How to Decorate a "Pretend" Mantel the Inexpensive Way!

For years I bemoaned the fact that I didn't have a fireplace in our home, thus I had no place to cuddle up with my hubby and no mantel to decorate to share my creativity and yard sale goodies.
You know, silly little insignificant problems.

One year I realized it was ok to just "pretend" we had a mantel. Any flat surface would do so I chose the top of our piano which was squeezed in between two bookcases in our living room.





This was back in 2012 and I had no idea what I was doing with my Christmas decor, blog or photography!





The starting place for the mantel is this $4 window I bought this summer at a yard sale. It needed some cleaning up but it's perfect for my rustic shabby chic style!





I wrapped an old strand of beads around a $2 wreath from a craft store and pushed some fresh berries among the stems





The sled is one of a package of three ornaments. I just cut off the jute for hanging and wired it onto the wreath. Easiest wreath ever!





This metal stand was up in the attic in my stash and I loaded it with a pack of filler balls and greenery and these burlap star ornaments.





When we got our Christmas tree I asked for extra branches and have used them on our deck and on this mantel so far. I do this every year to add a touch of the outdoors and because THEY'RE FREE!






Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/11851231/how-to-decorate-a-pretend-mantel-the-inexpensive-way site