home sectionhome section
A fireplace mantel, not a big-screen television, should be the focal point of the room. Creating an architecturally interesting mantel ensures that whenever the living or family room is entered, what is seen first is the fireplace mantel and not any other decorative elements of the room. Turning your mantel into the center piece is not as difficult as it sounds. Before choosing the correct method, consider the overall decorative style of your home.You don’t want to modernize your mantel if the rest of your house is classic, just as you don’t want to choose a classic stone covered mantel…
Besides finishing the look of a fireplace, a mantle serves as an area to display pictures, trophies, knickknacks and other items. If you are ready to install a mantel above your fireplace, you must provide enough clearance between the two to avoid a fire hazard.
Design conventions evolve over time because they work either in terms of physical convenience or safety. Eventually, they end up in standards or building codes and are used, not just because convention has become law, but because these design elements just look right due to familiarity. Fireplace mantel and mantel shelf height provides an example of such a convention.
When fireplaces were a necessary part of dwelling construction, the mantel was an important part of the design. It provided the support to hold the bricks or stones around the top of the opening. Today's mantels are decorative, and making your own is easy and gives you a conversation piece in your home. Installing a floating mantel is basically the same no matter what type of material is above the fireplace.
A fireplace mantel often attracts people to the fireplace. It is common for guests and friends to look closely at the woodwork, particularly if the mantel is new. For that reason, finishing the mantel as cleanly as possible is a good idea so that a close inspection is rewarded with an attractive surface. Installation of a mantel can leave cutting grooves, open seams, uneven cuts, exposed screws or nails and other unsightly problems. Hiding the damage is part of finishing the mantel.
Fireplaces and entertainment centers are structural elements that serve both functional and aesthetic purposes in a living room or bedroom. Commonly, mantles protrude outward and can be utilized for storage or decoration. If you have a recessed mantel, however, take advantage of it's unique structure to show off your personal taste.
A fireplace is the focal point of a room and a mantle helps to draw attention to this architectural feature. If your current fireplace mantel is colonial style, but you are interested in infusing the space with a Southwestern look, switch the mantel to set the tone for the new design. You can create a Southwestern vibe in your space with a new mantelpiece and decorative accessories.
Your fireplace with its mantel is a focal point for your room so you want it to be decorated to display your style and personality. A fireplace with a brick backsplash or surround is a classic style well suited for country, traditional, colonial or rustic décor. Whatever the style of your home, you can create a balanced, attractive display on your mantel that will show off your brick fireplace to its best advantage. Following the interior decorator's trick of three plus one will give you a mantel of which to be proud.
A traditional fireplace mantel, with ceramic and brick put together for a historic look and feel, pairs well with wood surround in an assortment of styles and colors. A fireplace, especially a large or floor-to-ceiling unit, is the focal point of a space and electing a style and color of wood that complements your home and your personal style is a decor must-have.
Potted ivy can serve as a simple way to decorate a fireplace mantel while giving you plenty of options to inject the space with personality and style. Ivy is typically easy to care for and inexpensive, which makes it an ideal decoration for your mantel. Consider silk potted ivy if maintaining living plants is simply not your thing. The ivy can be trimmed and maintained close to the pot or grown out long enough to allow tendrils of the plant to stretch across the mantel or hang from it in a decorative manner.
Candles are the perfect decoration for fireplace mantels. Decorate fireplace mantels with candles with help from a celebrity interior designer and design psychology expert in this free video clip.
Tuscan decorating takes its cue from rustic Italian farmhouses and grand villas. Colors in Tuscan décor are drawn from nature. The bright blue of the Tuscan sky on a sunny day, the burgundy of wine, sunflower yellow and olive green are all hues found in this decorating style. Textures are rough like the plaster walls in a centuries-old farmhouse and the cobble stones on a narrow village street. Wrought iron, copper, ceramic items, pottery and baskets are all prevalent in Tuscan décor. Each of these elements can be used when you accessorize your fireplace mantel in Tuscan style.
The traditional fireplace mantel gives you one long continuous piece of wood to work with. That type of design makes it easy to arrange your family photographs, sports trophies and other items, but the display becomes a bit more complicated when you have two uneven mantels. Working with two uneven mantels requires a bit more creativity and style, but it can also give you some additional flexibility and freedom.
