Boho Farmhouse Valentine's Mantel

This year I wanted to do something a little bit different for Valentine's Day decor. Usually I embrace the bold reds and pinks, but this year I opted for something more muted amidst a lot of neutrals.

It all started with an idea to make some DIY boho-inspired arrows and blossomed from there. Here are my styling tips to create your own boho farmhouse mantel, including a really simple DIY sunburst wreath with some festive flare.

1. Create a focal point.

A focal point of my mantel during the past year has been a recycled window (you can see it in action on this St. Patrick’s Day mantel, but I was ready to switch things up. I've been a fan of the tobacco baskets for awhile, but they can be kind of expensive. After snagging one on clearance at Hobby Lobby recently for $10, I am excited to use it in different ways this year.

Adding a wreath to the center of the basket, makes it an excellent focal point and you can trade it out for different seasons. I picked up this gold sunburst wreath at my local Home Goods for just $7. You could also buy a grapevine version and spray paint it any color you like.

To add a Valentine element, I used my Cricut to cut out hearts that I added on with glue dots. These can easily be removed after the holiday if I want to re-purpose the wreath for something else. No Cricut? You can easily cut out hearts by hand or purchase a heart shaped punch from your local craft store. I recommend using a coupon to save a few dollars!

To keep with the muted tones, I used a light pink cardstock, dictionary pages from a thrifted dictionary (Goodwill), and some gray cardstock. Add on a glue dot and firmly press onto the desired branches on the wreath.

It creates a great dimensional element right in the center of the fireplace.

2. Shop your house.

I can't emphasize this tip enough when you are looking to freshen things up or take a different approach to your holiday decor. You'd be surprised that just looking around the house can result in reusing decor in a new way that you hadn't thought of before.

First, I came across the wood and glass cloche in my craft room. I took out the twinkle lights and rolled up some of the thrifted dictionary pages. I intentionally used the pages that had "Valentine-inspired" words like "heart" and "hug." I picked my cloche up at Home Goods last year, but a similar one is available on Amazon.

Next, I grabbed the C & H monogram book letters from a shelf in our family room and added them to the center of the mantel. It's an ode to my Valentine, my hubby! I got these from one of my favorite local stores, The General Store of Minnetonka, but you can always head to Etsy if you don't live in my neck of the woods.

I also utilized a wooden cutout of Minnesota, our state that we love and call home, to add some additional tone and texture to the mix. To add an element of cozy, I also used a throw and pillow I already had. This pillow made an appearance in a fun boho glamping party last year as well. Finally, I rounded-up some frames that would come in handy a little later.

3. Buy smart.

It's pretty unreasonable for me not to buy an item or two, especially when it comes to home decor! But, before you head to that large big box store, think about some ways you can make investments for less. I am a huge fan of browsing thrift stores like Goodwill. For this mantel, I found two glass bud vases for $.99 a piece, the glass belly vase for the arrows for under $3, and the dictionary that was utilized twice! This was all for about $5.

I also wanted to add some kind of art piece to the mantel. While I've bought great little signs from Target's dollar spot, this year, I also want to be more intentional about supporting small businesses. Instead of grabbing that pre-made sign, I reached out to fellow Minnesotan, Kate, from The Cozy Coconut to have her custom make a piece with a lyric from my husband's and my first dance song at our wedding. In about 24 hours, I had a really special, customized piece for only $7!

Because it was downloadable, I was able to have it printed on some gorgeous linen paper and have it a frame in no time. I love the sentimental value it has and it will likely find a place in our bedroom after Valentine's Day.

4. Add Layers & Texture.

Remember those frames I gathered up around the house? I used a gold one to frame my new print from The Cozy Coconut and a black one to frame some arrow paper I picked up at Michaels. Finally, I added on my Letterfolk letterboard to complete the trio of neutral prints.

I used the bud vases I got at Goodwill to add some greens to the mix. My winter favorite right now is any kind of eucalyptus. It smells so good and lasts longer than a lot of other flowers. You can pick up fresh bunches at Trader Joe's for just $2.99! I used the leftover bunch to put on our dining room table.