12 Tips for a Festive Holiday Fireplace

Decking out your fireplace for the season is fun but keep furkids' safety in mind and place any potential nibble hazards like poinsettias, amaryllis, holly and mistletoe far out of reach. Inquisitive pets could also easily knock over a lit candle, so either position candles where dogs and cats could never reach them, or sub battery-operated votives for flickering flames.

Select colors and patterns that'll work together when decking out both the fireplace's mantel and hearth to create a cohesive whole.

While the mantel typically gets more attention, adding a few festive touches to the hearth will pull the look together. For ours, we cozied up the stone with a faux fur throw topped with fabric-wrapped gifts. Battery-operated candles and string lights wrapped around logs in the firebox bring the sparkle without the risk of fire.

Taller potted plants, like poinsettias, amaryllis or paperwhites, will add beautiful blooms and a bit of height to your mantel design while also keeping these potential pet hazards far out of reach of nosy nibblers.