Early March Mantel

I have a confession... 

I struggle with mantels. 

Do I use more, or less?

This is something I've dealt with for years, but mostly since starting to blog. I love to decorate the mantel for seasons and holidays, but sometimes I don't know when to stop. This is a common decorating malady, especially if it is long. We all love to decorate; what's not to love about a flat surface that is a focal point?

I wanted to use my reproduction French wine bottles here with a neutral backdrop,

 and give a hint of Spring without bringing out the Easter goodies.

I took these photos a few days ago, 

since I wanted something new up here for March.

I love using this old print for early Spring because it is full of earthy colors 

and has my favorite print subject matter... sheep.

I wanted to create a French Country look. My basic candlesticks, oval frame and chalk artichokes on old book stacks are my staples here on the Hearth Room mantel.

But as I was putting this post together I got to thinking 

it all looked too cluttered and TOO MUCH.

(this happens frequently)

Removing the bottles and extra gold frame helped to

make things a little less cluttered.

So I edited a few items and now looking at these pics 

I'm wondering if there needs to be more edits = less stuff.

I think the paperwhites need to be here on the right
to balance things out with some contrast.

I like this view of the "more".

but it has a little too much to look at.

Taking a break from scratching my head about the mantel, I want to share my new quilt I bought a few weeks ago with Pottery Barn's winter sale. I'd been eyeing this quilt since they introduced it last Fall. It's a patchwork of soft florals in muted earthy colors. I just cannot bring myself to pay full price for things, so when this came up on sale and free shipping I just went ahead, since I knew it would be gone if I waited too long.

Carolina Floral Patchwork from Pottery Barn

(PB photo)

(PB photo)

I can use the quilt here on the ottoman, on the slipcovered sofa, the guest room bed,
or in the Garden Room. So it's sort of a Spring-y muted pastel neutral.

Antique armoire contains the TV.

(I really love this room)

Sorry the lighting is always off in here. 

This room is in the center of the house, so it doesn't have any windows 

and I have to rely on opening the front door and indirect lighting from the Garden Room.

So here we are. 

Do you tend to "over-do" or "under-do" on the mantel?

I may be in for a do-over soon.

or maybe I'll just wait and decorate for Easter.

(p.s. this is not a sponsored post, just sharing my source of the new quilt.)

Come by next Monday evening
and join the fun.

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