A fireplace is often the focal feature of a room. Adding decorative accents to the mantle above it helps draw even more attention to this architectural feature. If your home is a bungalow, or a Craftsman-style house and you have a long mantle above your fireplace, decorate the surface with items that speak to the warm, earthy style of the home and that reflect your personality, adding even more charm to this already alluring design.
Some small fireplaces use a semi-circular design instead of the traditional rectangle. Decorating a small semi-circular fireplace mantel can present a number of challenges, such as a narrower area with less space to work with. On the other hand, that semi-circular mantel can make creating a dramatic look a bit easier, since it forces you to focus on the most cherished items when planning your display.
Fireplaces are often the main focal point of a room, which makes them an integral design element for any style decor. Dark-hued mantels are especially rich and elegant, due to their saturated color. There are several ways to accent dark-hued mantels to create a visually pleasing design, ranging from designing traditional arrangements to highlighting boho chic themes. By incorporating colorful, coordinating or contrasting accessories to the mantel, a darker mantel area becomes a central visual element to accent any decorating style.
The mantel is an area that can bring any room alive if decorated appropriately. This space above your fireplace can be designed in a number of ways, some of which have curved elements. Take advantage of a curved mantel's shape when positioning decorative items for display, and make this area the focal point of the room.
Installing a floating shelf above a fireplace in place of a mantel is an effective way to save money without losing the features and functionality of a mantel shelf. Purchased floating shelves often come with an installation panel that mounts directly to the wall. Floating shelves must be installed above a fireplace and mounted to wall studs to ensure that the floating shelf gets the proper support it needs. The installation process only takes an hour or two with the proper tools and supplies.
Gardeners have been cultivating decorative grasses since the Victorian Age, according to the University of Rhode Island. Many species tolerate a range of site conditions and require little maintenance in terms of pruning and fertilization. These versatile ornamental plants not only add aesthetic value to the landscape but also several species make attractive components in dried or fresh flower arrangements suitable for mantle display. To grow your own decorative grass, choose species that flourish in your region’s U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone rating.
A fireplace mantel provides a blank canvas in terms of decorating. This built-in shelf offers a spot to display decorative items. Adding brass candlesticks with candles gives the look of an era gone by and lends an Old World ambience to a room with a fireplace. Select an arrangement that goes best with your decorating supplies.
One of the bridal party's many duties is to throw the bride-to-be a shower. This includes choosing a place and a decor theme for the shower. If you are throwing the shower at a house that includes a fireplace, incorporate the mantel into your decorating, as mantels provide an excellent focal point for pictures of the bride and groom or other decor ideas. Use items that match the chosen color scheme of the shower for best results.
Your fireplace mantel is likely the centerpiece of your living room, so it's natural to want your mantel to be both stylish and classy. A large mantel clock is a traditional decoration that is not only useful, but enjoyable to look at. Whether your living room is modern, rustic or an eclectic mix, you can decorate your fireplace mantel in a way that reflects your personality and style.
Stone mantels may have visible cut grooves that detract from the overall aesthetics of the fireplace fixture. To remedy this situation, you can either replace the entire stone mantel, a costly option, or you can simply fill in the cut grooves to blend them with the rest of the fixture. This can be done with the same method as repairing marble chips and cracks. Concealing the cut grooves will restore the beauty of a stone mantel.
For a wedding at home or in a restored historical home, the mantel over a fireplace can serve as a decorative focus. A mantel is centrally located and provides a surface that you can decorate without needing to hang anything or make room for other items, like presents or table settings. Avoid the temptation to make your mantel decorations too busy, and use the mantel instead as a platform to display a few unifying decor items that draw the rest of the room together.
Decorating a mantel in your home that contains a window in its middle can be difficult, as it forces you to look for decor pieces that will not become faded from too much sunlight. Items such as framed pictures of family and friends and cloth decor pieces that are placed in front of the window will fade over time. Use glass and ceramic pieces for best results, unless you choose to decorate your mantel with items of little value to you where you will not mind if they become sun damaged.
Decorate your fireplace mantel with peonies to give the room a vibrant look and a heady scent. Peonies, which feature large, soft petals, are typically found in various shades of pink and white. You can enhance the mantel with fresh peonies from your garden during their bloom time in the spring and early summer. Along with live blooms, use peony-inspired decor items, such as candles, prints and glass pieces, to accent the look.
