Joanna Gaines has started decorating for the holidays, and in doing so, she's tapped into one of 2023's key Christmas trends (with a traditional Jo-Gaines twist, naturally). The trend, mantelscaping, draws from the same ideology of tablescaping – only this time, it involves decorating, you guessed it, our mantelplaces.
'Move over tablescaping, mantelscaping – AKA styling your mantel in a captivating way – is the new trend taking over fireplaces this winter,' comments Etsy's trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson.
As Joanna demonstrates, this year is all about the mantelpiece decor. She layers her mantel with this garland from her Magnolia X Hearth and Hand collection at Target and branches from her backyard.
Designed by Hearth & Hand and Magnolia, this traditional-style garland will sit beautifully alone on any mantelpiece, or serve as a base for mantelscaping. This garland features lush green cedar needles and pinecones for an unmistakably festive look. It features a loop at each end for easy hanging over our fireplace, railing, or front door.
As Dayna explains, mantelscaping is one of the biggest Christmas trends of the year, and with Joanna's approval, we can see why.
'This trend allows shoppers to unleash their Christmas spirit and personal style in the heart of their home. Whether choosing to create a winter wonderland village using vintage putz houses, snow globes, and iridescent baubles or a forest scene featuring mini wooden trees, garlands, and seasonal florals – the options are endless,' Dayna explains.
It may come as no surprise that Joanna has opted for a rustic twist on this contemporary design trend – pairing her Christmas garland with branches from her famous Waco yard. It's natural to want to follow in her lead, but this trend allows us to play with whatever theme best suits our homes.
'Many shoppers are already planning their themes: we’ve seen an 86% increase in searches for candle lanterns*, a 67% increase in searches for ceramic trees, and a 52% increase in searches for accent ornaments on Etsy,' Dayna adds.
Plus, even if we don't have a mantel, we can get the look by bringing a garland and other decorations to various flat surfaces around our living room. 'Shoppers can always improvise by using sideboards, TV stands, or shelving,' she says.
As a pro tip, we should also be sure to mix up the height, shape, and textures of our various decorative elements to create a truly memorable Christmas setting. And, as Dayna suggests, it's also a beautiful opportunity to incorporate some sentimental pieces and family heirlooms that will make our space yet more personal.
To further achieve the Joanna Gaines look this season, we're picking up some favorites from her brand Magnolia below.
