How to Decorate Your Fireplace at Christmas
Nothing captures the spirit of Christmas quite like the fireplace. It’s where we hang our stockings for Santa, gather with loved ones for hot chocolate and board games, and cuddle up for festive films on cold winter nights. What better way to make it the heart of your home than by decorating your fireplace for Christmas?
In this guide, you’ll find 11 creative Christmas fireplace ideas to inspire your space. Whether you’re going for a traditional feel, a cosy cottagecore look, or a DIY display, there’s a fireplace to match every taste and home décor.
We’ve also included expert tips on designing your fireplace, arranging and securing your decorations, and keeping your space safe.
So grab your garlands, dust off your baubles, and let’s dive into how to decorate your fireplace for this Christmas season! This guide includes:
Tips for decorating your fireplace at Christmas
Shop Christmas fireplace decorations at Christmas Tree World
11 Christmas fireplace ideas
1 - Cosy cottagecore
Nothing says cottagecore like a warm, cosy fireplace! Make it the star of your Christmas decor by framing it with an extra-thick garland, like our Pre-lit Connectable Arbor Vitae Garland.
Weave natural elements like pinecones and dried orange slices into the garland and tie on stockings made from natural materials like jute or burlap.
Whimsical ornaments, like felt animals and mushrooms on the mantel or along the base, make sweet finishing touches and bring a woodland feel to your hearth.
2 - Classic colours
From festive films to traditional tunes, Christmas classics never go out of style! Drape a traditional garland, such as our Mixed Pine Garland with Red & Gold Baubles, across your mantel and hang a matching wreath like the Mixed Pine Wreath with Red & Gold Baubles over it.
Hang red stockings from the mantel and add brass or gold candlesticks around the base. Warm white fairy lights, bundled up below or strung above, will give your fireplace an extra cosy glow.
3 - Festive foliage
Bring the outdoors in by creating a fireplace filled with festive greenery. Start with a thick garland for that luscious forest effect, and add a large wreath that features natural elements, like our Pre-lit Decorated Mixed Pine Wreath.
Weave holly, ivy, or fir branches through your foliage or arrange them across your mantel, and hang a sprig of mistletoe to dangle above the fire. Finish this look by placing mini Christmas trees on the base at either side of the fireplace—our 60cm Potted Mountain Pine Tree is a wonderfully rustic choice!
4 - Cosy Christmas lights
If the warm glow of a fireplace isn’t magical enough, try adding Christmas lights to brighten up this spot!
From bright white lights to nostalgic multicolour options, there’s no shortage of Christmas tree light colours on the market. Pick a shade that suits your space, and don’t hold back!
Hang lights above the fireplace, drape them over the mantelpiece, and lay them across the base. If your fireplace is just decorative, bundle fairy lights up inside it to replicate a fire’s glow.
Light-up accessories like a pre-lit wreath and pre-lit garland would look fantastic above a sparkling fireplace. And don’t forget the pre-lit artificial tree to match!
5 - Coastal Christmas
Bring the seaside vibes to December with a coastal-style fireplace design. This style is perfect if you’re craving a bit of winter sun!
Opt for a beachy colour palette of soft blues, whites, and sandy tones with touches of nautical décor. Use a flocked garland to tie in with these muted tones, and add accessories like shells, coral, and even starfish.
A string of driftwood with fairy lights woven through and a few frosted pinecones add winter flair without going overboard.
6 - Colourful Christmas
Bored of red and green? For a fun, playful Christmas look, why not experiment with bright colours?
Grab baubles in all the colours of the rainbow. Scatter them across the mantel, weave them together using fishing wire to make a loose garland, or display them in a clear vase.
A bold bauble wreath is the perfect accessory. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, why not make a bauble wreath? Sit a pink or blue mini Christmas tree nearby and accessorise with colourful ribbons and novelty ornaments to finish this fun and festive display.
7 - Textured trimmings
You might have your Christmas tree colours down, but don’t forget that texture can be just as important!
Mix and match materials like velvet, faux fur, and chunky knitted wool. Use a faux fur rug, garland, or blanket to warm up your display and add knitted or fluffy stockings for a cosy touch. Tie on velvet ribbons for a luxe feel, or use jute or burlap for a natural touch.
This design is luxurious without being over-the-top. It makes for the perfect space to cuddle up with a hot chocolate on chilly nights!
8 - Festive florals
Spring has sprung early this year! Incorporate flowers for a fresh twist on Christmas decorating.