Surprise someone on their birthday by hanging a "Happy Birthday" banner. Once you have the banner made, the hardest part is finding the perfect place to hang it so the birthday person can see it when they walk through the door. Whether you made the banner yourself, or you purchased it from a retailer, make sure there are strings attached to either side so you can hang it yourself. A banner, whether big or small, is bound to bring a smile to the birthday person's face.
The fireplace mantel is a great place to display decor that supports the theme you wish to represent in the room. When a mantel is decorated successfully, it causes the fireplace to become the focal point in the room, directing the eye to the area. If you'd like to create a tropical theme, there are a few things you can do to brighten up the mantel and add an authentic beachy feel.
Because the fireplace is usually the focal point of the room, it is important that it is decorated in an eye-catching way. By getting creative, you can make the most out of this unique design feature. There are two choices when it comes to decorating a fireplace mantel. One is to leave it bare but paint it so it stands out, the other option is to decorate it with small decorative pieces and other items.
A double-sided fireplace is a great feature in many homes. It enables the owner to have a roaring fire that can be enjoyed on two or more sides, such as in a dining area and a living space. Decorating a double-sided fireplace is not a puzzling task when you treat it as two separate units in your home. These types of fireplaces may be created with ceramic, brick, cement, stone or a combination of materials and are often seen in restaurants or larger homes.
Coastal decor is a type of design that often incorporates items from the sea into a casual, clean decorating style. There are many ways to highlight a ocean-themed room with accents and accessories. Good design is often evident in details, such as decorating a fireplace mantel and, even, the empty space inside. Whether a fireplace is functional or purely decorative, adding a coastal accent inside the fireplace during warm months or when the fireplace is not in use, is a great way to add additional coastal charm to any home and is easy to accomplish for nearly every homeowner who…
Known for its beehive appearance, a kiva fireplace is common in homes in the southwestern United States. Originally crafted from adobe, a Spanish term meaning mud bricks, traditional kiva fireplaces were very heavy. Conventionally placed in the corner, a kiva's adobe walls radiate heat and provide cozy warmth to a room. The broad base, narrow top, arched firebox door and top flue opening are typical attributes.
Ladders have become a common accessory in many decorating styles. They add height and display options for a variety of decorative items. They are suitable for any room in your home and easily accessorized for functional display. Use either a straight ladder that leans against the wall or a small stepladder that can stand free. Decorate it with accessories that coordinate with your room. Your ladder will emphasize the simplicity and warmth of primitive decorating.
Unwinding in front of a warm fire on a cold winter day is an ideal way to relax. If your fireplace has a mantel that consists of three stone shelves, decorate the space to add visual interest and appeal, making this special feature even more inviting. Stone shelves can work with any type of room decor, from Old World to modern.
A hearth can be the blazing center of a room. Even when a fireplace is a non-working ornament, it remains a focal point. The firebox and mantel are a dramatic break in the surface of the wall, dictating the placement of furniture and providing character -- or a distraction. Make the mantel work for you by changing its appearance or function to match your décor and supply some carefully curated shelf space.
Mantels are good for more than just hanging stockings. Fireplace mantels are an ideal space for decorative accents since they tend to be the focus of any room they are in. Any object that fits on the shelf-like mantel can become a decorative addition to your home.
A red brick fireplace adds a charming appeal to a room and fits well with decor types from classic to modern. Decorating the area around your fireplace adds life and color to what could otherwise become a neglected space. Make it the focal point it deserves to be. Choose items that fit well with the style of the room's other furnishings and accessories for cohesion and continuity.
A corner fireplace is a source of comfort in any room. It can also be a tough area to decorate, particularly if it's not the focal point. Whether you gather around the fireplace in the evening or you simply want a corner to admire, you can decorate a corner fireplace without overwhelming the room -- or using it only as a TV stand. Start considering your fireplace as a part of the whole room, rather than a corner dust collector, and it will fit in just fine.
A major reason you chose your home over all others is the white fireplace that lends a romantic aura to your living or family room. Then there's the promise of winter nights and blazing fires. While you don't want to diminish its impact, your fireplace begs to be surrounded by personal touches that work with the white finish. Use your imagination. Add architectural elements, arts and crafts or unique decorations matching your furniture or lifestyle.
