Simple Spring Mantel Decor Ideas for Easy Decorating

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Create an inspiring focal point in your room and decorate a fresh spring mantel for the spring season! Keep reading for easy decor tips and ideas for simple styling around your home.

As we head into a new season, I love to poll my readers to see what they need help decorating or what inspiration they are looking for. No matter the season, decorating a pretty mantel with fresh spring mantel decor ideas always rises to the top! I am currently working on designing my own mantel decor with neutral spring colors for the new season so I thought, how better to inspire all of us than to share some simple tips and ideas to decorate a rustic spring mantel?

We will look at my easy spring mantel decor “must-haves” and how I go about the process of decorating an eye-catching mantel. Then, we will look at some examples of different styles of favorite spring mantel decor ideas that I’ve enjoyed creating.

Hopefully at least one of these beautiful spring mantel ideas will spark some creativity for your own home this spring season!

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Is it “mantel” or “mantle”?

Before we can style our mantel, let’s talk about spelling. I made good grades in school, but I still have to double check with my word-wizard husband every now and then to see if I’m spelling it correctly! You too? Oh good!

According to Webster’s Dictionary: “Keeping mantel and mantle straight is relatively simple. Mantel in modern English largely does one job: it refers to the shelf above a fireplace.

Mantle, on the other hand, does many jobs.”

Such as:

“a literal cloak”
“a figurative cloak symbolizing authority or importance”
“general covering in literary uses”
“middle layer of the Earth between the crust and the inner core”

There is a catch, though, says Merriam-Webster: “Mantle is sometimes used to refer to the shelf above a fireplace as well—that is, as a synonym of mantel.”

So, basically, you can spell it whichever way you like! And feel smarter in the process!

More importantly, let’s get them decorated for spring!!!

How to decorate a fireplace mantel for spring?

Now that we have the spelling and meanings figured out, let’s take a look at some styling ideas for your spring mantel.

Here are some favorite spring mantel decor ideas and themes:

Vintage Garden
Spring Cottage
Spring Easter
Vintage Audubon
Spring Greenery

What exactly do you need for each of these styles? Let’s take a look! Along the way, I’ll share some tips to make decorating your spring mantel easy and hopefully, fun, too!

Simple Spring Mantel Decor Ideas for Easy Decorating

What should I display on my fireplace mantel?

No matter what season or particular decor thread you are weaving into your mantel styling, there are several things to consider. We will look at each of these specifically below:

Symmetrical vs. asymmetrical
Curated pieces
Create meaningful layers
Amount of objects
Height variation/different heights

Create meaningful layers for spring mantel decor ideas.

My key ingredient for spring mantel decor ideas is to create layers. This is a wonderful place to add a lot of texture and character with architectural salvage, vintage mirrors, and artwork. Accessories such as a touch of greenery, candlesticks, and stack of books are always my go-to pieces for a neutral color palette this time of year.

Pretty mantel styling can be as full or as minimal as you prefer for your own home. No matter which style you choose, a mantel is the perfect place to be creative and think outside the box.

Obviously, I am not a minimalist and I just can’t imagine myself styling our home in a minimalist style. However, I have seen stunningly beautiful minimalist styles that still feel cozy and intentional.

Examine these homes carefully you’ll find meaningful layers throughout their spaces.

Spring mantel decor ideas: consider symmetrical vs. asymmetrical mantel styling

For a more traditional look, you may consider a center statement piece, such as a large piece of art, salvage, or a mirror, and flank it with matching accessories, like a tall vase or candle holders with white candles. The symmetry definitely gives that inviting look of traditional design.

For a more curated look, both vintage or modern, you may want to consider an asymmetrical design for your spring mantel decor ideas. This is how I like to style mine and it allows me to use a wider variety of décor pieces too.

On the other hand, another great thing about mantels is that it is perfectly acceptable to place them almost anywhere in your home for a statement piece!

For example, we live in Florida and don’t have a fireplace. We actually had one in our old house that we never used…not even once!

However, I still love to decorate a vintage mantel and this one works great behind our sectional! Think of a mantel as really big, really wonderful vintage wall art to style your seasonal decor!

Spring mantel decor ideas: curate mantel decor that speaks to your own style.

Whether you are decorating a mantel for spring or working on styling another space in your home, this concept is still true.

Avoid buying decor just to have decor. Instead, focus on curating home decor pieces that you truly love. This is what defines your unique home style and makes your spring mantel decor ideas unique to your own home!

Consider the number or amount of objects you want to decorate your favorite spring mantel decor ideas.

This tip is entirely up to your personal preference. Some decorators may suggest leaving about one third to one half of the mantel open, meaning, having no decor on it.

