When you think aboutChristmas decorating, the mantelusually comes to mind.
But why stop at December?
Don’t have a fireplace?
A wall shelf will do just fine.
Candelabras are a perfect match
An antique-style silver candelabra is the focus of this romantic arrangement.
Using pillar candles in varied sizes creates a pleasing appearance.
Go goth
Are you more of a “Wednesday” person than a Hallmark movie binge-watcher?
Then go for agoth lookfor your fireplace.
Keep the lights low for full effect.
Plus, it reduces smoke and soot, and there’s no messy ash to clean up afterward.
For the top of the shelf, a mason jar of wildflowers or sunflowers would go nicely.
Or, if you opt for candles, use the old-fashioned holders with handles.
This display also features balloons, but it would look just as sweet without them.
You could also nestle the animals into a swag of greenery to suggest an outdoor environment.
Include a heart tree
Still haven’t taken down your Christmas tree?
Now you might pat yourself on the back for your cleverness in repurposing your stately pine.
“I decided to give it a go, and I’m obsessed with how it turned out!”
(Guests popped a board full of balloons, each of which contained either pink or blue powder.
The colors were tallied, and blue won.)
For Valentine’s Day, you could make balloons the highlight of your fireplace decor.
Frame your love
Signage is an increasingly popular option for both indoor and outdoor decorating.
With that in mind, pick up a few holiday-appropriate frames for your Valentine’s mantel.
The hearts are all miniature stuffed pillows, and the banner is embroidered cloth.
They look especially striking against this dark fireplace.
ThisYouTube tutorialexplains how to sew adorable felt heart “lollipops” using cloth scraps and a basic blanket stitch.
Creator Emily said she was looking for a “cozy” look.
A stone fireplace like this one works well with the softer color scheme of rose and white.
Go for a candy heart theme
Valentine’s Day can be playful as well as gushily romantic.
Best of all: These candies are dentist-approved and have no calories.
Keep the rest of your decor in mind when you trim your mantel.
Then less is more when you’re looking to trim it for February 14.
Two small banners in neutral shades of sand and cream are all that is needed to create the mood.
The three-layered heart banners offer a necklace-like look to the shelf.
Both looks are winners in our book.
Earth tones, deep reds, and wood or faux-wood finishes are called for here.
Beads and bows make a statement
Everything about this mantel arrangement fromThe Grand Ole Ladyoozes old-fashioned romance.
Strings of ribbons and beads become a beautiful accent when arranged to become a loop-and-bow swag.
Miniature lights are tucked in among the flowers' greenery to enhance the loving mood.
One zing from his magic arrows was all that was needed to make his target fall in love instantly.
Vintage decorator Misty Butcher ofLa Petite Maisonuses him to great effect here.
They’re a popular style for garlands, particularly Valentine’s-themed ones like the one here.
This mantel fromCoastal Girl Livinggets the message across just fine with a very nontraditional natural theme.
Love really is all you need on this holiday.
This room also features a Valentine’s-themed tree.
Insta userDesigns by Ceressays her daughters call it a “wishing tree.”
(There’s even a name for this trend: “Valloween.")
Say hello
This pretty display actually did have us at hello.
It has all the requisite elements of a great Valentine’s Day arrangement.
Eye-catching layered banners across the mantel?
A variety of flowers?
A nicely centered mirror?
Adding a Valentine’s-themed “hello” sign for the season makes the look even friendlier.
A needle, string, card stock and small pompoms come together to make the banners.
No tools, glue, or hooks needed!
(Lizzy’s kitchen has a corner with a hanging heart and glass jars of candy too!)
Hearts don’t have to be red
Keep the hearts, lose the red.
Make it super sweet
What would Valentine’s Day be without candy?
Celebrate the sweetness of the holiday in a most literal way by featuring it in your mantel display.
As seen here from12Timbers, red gummies and candy hearts stored in glass jars make an eye-catching arrangement.
Of course, other types of candy can be subbed in.
Reed’s display also features small faux topiary greens placed on top of pedestal candleholders.
She bought all her decor at Etsy and at craft and home stores.
We especially love those Russian nesting dolls!
Draping hearts
Be mine#valentinesdaymantel.
Keeping the color scheme is key to making this style work.
a tiny pink-capped gnome.
Morgan didn’t have to look far for herobjets d’art: Dollar General, Target, andT.J.
Maxxare her go-tos for much of her holiday decorating needs.