Log cabins have a rustic feel to them. They are cozy and usually surrounded by nature. Christmas at a log cabin is a good time to expand on these elements by decorating with a rustic flare. Homemade Christmas decorations and decorations made from nature will add to the atmosphere and create a warm holiday setting.
Kiva fireplaces trace their long history back to the 8th century. Kiva fireplaces were first used in the underground sacred chambers of the Pueblo Indians. These characteristically Southwestern home fixtures have evolved from simple holes in the ground to full-featured fireplaces, often known as "beehive fireplaces" due to their distinctive shape. A kiva fireplace adds history and warm to a mission-style home.
From tiny woodland hideaway to expansive mountain lodge, log cabins lend themselves to many styles of decor. How you choose to decorate your home depends on your personal tastes. Log home kit manufacturers and builders offer many styles of homes, from rustic to ultra-modern. Or you could purchase an already built home and decorate it to suit your lifestyle. The colors, furniture styles and accessories you choose define your home's style.
Though fireplaces claim the most attention in colder months, keep the decor current and seasonal by changing the backdrop and vases, flowers or knick-knacks to fit the warm and carefree weather. From bright flowers and lush greens to American flags and decorative fireworks, keep the fireplace fresh and friendly with updates throughout the summer season. Fresh fruit and greenery changed weekly --- and consumed or composted after --- create an organically dynamic palette, while artificial greens and non-floral items can be reused every summer.
A fireplace functions as a room's focal point. It draws the eye almost immediately. One factor stands above all the others if you would like to create a classic fireplace mantel---simplicity. This does not mean that the fireplace mantel will not be decorated, but rather the decorations that you choose will feature classic designs and lines as well as some traditional decorative pieces.
A multiface fireplace allows a room to have a split personality, meaning that you can feature different decorative pieces on each side. These fireplaces typically feature hearth openings in two different rooms. To decorate this type of fireplace, allow each side to take its decorative cues from the side of the room it faces. Connect the two sides together and with the rest of the room using some commonalities to both sides. These elements, when taken together, help to draw the eye to the fireplace, making it the focal point of the room.
A fireplace is often the focal point of a room, and the sight of a cheerful fire, especially during the holidays, adds warmth and light to any occasion. During the warmer months, however, a fireplace is a dusty, empty space that can seem meaningless. There are many options that can be considered when you are decorating around a fireplace, as well as safety measures to be taken when the fireplace is in use.
Traditional decorating usually draws from decorating trends of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It often includes dark woods, simple designs (but elaborate carvings), and a heavy but "homey" appearance. The traditional fireplace mantel can be the focal point of the whole room -- as long as you decorate it appropriately.
A fireplace creates an instant destination point in any room. It can effortlessly make a room seem cozier and more inviting. A mountain stone fireplace gives any room an inherent sense of rustic-ness, making it seem almost as though the room sits within a cabin in the woods, regardless of its actual location. Because a mountain stone fireplace has an innate regal quality, it almost doesn't need decoration. However, if you do decide to decorate it, the adornments will focus around the mantel with strategic design elements to enhance the earthy quality.
Multi-face fireplaces warm more than one area of a room. Two-sided corner fireplaces may feature see-through doors without a mantel and just a hearth. Three-sided fireplaces function as room dividers. Regardless of which type of multi-face fireplace you own, keep your decorating solutions simple and use restraint. Multi-face fireplaces have a lot of inherent personality and usually possess varying amounts of mantel space to work with.
Just because you have a log cabin doesn't mean you need to slap a pair of antlers over your fireplace. Instead, choose items for your fireplace mantel that will enhance the cozy feel of your cabin while staying true to your design aesthetic.
Mantels offer an excellent opportunity for decorating because you can change them throughout the year to match seasons and events. From rich, lavish designs during the holidays to birthday and other celebratory items, the mantel is one place where you can experiment with the decor in your home. Decorate your mantel in ways that don't make it look cluttered or empty.
The corner fireplace is too expensive to remove or too cozy to give up. Either way, you have to do something with it so it complements the rest of the room. A deep corner shelf allows you to place substantial objects on the mantel that wouldn't fit on a straight, shallow shelf. And the angle can lead to some eye-catching design solutions.
