Christmas Fireplace Decor: Hearth, Screen, and Opening Ideas

Most Christmas fireplace advice stops at the mantel. But the hearth, the screen, and the opening can carry just as much of the look, and they are the part guests see at eye level. This quick guide covers the space below the mantel, with ideas for real and electric fireplaces, a $55 list, and the fire safety rules that matter most.

Table of Contents

• Safety first for a real fireplace
• 1. The hearth: three lanterns
• 2. The opening: birch logs and lights
• 3. The screen: keep it simple
• 4. Stockings on a stand
• 5. Electric fireplace or TV console
• If you use the fire often
• $55 list
• Mistakes to avoid
• Helpful safety sources
• FAQ
• Related articles

Safety first for a real fireplace

If you burn wood or gas, decorate the opening only when the fireplace is cold and not in use. Take everything out before you light a fire. Keep anything that can burn, such as garlands, stockings, paper, and fabric, at least 3 feet from the fire. Never hang stockings where heat or sparks reach them. If you use your fireplace a lot, have the chimney checked each year by a professional. A fireplace you never light is the easiest to decorate. For an electric one, decorate only when it is off and cool, and follow the maker’s manual. These are common precautions, so also check your local fire rules and your fireplace maker’s instructions.

1. The hearth: three lanterns

Set 3 lanterns of different heights on the hearth, each with a battery candle. Add a basket of pinecones or logs to one side. Cost: about $35 for lanterns, candles, and pinecones. Time: 10 minutes. Keep the hearth edge clear so no one trips.

Three lanterns at different heights dress up the hearth.

2. The opening: birch logs and lights

For a cold, unused fireplace, stack decorative birch logs in the opening and weave a 20 foot string of battery fairy lights through them. Cost: about $20. Time: 10 minutes. The warm glow makes the room feel cozy without any fire. Use battery lights only, so there is no cord to heat or trip on.

Birch logs and battery lights fill a cold fireplace.

3. The screen: keep it simple

A fireplace screen should stay clear when the fire is lit. When it is cold, set a small wreath on a stand in front of it, or lean a framed print against it. Do not hang paper or fabric on a screen. Cost: $0 to $15 if you reuse a wreath.

4. Stockings on a stand

If you have no mantel hooks, use a stocking stand or hang stockings from a bookcase or a sturdy shelf across the room. Keep them well away from heat. See our Christmas mantel decorating ideas for stockings on a mantel.

A free-standing stocking stand keeps stockings away from the fire.

5. Electric fireplace or TV console

If you have an electric fireplace, you can decorate the top and sides like a mantel, since there is no real fire. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for heat and clearance. Keep the vents free, and do not cover the heater outlet. A narrow garland, a few candles, and a small tree make a neat look.

An electric fireplace takes decor on top, with the vents left clear.

If you use the fire often

Keep the opening clear and decorate around it. Use the hearth sides and the wall, and put a free-standing stocking stand and a small tree at least 3 feet away. Move small items off the hearth before you light a fire, and put them back when it is cold. Keep a screen in place when the fire is lit.

$55 list

These are planning estimates for U.S. stores. Prices vary by store and region. See our living room Christmas decor for the rest of the room.

Mistakes to avoid

• Decorating a fireplace you will light. Take it all out first.
• Flammable items near heat. Keep a 3-foot gap.
• Cords across the hearth. Use battery lights.
• Blocking the vents on an electric unit. Check the manual.
• Heavy items on a loose shelf. Check that it holds the weight.

Helpful safety sources

• NFPA: safety with candles: Fire safety tips for candles, such as keeping them away from anything that can burn. This is why we use battery candles.

FAQ

How do you decorate a fireplace for Christmas without a mantel?

Use the hearth, the opening, and a stocking stand: three lanterns on the hearth, birch logs and battery lights in a cold, unused opening, and stockings on a free-standing stand away from heat.

Can you decorate a working fireplace?

Only when it is cold and not in use. Remove everything before you light a fire, and keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away.

How much does fireplace Christmas decor cost?

About $55 for lanterns, battery candles, birch logs, fairy lights, and pinecones. These are planning estimates.

Is it safe to use real candles near a fireplace?

Use battery candles instead. Real flames near garlands, stockings, and fabric are a fire risk.

What can you put in an empty fireplace?

Decorative birch logs, lanterns with battery candles, a basket of pinecones, and battery fairy lights, for a fireplace that is not in use.

Can you decorate an electric fireplace?

Yes, when the unit is off and cool. Decorate the top and sides, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and keep the vents and heat outlet clear.

Related articles

• Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas
• Living Room Christmas Decor Ideas
• Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Christmas Entryway Decor Ideas

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