Keep family in the picture
What makes this mantel look so special?
It’s not the puffy garland, the pompom-filled gum dispenser, or the jar of candy hearts.
It’s not the sweet pair of “Love” signs.
Nope it’s the family photos displayed along with the holiday trimmings.
Using favorite pictures is a good reminder of the “reason for the season.
“Hooks Books Wanderlustexplains that she began decorating for Valentine’s Day when her oldest son was a toddler.
to make these pretty hanging hearts.
In no time, you’ll have enough to hang all along your mantel.
Arrange them in a tray or trencher, and cover half of them with colorful pompoms.
Truthfully, it works so well that it could be left up all year long!
“The framed letters I printed out on my computer,” she explains.
An arrangement of figurines and/or kitchenware makes a logical mantel showpiece.
Insta userOur Disney Family Lifeused this assortment for a shelf display.
“Beautiful work!”
Mais oui!
Angel-wing artwork echoes the cherub figurines, and a string of flashing lights brightens the greens along the shelf.
a set of Valentine’s gnome pictures.
Keep the rest of your home decor in mind when you select your Valentine’s Day pieces.
(Let’s hope no one stepped on them!)
But the real star is the clever balloon heart above the mantel.
“I love Valentine’s Day, don’t you?”
Boise-based shop 12Timbers is the place to find the ornaments seen here.
And not a heart or a gnome anywhere in sight.
It’s also better to put a fancier mirror in front of a plainer one.
That’s what TikTok user Leopard Farm House did with the cow skull over her mantel.
(She wisely did her spraying outside to keep both smelly fumes and mess to a minimum.
Using an understated white and gold heart garland adds an accent without pulling focus from the posies.
Have a faux fireplace?
TikTok creatorSierra Millercredits Home Goods with many of the materials.
The cloth and pompom banners on the shelf act as an underline accent.
The sign was from @dollartree!
I spent under 10 bucks and think it feels so lovely in here!
Go big or go home
Show your fireplace mantle some LOVE!
We hear you and so doesholidaybaubleswreath2u.
(We’re loving the black-and-white-striped pair.)
A plain green garland frames the bottom hearts nicely, centered with a smaller pink heart for contrast.
“My inspiration for this year coming up!”
raved one of her followers.
Print charming
Yay my first valentines day mantel!
But she succeeded, thanks to her decision to use a giant heart-themed print as her backdrop.
All that’s missing is the champagne and chocolates to set the perfect Valentine’s eve mood.
The result: a display that lends a nautical flair to the shiplap wall around her fireplace.
It makes a nice change from the endless string of hearts.
But to get the holiday message across, she also included a red-clad gnome.
A pink heart garland helps complete the look.
TikTok userhiphiphoorayforelais a middle-school teacher who set up a faux fireplace in her classroom for Christmas.
The gnome artwork was downloaded after a Google search.
“I have them named after each of the teachers,” she told a follower.
For instance, roses have different meanings depending on their color.
An assortment of white pillar candles backs up the message.
Before you run out to start a spending spree, take a look at your closets and cabinets.
Pamper your mantel with pampas
Our Valentines Day mantel!
Here, long sheaves of magenta pampas grass make an eye-catching addition to the mantel.
Use your noodle
Dollar Tree Valentine’s Mantel.
only thing not dollar store was the foam.
Taylor of thetaylorcrabbTikTok page made this magnificent mantel topper using artificial peonies and glitter hearts on stakes.
All told, this easy DIY cost less than $20 to put together.
The result: An understated style that still conveys the coziness of the holiday.
Wine time
Valentines Day DIY!
So why not carry out that idea in your decorating, as well?
TikTok user Leigh ofthedavidsonhouseoffers a quick tutorial on turning used wine bottles into Valentine’s showpieces.
Cover two empty glass wine bottles thoroughly with white Krylon spray paint.
Once dry, decorate the bottles with red heart stickers and twine.
Leigh then uses craft sticks and a mini-heart garland to connect the two bottles.
Use a pair as the centerpiece of your mantel, or try an arrangement of four or more!
Climbing the walls
Too soon?
She created an organic farmhouse look for her mantel with an antique window frame as the centerpiece.
But she took creativity up a notch with her banners.
Take a closer look at the clever handcrafted banner: It was made from pages of a book!
Booking it
TikTok userEmilia Franco Rcalls this arrangement her “Mantel of Love.”
Franco’s dog doesn’t look too impressed by the whole effect, but we certainly are.