For me, I love using my mantel as an opportunity to anchor a gallery wall and display curated collections. Therefore, my mantel decor is always very full!

Either is completely fine. However, a good rule of thumb is to use an odd number of items. For example, if you put a set of 3 candle holders on one side, add two crocks with spring flowers or fresh greenery on the other side.

This leads to the next very important rule of thumb for mantel decorating, no matter the season:

Spring mantel decor ideas: creatively use different heights for your mantel decor.

Let’s use the candle holders and crocks for a continued example. If I were to decorate a spring mantel with these items and they were all the same height, it would not have the same curated approach as if I use different heights.

If the items are already the same height, add a small architectural salvage fragment or a stack of old books. These items will not only give different heights but will also add even more character and dimension to your spring mantel decor.

At the same time, having the items all the same height kind of feels like the decor was just plopped up there without much rhyme or reason. Instead, creating height variation will in turn create beautiful vignettes for your mantel decor.

The exception is if you are using the exact same items on each side, flanking a center focal piece hanging over the mantel. In that case, the items may have the same height as the items on the opposite side. This is an intentional design choice.

Spring Mantel Decor Ideas #1: Vintage Garden

I created this spring garden mantel one spring and still remember how much I enjoyed it. My inspiration was this piece of modern farmhouse art from @the.little.bird for the base.

You’ll notice that I intentionally off-centered it on the mantel. Then, I layered an arched salvage frame in a chippy white patina, along with a vintage gold mirror.

The three different sizes of these pieces worked well for layering and connected the different décor elements in the rest of the family room: white, wood, and brass.

For a vintage statement, I added this old water lilies sign. This is a favorite vintage find from Rehab Vintage Market (a favorite vintage stop in Melbourne, Florida).

Visually, all the white pieces and reflective surface of the mirror felt light and didn’t overpower the room, though it filled the wall. At the same time, the collected look of these pieces is an easy way to give a curated feeling to the overall decor style.

Vintage Garden Accessories

For accessories, I added thrifted, small, old terra cotta pots and plants for the vintage garden vibe. And of course, an Easter bunny!

The Target Dollar Spot featured these terra cotta colored bunnies one year. Now, I’m glad I grabbed a couple of them for those vintage garden-style vignettes!

Two faux terra cotta arrangements hanging from the ceiling bring some extra dimension to the spring mantel decor. Since they are light weight, I was able to use a simple jute twine and thumbtack!

I finished off the accessories with some faux eucalyptus stems and added height variation to the plants and terra cotta pots with some vintage books from the thrift store.

Here are some favorite accessories for spring mantel decor ideas:

These small terra cotta bowls are perfect to stack on a mantel as part of a spring vignette. At the same time, they are super budget-friendly!
This tall white terracotta planter adds great texture and height to mantel styling while still having a great spring garden look. (However, you can also use it year round!)
I love using a variety of sizes of small terra cotta pots. In some, I put real or faux baby plants. However, others just look cute in stacks!
Incorporate some pretty gardening tools into a fun mantel vignette!
Using realistic flowers, like these real touch tulips, add a splash of spring to any mantel decor!
Add tree branches for natural elements
These cherry blossoms are gorgeous and make a big impact to use for Easter decor and all through the spring season too.

Spring Mantel Decor Ideas #2: Cottage Style

Notice that arched architectural salvage? I used it again for these spring mantel decor ideas!

If you follow along with me for long, you’ll notice that I use many of the same pieces over and over and over again! This is the main reason that I love investing in unique, vintage items. I am able to enjoy them in all seasons, mixed and matched in different ways, and styled with many different looks!

For this cottage-style mantel, I used a fun vintage find. The “Cottages to Let” sign was an exciting splurge piece at an antiques show a few months ago. These are exactly the kinds of pieces that I love investing in.

While it’s living on my mantel this spring, I think it would also be perfect in a bedroom, bathroom, or even porch décor!

Pro Tip: When you find those pieces that you love so much, don’t be afraid to bring them into your collection!

I’d rather have this one sign that is so unique than 10 pieces of wall décor from a big-box store!

I layered a large rectangle frame with the chippy arch frame and a small white mirror, alongside the cottage sign. While those are a lot of pieces, I love how they work well together because they are all white and vary in size. This is a fun example of layering in your favorites for a curated style.

Spring Cottage Accessories

I accessorized with some simple vintage book stacks, white and brass planters, and some fresh baby plants.

At the same time, I like to mix the old and new together and these pots are a fun example.

The $10 Walmart pot on the right has fun texture while the vintage McCoy pot on the left adds a collected look. A simple touch of brass with another plant adds a reflective element and breaks up all the white in a subtle way.

