5 Cures for a Ho-Hum Mantel

A simple DIY project — fabric stapled to a 30-inch-square stretched canvas — is the focal point in this display of art, vases and boxes. Stick with just a few colors so the end result won’t be wacky.

Art: (from left) Tropical unframed giclee print, $79, allposters.com; Lalith fabric, $106 per yard, kufrilifefabrics.com; Circle unframed print, $25, jaymeesrp.com; Poppy Pinks by Melanie Biehle framed print, $44, minted.com
Boxes: (from top) Striped box, $19, westelm.com; Aelfie Penelope box, $75, shopcandelabra.com; Imax Lizzie box, $92 for a mixed set of 3 (large shown), wayfair.com
Vases: (from left) Bando Gold Peony vase, $94, and Multi Stripe #8 Cylinder vase, $140, both jillrosenwald.com; Marlow vase, $25, cb2.com

A lineup of accessories in this color combo — vases, boxes, bowls, plates — looks professionally styled! Anchoring all the little pieces: a large round mirror with a hefty frame. 

Mirror: For a similar look, try Howard Elliott Bergman Glossy mirror, $330, homeclick.com
Sconces: Pelle Gooseneck sconces, $129 each, westelm.com
Bowls: vintage
Canister: Blue and White canister, $28, furbishstudio.com
Box: For a similar look, try Moroccan box, $149, frontgate.com
Plate: For a similar look, try Talavera plates, $20 for a set of 2, tommybahama.com
Vases: (from left) Herringbone vase, $69, wshome.com; Handled Striped vase, $41, dotandbo.com; vintage; Baby Gold Rim Milk vase, $32, robertsiegelstudio.com; Marinha vase, $20, cb2.com

For an antidote to the winter blahs, splash your mantel with happy hues. To go with the graphic art and the multicolor tassel garland, stripe some branches from your yard with crafts paint.

Art: (top row, from left) Colorplay 9 by Garima Dhawan unframed print, $19, society6.com; Castle Island by Megan Adams unframed print, $52.50, artfullywalls.com; Otomi framed art (exact pattern may vary), $115, furbishstudio.com; (bottom row, from left) Geometric unframed print, $25, capricornpress.etsy.com; Funslide by Valerie Chiang unframed print, $20, landofnod.com; For a similar look, try Abstract All Orange unframed print, $24.50, wallbuddy.etsy.com
Garland: Festival garland, $25, landofnod.com
Containers: (pineapple) Booseberry Pineapple figurine, $37, wayfair.com; (on books) vintage
Bowl: vintage
Vases: (from left) Bloomingville Fluted vase, $48, allmodern.com; Hat Trick vases, $15 for a mixed set of 3, cb2.com; For a similar look, try Morandi vase, $11, homedecorators.com

Calling all votives, pillars and tapers. Show off any you have on hand in an assortment of fun-shaped vessels, all accented with shiny brass. Continue the shimmer on the wall with a group of glam wall flowers.

Wall Flowers: Two’s Company wall flowers, $100 for a mixed set of 3, burkedecor.com
Candlesticks: (far left) Large candlesticks, $25 each, hm.com; (far right) For a similar look, try Loop Candelabra, $35, blackblum.com
Votive Holders: Solid brass votive holders, $139 for a mixed set of 5, rhmodern.com
Clock: Hex clock, $50, cb2.com
Box: vintage
Bowl: For a similar look, try Aurora Gold Stripe bowl, $28, rachelgeorge.com
Vase: Faceted Geometric vase, $9.50, lightsforalloccasions.com
Pillar Candleholders: Metallic + Pastel small candleholder, $29, and medium candleholder, $39, both westelm.com