Ideas for fireplace please

[Axlcat]

This year is the first year we’ve had a fireplace and I’d love to decorate it tastefully without spending a fortune. Any recommendations for nice garlands that don’t look tacky but don’t cost a bomb? Or any other ideas welcome. Thanks!

Look on Pinterest. Loads of ideas on there. You definitely don’t need to spend a fortune.

I made my own last year.
Cheap plain garland from eBay
Some old decorations plus a few new ones
Twinkly lights
Got out the glue gun
Played Christmas music

I loved it and it was really easy but looks beautiful! This way you can have it exactly how you want and it doesn't need to be expensive!

Simple, rustic one with dried orange slices/cinnamon sticks/cloves (I added cranberries and small fir cones), interspersed with seasonal greenery, would look great AND fragrance the room naturally.

DIY ones are a fun project, if you have available time/energies.

Though this time round, I've bulk-bought from cheap crafting suppliers the component parts ready-dried and am just assembling...energy costs mean oven usage far beyond my means!)

Some nice inspiration here:

www.lavenderhomefront.com/how-to-make-dried-orange-garland/

www.redtedart.com/best-dried-orange-garland-diy-ideas/

If you've got enough depth to your actual beam, groupings of plain ivory candles or a string of tiny white lights would add cosiness.

Am very envious of your woodburner, btw!

I did this today. Mainly foliage from my garden and a few artificial accessories.

It fell down though so I've had to nail to the wall. I'll deal with that in the new year...

I hope you're not planning on lighting that fire.

Watching with interest as I can't get anything to sit on my mantle piece (which looks a lot like yours) everything is too wide and I've just had room decorated so I'm not able to start nailing Ito wall

@BlameItOnTinder I would also like to know about a garland like that and lighting the fire.... I would love to do one over our log burner, but I am a bit terrified! I might do one that can lift off and go on the dining table when we light the fire?! Yours looks truly stunning, what did you use for the base?

The fire goes up the flue, there aren't any naked flames and it's always supervised 😜

It's pinned to the wall with mesh wire.

Whatever garland you use, take time to fluff it and step back and see if you need to push bits in one direction or the other.

I add cuttings, pine cones, picks, orange slices to mine to give more oomph and scent.

This looks so lovely!

The leylandii in that garland will burn when green and freshly cut. It'll light incredibly easily once it's had a few evenings with the fire on to dry out. It's a myth that fire needs a naked flame.

@DogInATent

Not taking it down, I'd rather be cold!

I'm only concerned it might go up... 🔥

Here is mine this evening.
The garland is a bit small and pokey so might try and add to it.

Here's mine :)

@BlameItOnTinder

this is why MNers are warning you

Thanks.

Thanks everyone. Some lovely ideas here and some nice pictures of your own. Important to remind myself of the wood burner dangers so will perhaps go with something small that doesn’t overhang!

Bloody hell. So much fire/smoke for one tree 😱