Choose blooms that complement your room design. A green garland with pops of colour from faux red roses and holly berries is perfect for traditional Christmas spaces, whilst a Silver Mixed Pine Garland with Rose Gold Poinsettia is great for adding a floral twist to frosty rooms.
Add matching floral arrangements to vases on either side of the fire and scatter dried or faux flowers underneath. If your fireplace is purely decorative, you could even place flowers amongst a bundle of fairy lights inside.
9 - Traditional tartans
Tartan is a quintessential Christmas print that adds a cosy and nostalgic feel to your fireplace. Drape a tartan blanket or scarf over the mantel or bundle it up at the base of your fireplace.
Hang dark red, dark green, or tartan stockings and accessories with our tartan accent wreaths and garlands. Our Mixed Pine Garland with Tartan Bows and Mixed Pine Wreath with Tartan Bows are classic choices, whilst our Flocked Decorated Mixed Pine Garland with Tartan Bows and Flocked Decorated Mixed Pine Wreath with Tartan Bows are great for a frosty look.
10 - Frosty fireplace
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, recreate this frosty space by your toasty fireplace!
Start with a flocked garland and add a matching snowy wreath, then scatter blue or silver decorations across the mantel or tie them to your garland. Add crystal or glass candlesticks above the fireplace or at the base for an icy touch. A few soft textures like faux fur stockings or a wool throw nearby will keep things looking cosy.
Finally, add icicle lights hanging from the mantel for a cool glow. This style feels just like a winter wonderland without the red noses!
11 - Crafty Christmas
Spending time with loved ones is what Christmas is all about, and what better way to bring the family closer than getting crafty together?
Adorn your fireplace with handmade Christmas decorations like DIY bauble crafts, paper snowflakes, and homemade bauble wreaths. For the mantelpiece, you could decorate a plain garland or try making one using dried fruit slices and cinnamon sticks. From painted pinecones to personalised stockings and embroidery projects, there’s no limit to what you can hang with pride.
This DIY display is the perfect way to show off your family’s handiwork and create a space that is sure to make your guests smile!
Tips for decorating your fireplace at Christmas
Now you’ve got the inspiration, let's dive into some expert tips for designing and creating a wonderfully festive fireplace!
Create symmetry
Creating symmetry is a simple way to make your fireplace look polished and professional. Place larger matching items - like vases, ornaments, and mini Christmas trees - at either end of the mantel or the fire to create a sense of harmony. Then, you can add smaller ornaments and accessories to fill in the space.
Incorporate levels
Adding height to your mantel decorations makes the space feel layered and adds visual interest. Tall candlesticks, stacks of festive books, and mini Christmas trees make great tall focal points; they look perfect rising out of garlands or throws. Avoid a display that only uses small, grounded features, as this can look flat.
Opt for flame-retardant decorations
When decorating around a live fireplace, using non-flammable products is a must. All of our artificial garlands and wreaths are flame retardant, meaning they will resist catching fire and minimise the risk of accidents. However, no decorations should really be in contact with an open flame, and you should also avoid using real foliage unless your fireplace is inactive.
Secure mantelpiece decorations
Decorations on a mantelpiece above the fire should be secured to prevent them from falling into the flames. You can use fishing wire, command hooks, and zip ties to keep objects in place. This is especially important if you have curious kids or pets!
Consider removable options
If your fireplace is purely decorative, take full creative liberty! However, if you like to cosy up by a live fire, it’s worth considering removable fireplace decorations. Opting for a more straightforward design that can be disassembled and reassembled means you can use your fireplace without sacrificing safety but still let it shine when it’s not used.
Personalise your design
Use our ideas to inspire your design, but remember to keep your requirements and preferences in mind and tailor your display accordingly.
For example, if you have pets or young children, be wary of where you place small objects. Or, if you like the idea of a colourful fireplace display but the rest of your décor is snowy or Scandi-style, add pops of pastel and muted tones instead of bright hues. Never be afraid to go off-piste!
Shop Christmas fireplace decorations at Christmas Tree World
Ready to make your fireplace the heart of your festive décor? At Christmas Tree World, we have everything you need to bring your vision to life.
Discover our stunning range of Christmas lights for a twinkling touch, baubles in every colour to add a pop of cheer, and charming mini Christmas trees to spruce up your display. Wreaths and garlands are a fireplace classic; we have timeless styles and unique options that’ll make your mantel shine!
No holiday house would be complete without the tree! Our high-quality artificial trees look just like the real thing and last ten times as long. Whatever your festive style, Christmas Tree World has all the essentials to transform your fireplace and home into a winter wonderland!
