14 Years of Christmas Mantels
Who wants to see 14 years of my Christmas mantels? I started this blog 13 years ago (September 2011) and want to wish everyone who has followed, commented, supported, shared on social media or been inspired to recreate one of my projects the happiest and healthiest Christmas and 2025! Today, I thought it would be fun to invite you to hop into my magical sleigh and come with me into Christmas past where I’m sharing my past 14 Christmas mantels! I’ll share the good, the bad, and the ugly (sometimes very ugly)! But one thing you will get is TONS of Christmas decorating inspiration because each tour has some very unique ideas that you can mix and match and use in your decorating! Plus, you’ll see the progression of my decorating style and how it’s evolved over the years. So hop into my magical sleigh and lets head back to my best Christmas home tours.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I call this my “Tinsel in a Tangle” home tour and was inspired to create an old fashioned Christmas using tinsel. Even my Christmas tree is dripping in tinsel!
What’s more fun than a disco ball? A disco ball at Christmas! I had so much fun making my disco ball wreath and once that was done, the rest of the mantel just snowballed into place!
I usually don’t use garland on my mantel but when I found this realistic looking faux garland, I had to use it. When I found this gingerbread house doormat, I knew it was too pretty to wipe feet on!
Things I loved about this tour:
Santa mug collection / Vintage putz house display / Santa & Mrs. Claus blow molds
This mantel started with a page torn from a calendar and enlarged! The colorful skaters combine with colorful Shiny Brites to create a whimsical winter wonderland. It’s hands down one of my favorite mantels of all time.
Find Artists Latest Calendar of Colorful Art Here
Things I loved about this tour:
Vintage Christmas tray gallery wall / Putz house and ceramic Christmas tree display / Huge trough filled with vintage Shiny Brites!
I’m still in love with this mantel featuring an adorable elf blow mold, and vintage metal numbers (from a gas station?). I would not change a thing about it.
Things I loved about this tour:
Old bowling pin staircase / Old fire truck pedal car tree stand / Mushroom tree
I really love this mantel but I would probably remove the house shaped lanterns if I had to do it over again. The art is a piece of flat wrapping paper that I taped to a chalkboard. I love the little red pedal car too!
Things I loved about this tour:
Bottle brush tree Christmas tree / Advent calendar tree
This is the mantel that broke the internet! It was also in the pages of Better Homes & Gardens magazine (along with the rest of my Christmas house)! I would remove the two glass jugs on the hearth though.
Things I loved about this tour:
DIY Doodle Houses here / Santa Chalk Art here / Shiny Brite tablescape.
This is the year I got my giant chalkboard and my red pom pom stockings both of which you can still see in this year’s mantel!
Things I loved about this tour:
First year I put a pair of sparse Christmas trees in my dining room / Antique typewriter note to Santa
This mantel is not my proudest moment! There is just way too much going on (I stenciled a big piece of wood as a backdrop to too much stuff)! The best part is Sushi in her little striped hat!
What I love about my 2016 Christmas tour:
Gnome and mushroom centerpiece / Staircase garland with wood snowflakes / Tree in vintage cooler
I loved the little red car cookie jar driving across this mantel and the flock of cardinals in the trees but the star of the mantel is my dog Sushi who was just a puppy in this photo! As you can see from the watermark, my blog name was different back in the day too.
What I love about my 2015 Christmas tour:
Old wood Pepsi crate centerpiece / Paper stars on stair railing / DIY winter village wreath that you can see here.
I thought I was so creative when I used a tree skirt as art over my mantel but I wish I had ironed the darn thing! I like the sled but what is up with that random log covered in lights?!
What I love about my 2014 Christmas tour:
Not a creature was stirring staircase / Vintage folding ruler stars / Antique lantern wreath
When I found that JOY marquee sign, I had to figure out a way to hang it while hiding the wires so I stenciled birch trees onto a pallet and voila! I also spray painted some metal stockings but I’m not a fan of that very unrealistic looking garland.
What I love about my 2013 tour:
Vintage hand mirror ornaments / Peace on Earth globe / First year I made my winter snow globe jars that you can see here.
I love the antique stocking stretchers and the mercury glass trees but I think there is way too much happening on this mantel!
Things I loved about my 2012 tour:
Real branch with ornaments over kitchen window / Snow shovel “wreath”
I had only been blogging for a couple of months when I debuted this crazy mantel with an antique green crib mattress as the backdrop which I love but the rest not so much!
Things I loved about my 2011 tour:
DIY Marshmallow wreath here / Wood ladder Christmas tree here.
Wow that was a blast from the past!
I can’t believe I’ve created 14 completely different and unique Christmas home tours!
I hope you got some Christmas decorating inspiration (or at least a good laugh or two).
I so enjoy your home!!
All are so pretty! You are way too hard on yourself. And really Sushi is the star every year so there’s that! Your blog is so wonderful and I look forward to it!
Sushi is the best accessory Sheri!
What wonderful, playful and artistic scenes! I LOVE your style. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Linda! I have fun changing things out every year
I just admire that you change it every year! Kudos to you! You are very talented and I love what you create!
I hope I can come up with something new next year!
All of your Christmas mantels are so creative! Merry Christmas!
Hope you had a merry Christmas and wishing you a happy 2024 Susan!
Just recently found your site and I absolutely love your ideas. I have a very large reindeer collection and I really want to do something different with them this year. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
I love a fun collection Kim! I wrote a post on displaying Christmas collections in different ways each year that might inspire you here: https://www.kellyelko.com/how-to-display-christmas-decorations-in-completely-different-ways-year-after-year/
Love them all, hard to pick a favorite. Love all your Christmas emails. Merry Christmas, Kelly 🎄
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and happy 2024 Cris!
So neat seeing all these Kelly! My favorites are 2014 and 2021. Hope you and your family had a great Christmas!
I love that you have changed it every year. I love the disco ball mantel and 2013!
Merry Christmas Lisa!