Blue and Fresh Greens Simple Summer Mantel

The time has come to start sprinkling summer touches around the house! Warm [hot] weather has arrived – check. Less than week left of school for the boys – check. Nesting phase in full effect – double check. Yep, it’s time! Today, I’m joining Krista of The Happy Housie and a crew of fabulous ladies to share our take on a Summer Mantel or vignette. I decided to give the mantel in our Family Room [admittedly one of the rooms that receives the least amount of holiday or seasonal love and most definitely the room with the least amount of blog appearances!] a quick and simple Summer update. A subtle pop of color and free clippings from the backyard are combined to create my Blue and Fresh Greens Simple Summer Mantel.

Come on in and have a look!

[*Affiliate links are used in this post.]

When I was scheming up a look for the mantel, I knew I wanted to use some fresh greens and there’s no better place or price tag…read FREE…than to go outside with some hedge shears and clip a few small branches from the trees.

I used a few small clippings from a couple different trees and then cut them down with scissors once inside based on the size of vase I wanted to put them in.

The subtle pops of blue are found in the vases I rounded up from my stash. A blue and white striped one and then a blue and white vase trio. After using the blue / green color combo in the Basement Guest Bathroom Refresh, I’ve been in love!

Both of these blue and white vases were HomeGoods finds over the last few months. I picked them both up on clearance with the intention of using them in the basement bathroom someday down the road or when I finish fixing up the Basement Guestroom. I first mentioned working on this room in my 2018 Master Project Punch list and so far the room, doors and trim have been painted. Stay tuned for more updates on this space after baby comes and I get back into the swing of decorating!

Back to the mantel…After adding the greens to the vases, I added two very tall, gold taper candle holders and a black and ivory bone inlay box to the left with the blue and white striped vase [similar here] on top…

…the blue and white trio vase to the center…

…and then my go-to gold geo burst on top of a couple of thrifted books next to the large faux marbled faceted vase on the right. You might remember this vase from my Summer Home Tour last year where I also used fresh greens from the yard in it. The vase is the perfect size for the longer, fuller branches!

And what you see below the mantel is a blue and white geometric lumbar with tassels [also from HomeGoods] a floor pouf [pulled from the playroom] and a couple more throw pillows next to the tall, lidded basket. I have pom pom blanket tucked inside, but what you can’t see is the 96 cars, trucks, stuffed animals and other miscellaneous toys shoved inside.

I don’t love having toys in every room, but when you find a pair of cute lidded baskets [the other one is currently in the recently finished Nursery], you decide it’s okay if the boys keep some of their favorites in the family room. As long as they go right back inside when they’re done playing!! #ifonly

I’m loving the fresh green and blue vibe going on in here right now! I think this mantel look will be here to stay for the foreseeable future this summer. Although the backyard clippings might have to be switched out every now and then!

Thanks so much for stopping by here today to take a peek at the start of my summer zhushing. Thanks again to Krista for hosting this Seasonal Simplicity Summer series!

I’m so excited that the Seasonal Simplicity series is back again; and this time it’s to celebrate Summer! Today I’ve joined up with a talented group of bloggers to share our simple and beautiful summer mantel {or summer vignette} ideas with you! Enjoy the inspiration…

The Happy Housie // Home Made Lovely // House by Hoff // The DIY Mommy

Zevy Joy // Town and Country Living // A Pretty Life // Rooms for Rent // So Much Better With Age

Finding Silver Pennies // Vinyet Etc. // This is Our Bliss // Rambling Renovators

Paint Me Pink // Just a Girl and Her Blog // Jamie Costiglio // Newly Woodwards

I’ll be back tomorrow with another edition of My Dollar Store DIY and we’ll be sharing our red, white and blue projects with you. I hope to see you here then!