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Home » Holidays & Special Days » Seasons » Summer » Summer Mantel Decorating Ideas

Summer Mantel Decorating Ideas

July 7, 2014 by KC Coake 12 Comments

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I’ve got a few decorating ideas for you today. I finished my summer mantel last week and thought you might like to take a peek. I know looking at others ideas usually helps me come up with my own ideas and I’m hoping it does for you as well.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

For the longest time, I had my mantle the same year round with the addition of a seasonal garland or something simple. Of course I would change it for Christmas, but that was about it. Then I started decorating it for fall and discovered that I have so much fun seeing new and different things around the year, I started changing it out all the time. There is no standard mantle for me anymore. I love it! I like change, so this is a simple way to add something different to the house. Of course, I’m not going all out like I paid a designer and have high-end things. I keep it fairly simple and budget friendly.

I got this mantle done just in time for us to leave for the summer. I’m sure my husband will appreciate the effort when he isn’t traveling as well. 😉 My girls and I are headed out on a cross-country adventure together. We leave tomorrow morning! You can follow our adventure on Instagram or Facebook. So, back on topic, let me show you my ideas for a simple summer mantel. 

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

I started with these cute colored jars I found at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. I love the colors. I based the rest of the mantle on these colors. I also made some pillows for my living room that have a touch of these colors. I’ll show you those later this week or next week.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

The other side of the mantel needed a little something. I stole a plant from my daughter. She had to put it up on a high shelf because the cat always tries to eat them. It didn’t look all that good there, so I took it. I’m hoping he won’t jump up on the mantel to try to eat these. Fingers crossed.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

Both plants are from IKEA. I don’t have a green thumb, so fake plants can usually survive in my house. They’d do better if the cat would stop trying to eat them. Geez…I can’t even do fake plants well. LOL! I put one of the plants into a little holder we got at IKEA, but it seemed too matchy to put both plants in the same thing.

For this plant, I covered the base with a small piece of wide burlap ribbon. I just used tape to hold it in place. You can’t see the tape at all, so it is all good. I also added a small burlap flower to the front for a touch of cuteness. (You can see that in the pic above this one.)

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

You may have seen the ice cream garland I made for this mantle. Originally the paper I selected for this had some of the same blue and pink in it from the mantel frame and glass jars, but I also had initially planned that this would be flip-flops not ice cream cones. That didn’t work out which you can read about in that post, so it turns out to be a little more monotone than I had originally wanted. I did use a burlap type ribbon to bring that element in here as well.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

I added the same burlap ribbon from the garland onto the hurricane lamps I re-did a year or so ago. Love how sweet they look!

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

Since I don’t ever light these candles, I added some of those same burlap flowers that I added onto the plant burlap cover. I place them into the bottom of each hurricane lamp. So sweet!

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

Of course my summer letters had to be front and center on the mantel. I had originally planned that these would be on the actual mantel, but it just didn’t look right. So they ended up on the hearth.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

I added another plant behind them because I felt like that space needed something.

Decorating ideas for a simple and clean summer mantel with some fun touches and color. ♥♥ #Decorating #Ideas #Mantel #Summer #RealCoake

The final touch is the DIY wall art frame that I made. I ultimately decided to leave it empty (though right now it has a Happy 4th of July sign in it that Pumpkin made). I think it could use something in it, but I also think it could make things a bit busy and I’m not sure what to put in the frame. So for now it will remain empty.

I like that this mantel is simple. It isn’t overly busy or full. To me it is a nice balance of color, whimsy and pretty. What do you think? Do you have ideas of what I should put in the frame or do you think it is best left blank?

 

More Decorating Fun:

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Hi! I'm KC. I'm a single mom of 2 girls who loves all things creative. Whether it's making something crafty or tackling that DIY project, I'm gonna have some fun and stay organized in the process. 😊 Read More…

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Comments

  1. Shannon Payne says

    July 7, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    So cute, and not overdone! I love the simple touches of color and the various elements you used to tie the whole theme together (burlap, love it).

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    July 7, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Looks wonderful but…a beautiful family picture *would not* take anything away! Just sayin’!

    Reply
    • KC Coake says

      July 7, 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks! Just saying…I like that idea. I’m also quite certain it will remain blank for the summer. We are leaving in less than 12 hours for a cross country road trip, so I won’t be finding a pic for the frame. I may do that in the fall though. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Elisabeth Harrell says

    July 7, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Your summer mantle looks amazing! I love the color palette and the pops of color. Everything you do looks so good!

    Reply
  4. shonee says

    July 8, 2014 at 9:37 am

    Turned out great! I like the colors you chose as well as the different elements.

    Reply
    • KC Coake says

      July 8, 2014 at 10:39 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  5. Carol Moyer says

    July 9, 2014 at 12:42 am

    what great look! Love the flower baskets and hurricane candles!!

    Reply
  6. Bri | Bites of Bri says

    July 10, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    I never redecorate my mantel, but I should because yours looks so GREAT!

    Reply
    • KC Coake says

      July 11, 2014 at 11:16 pm

      Thanks. It is fun! You should give it a try. I bet you would enjoy it.

      Reply
  7. Kristine Flood says

    July 11, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Your mantle looks so cute and is the perfect reminder of all things Summer.

    Reply
  8. Nina Newton says

    July 13, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Love these beautiful decorating ideas! We do lots of DIY and upcycling projects around our home every season, so we will add some of your ideas to our family decorating updates. Thanks for sharing – just stopping by from the SITS Girls linky party. Hope to connect again soon! Nina Mamas*little*treasures

    Reply
  9. Nina Newton says

    July 13, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Love these beautiful decorating ideas! We do lots of DIY and upcycling projects around our home every season, so we will add some of your ideas to our family decorating updates. Thanks for sharing – just stopping by from the SITS Girls linky party. Hope to connect again soon! Nina Mamas*little*treasures

    Reply

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