Decorate Your Mantel: Spring Mantel With Keepsakes

Today, I'm sharing my spring mantel and how I incorporated some special keepsakes into it.

It's finally beginning to warm up here in Cincinnati and I am ready to pull out the spring decor and start getting the house ready for the season.  When I do that, it is usually the mantels in my home that get a quick refresh first.  Once those are done, I move on to pillow covers, sheets on the bed and other small areas like my dining room buffet. 

I've joined with a few blogging friends today that are going to share their spring mantels as well, so be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the links to visit others for more seasonal inspiration.

Spring Mantel Showcasing Keepsakes and Collections

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My goal for this season's mantel was to use decor items I had on hand to create a fresh and clean mantelscape. This particular mantel is in our office/ library space.  You can see the full room, here (LINK). I started this refresh using two very special handwritten letters my grandfather wrote to my grandmother during the war.  I have a whole stack of these that she saved and I inherited. Since my grandparents are gone, these letters are a treasure to their love and life.  I am so thrilled to have these and they are absolutely priceless.  The stack has been on display on my bookshelves, but by framing a couple, it makes a very special statement on my mantel and I can either hang these or incorporate the frames on my shelves if I want to change up my mantel at a later date. I just love seeing his handwritten letters on military stationary every time I am in this room.

To create a symmetrical look, I added vintage bottles on one end and a stack of books with a camera on the end. In the center, I placed a larger jug filled with faux olive branches.  One more camera, faux antlers, and a pretty green railroad insulator and the mantel is complete.  

I love to collect items and I have highlighted some of my collections by sharing a piece or two on this mantel.  Vintage cameras, old bottles, and railroad insulators are also sprinkled throughout the room on the bookshelves and tables.

Shop My Mantel

Now be sure to visit my friend's beautiful spring mantels below. 

XO,