of space on a mantel, so choose the items that are most important for you to feature.

Loosely Wrap Your Greenery: Don’t get too rigid and tight with your greenery.  Let it breathe, wrap it loosely if including ribbons and lights, and don’t stifle the greenery’s beautiful natural shape. You’ll want it to look as natural and whimsical as possible. Remember, you don’t want to overwhelm the space.

Don’t Mix Cool and Warm Whites: White lights or color lights: they’re ALL great!  If you’re going all white with your tree lights, just be sure that the strands are all the same temperature white and don’t mix one cool white strand in with the warm whites. Cohesive lights will ultimately make your space look more put together and you will be overall more pleased with your final result.

Tuck Your Ribbon: Don’t forget to tuck your wired ribbon! Yes, we said wired ribbon. It’s much easier to bend and tuck into a tree than ribbon without wire. As you wrap the ribbon around the tree, tuck it in here to create a beautiful fluffy texture. It helps keep the tree from looking like a tightly wrapped mummy. 

Shop Local in Alabama

Shop local! We cannot express this enough, especially during these times. There are many great local stores in the Birmingham area to purchase the décor that at you will need to revamp your space. The Harris Doyle designers highly recommend Leaf and Petal (where the garland was purchased for the video) or Shoppe in Birmingham to get your garlands and cute décor for the mantel. MacDonald Farm and Longmeadow residents should consider visiting Warren’s in Moody,  Helen Ridge and Liberty Park residents should visit Andy’s in Vestavia, Hannah’s for our Griffin Park homeowners, or just visit them all if time is no issue! 

Bringing elements in from the outdoors during the holiday season adds so much life to a space and brings the amazing Christmas tree scent into your home. Garland is an excellent option for those who want the traditional Douglas fir scent, but don’t want the hassle of purchasing a real tree.

Remember, have fun, and don’t stress!  It’s the holidays and 2020…need we say more? Turn on your favorite Christmas movie or tunes, get some snacks and make memories while you decorate.  If you have family around, make it a group effort, or plan a video chat with your loved ones while you each deck the halls if you can’t be together in person. Happy decorating and Merry Christmas from Harris Doyle Homes!