I love mixing old signs together and added this vintage insurance sign over the top. While they aren’t spring-related Easter signs, I love how the black and white signs and chippy patinas all work together and makes them so fun to use when decorating farmhouse spring mantels

Vintage signs are something that I am always looking for at antique malls, flea markets, thrift stores, vintage markets, and even boutique shops. I mainly collect them in black and white, which allows me to mix and match them together for different looks and to use for different seasons. It’s a fun thing to collect and I love how they add some extra character to our home.

Here are some favorite accessories for spring mantel decor ideas:

Okay, so you wouldn’t put a pillow on your mantel. However, I had to share this beautiful vintage-inspired spring pillow because it would look so cute to inspire a spring cottage look in the living room!
This realistic eucalyptus garland is so gorgeous and is a definite must-have for my spring mantel and even my spring tablescapes too. It looks and feels so reel!
Nothing says cottage like a little bit of chippy white accessories on your spring mantel. These chippy white corbels could be used in so many places and are perfect for easy mantel decor, no matter the season.
A touch of gold is perfect for a French cottage style and this mirror makes a gorgeous backdrop for the rest of your spring mantel decorating.
Get all the cottage vibes by leaning some beautiful vintage-inspired artwork on the mantel or hanging above it. These art pieces are perfect for easy layering too.
These artificial flowers look so incredibly realistic and you’d really think they are fresh flowers instead! Tuck them into flower vases or a white pitcher for an instant spring look. Or, add some of the bright colors if that goes with your spring color scheme!
Hang this gorgeous spring wreath over a mirror or old window frame for a quick and easy focal point over a mantel for spring decor.

How do you accessorize a mantle?

As you can see, there are so many ways to decorate and accessorize your spring mantel. Actually, that is what I love about decorating. While decorating is so much fun, it should also truly be an expression of your own style. A mantel is a great place to start with a natural focal point for the room to welcome spring.

These are some great tips to keep in mind when you go to decorate a spring mantel:

Work with odd numbers of items
Pick a theme or style and edit decor based on how well it tells that decor story
Keep a good balance with visual weight of the items, height, and number of items
Feature a curated collection
Mix old and new decor
Choose a main statement piece or inspiration piece and build the mantel decor off of that
You don’t have to be a minimalist but do avoid a cluttered look by repeating color, style, texture, and pattern throughout the decor pieces
Most of all, have FUN decorating your mantel for spring. It is the perfect season for cheerful touches, fun accessories, and fresh styles.

Spring Mantel Decor Ideas #3: Straw hats

This rustic spring mantel from my spring home tour last year was a lot of fun and I carried it over into the summer season with some little tweaks too. Keeping with a really neutral color scheme and simple style, I was able to bring spring ideas of sunshine, fresh flowers, and gardening into the spring mantel decor ideas in subtle ways.

It was the perfect way to use some of my thrifted home decor! In fact, all of the hats were thrift store finds while the architectural salvage piece came from a favorite vintage shop.

I also used this display with Easter mantel decor ideas by simply adding a couple of cute bunnies during the Easter holiday!

To bring in the soft colors of spring, I added vintage style artwork in a thrifted picture frame. This artwork looks so realistic. If you take a closer look, you’d see that it’s a print. However, it looks so much like a real painting! You can get curated sets for a gallery wall very inexpensively HERE!

Next, I chose to add pops of color with fresh greenery that I cut from my yard combined with fresh plants. However, you could easily add a floral display with big stems, like THESE cherry blossoms that I used this year. You could also add more bright colors to fit your home’s aesthetic or keep a more neutral color scheme like I did.

Faux greenery stems would also work great to frame this casual style. THESE are my favorite, realistic faux greenery stems to use for the spring and summer months.

Finally, the thrifted hats made a perfect backdrop for a casual spring cottage style that easily transitioned into a coastal farmhouse look for the summer months.

Vintage Style Accessories for Floral Spring Mantel Decor

These gorgeous cherry blossom stems are tall and make a natural focal point.
This amazing wreath is one of my favorite spring decorations!
I use these realistic greenery stems all throughout our home for the spring and summer. Sometimes I style the by themselves. Then, other times, I add them to fresh flowers or faux flowers to add different heights in the arrangement.
I have searched for realistic hydrangeas for years and finally found some. These hydrangeas look amazing and are unbelievably realistic!
I have been using these pretty tulips for years and they still look beautiful! They are also so realistic and really easy to decorate with. Easily add them to spring mantel decor ideas by tucking them into a vase or pot!
Add floral vintage style with beautifully curated prints for an art gallery! There are several gorgeous collections!

I hope this gives you some spring mantel decor ideas and inspiration you can easily use! Also, you could use these same ideas and concepts for decorating an entryway table, top of a cabinet, or shelf styling in the dining room as well!

Simple Spring Mantel Decor Ideas for Easy Decorating