Outdoor Winter Mantel Idea
Outdoor Mantel & Christmas Decorations
I haven’t started decorating for Christmas yet, but I thought it was a good time for browsing what I’ve done in the past. This outdoor mantel was always one of my favorites))
My outdoor mantel is dressed with a classic holiday mix—greenery, pinecones, berries, and soft twinkling lights. But this year, I took a different approach inside the house. I went with multicolor decorations—not exactly my usual style, but we were expecting several little ones during the holidays, and I decorated with them in mind.
Gone are the days when I was decorating for my grandchildren—most of them are grown, or nearly there. These days, I tend to decorate more for myself and my own enjoyment. And truth be told, I’m doing less and less each year!
The older we get, the harder it becomes to haul out the decorations, climb ladders, and string lights. And let’s be honest—whatever goes up, has to come back down. So, before you dive into decorating, it’s worth considering how much you really want to do!
This year’s indoor decor includes multicolor lights, cheerful Santas, and playful snowmen—fun and festive for the younger crowd. But outdoors, I returned to my favorites: simple greenery and nature-inspired pieces. It’s calm, timeless, and just feels right.
Outdoor Winter Mantel
I didn’t buy anything new this year to decorate the back porch. Everything was either 2-4 years old or older, so I can’t provide you any links to the Trendy Tree products that I used, they are all sold out now, but I’ll list some similar items.
The Mantel Process
- I started with a simple pine garland as the base layer across the mantel—classic and easy to work with.
- Next, I added a touch of sparkle using glittered pinecones. These came from two RAZ Pinecone Garlands I’ve had for years. They’re battery-operated, which is super convenient—if you remember to turn them on!
- After that, I layered in an iced cedar garland. This one is longer than the pine, so it draped nicely off the corners for a fuller, more natural look. A little tip: find the center of your garland and start in the middle of the mantel. That way, both sides drape evenly off the ends.
- Then I added a strand of tiny LED lights on a thin wire—my absolute favorite! They’re subtle, easy to work with, and the wire practically disappears among the greenery. These lights plug in, so I run a small extension cord off the back of the mantel to a nearby outlet. I actually use this type of lighting on my outdoor mantel all year long.
- To bring in a bit of holiday color, I tucked in some red berry picks here and there. Nothing is secured—just gently layered in, which makes takedown a breeze.
- The finishing touch was a red wooden bead garland draped across the front. Between that and the berry picks, it added just the right pop of red to the greenery-heavy display.
Just a Thought
Here’s a little food for thought—if you’re building a home or doing a remodel, consider adding extra outlets around your mantels. I had the foresight to include electrical outlets on each end of the indoor mantel, and it has been so handy for decorating year-round.
I just wish I had done the same on the back porch! Live and learn, right?
Once Christmas is over, I’ll take down the red berry sprays and the wooden bead garland, but I’ll leave the rest of the winter mantel up well into the new year—probably until the beginning of March. Around here, February tends to be our coldest month, so the wintery greenery still feels right.
By March, though, I’ll be more than ready for some spring blooms and a fresh new look!
Share Your Ideas!
What’s your favorite way to decorate an outdoor mantel? I’d love to hear your ideas! Feel free to leave a comment below—I truly enjoy hearing from readers and sharing inspiration with one another. 😊
I love the mantel! The pine cones have to make a comeback! They sound wonderful! The beads give me a great idea for my outside garland! Thank you!
Thank you Melissa and thanks for following, I appreciate it!