While a fireplace mantel can stand alone as a decorative piece, enhance its appearance and make it a focal point in the room with a bit of creative inspiration. Placing objects of different scale and proportion on the mantel can create interest. Various options exist for objects, depending on the current design element in your room and your own personal preferences. You can choose to group related items, or different items for a more eclectic look.
Tuscan design is casual, rustic and colorful, which makes it a favorite type of decor for many homeowners. From its warm, earthy color palette to its use of wrought-iron accessories, Tuscan spaces are full of weathered charm and visual appeal. One way to amplify the Tuscan appearance of a room is to decorate the fireplace mantel. Decoration of the mantel with Tuscan accents adds the finishing touch to the room and blends the overall decor into a cohesive style.
Decorate an interior fireplace mantel to represent your personal taste and style or celebrate a festive season. The mantel is a narrow shelf above the fireplace where stockings are traditionally hung at Christmas. Mantels are ideal locations to showcase a few favorite collectibles or pictures because they are commonly set at standing eye level. The fireplace mantel is a blank slate that can be quickly redecorated throughout the year to accommodate changing tastes and styles.
Tuscan local craftsmen produced their own furniture and accessories used to decorate their traditional country homes. You will not find inlaid furniture or elegant crystal pieces in a Tuscan home. Rather, the furnishings are generally simple and often have a rustic, weathered look. You can replicate this style in how you choose to decorate your fireplace mantel.
The rustic look focuses on comfort and warmth. Rustic colors of green, red and brown are earthy, and one of the best places to create a stunning rustic display is on your mantel. Since the idea of rustic decorating is to bring a bit of the outside indoors, it makes sense to add elements of nature to the mantel. By knowing how to decorate your mantel, you can achieve a unique, rustic display.
Even if your fireplace is not the literal heart of your home, it commands more attention than any other item in the room. Knowing this, decorating the mantel may seem like a daunting task, and a brick mantel is even more challenging because of the many colors and busy mortar lines included in the design. Using a monochromatic color scheme for your mantel display may help unify the design and add the perfect attention-worthy touch to your room.
A fireplace mantel is a decorative shelf or border that frames your fireplace. A mantel can cover or hang above the top of your fireplace as well as frame the two fireplace sides. Organize your collections on your wood fireplace mantel in groups of threes, fives or sevens. You can call attention to a dark-wood mahogany or cherry fireplace mantel by using bright decor objects, such as brass candlesticks, pewter mugs, antique ruby glass or silver-framed family photos.
A fireplace gives a home a sense of warmth and provides a traditional gathering spot for families to join together and share time. The fireplace mantel is then the perfect spot to highlight family members and occasions with nicely framed photographs. Layering different-sized images, from 8 by 10 inches to 3 by 5 inches, a mantel allows you to display photos three to four frames deep while still allowing the viewer to see the pictures. Your selection of frames will determine the style of the mantel display so consider your options and make your display match your personal decorating style.
Corner fireplaces add a distinctive ambiance to a room and give the room a focal point around which to base the design and decor of the rest of the room. Corner fireplaces generally consist of a standard firebox and mantel placed diagonally in the corner of a room. They are popular additions in many homes and can be installed without any major repairs or renovations. On top of being compact and space saving, corner fireplaces are generally very economical and cost much less than a traditional mantle fireplace while still imbuing a room with a warm and welcoming aura.
Display ledges can maximize the space in room while adding a decorative touch. They allow you to store your favorite collectibles in full view, highlighting antiques that have sentimental or artistic value. And they come in many different forms, from a fireplace mantel to a set of ledges stacked like bookshelves. A shelf could angle around corner walls and run the length of a room, or box shelves could be arranged like a giant curio cabinet. A small ledge that curves gracefully toward the wall also has its own charm. The style of shelf, like how you decorate it, depends…
Your fireplace is likely the focal point of your room. Dress up the mantel for Christmas to add a festive touch to the room that everyone is sure to notice.
Large fireplace mantels are great decorating spots. The fireplace is the center of the room, and the large mantel adds even more interest, taking the spotlight. Take advantage of this by decorating it to enhance the decor of the room and house. Since everyone has different tastes, decorating a large fireplace mantel depends on what works in each individual case. There are several options when decorating a large fireplace mantel, so anyone can find one that works for them.
A mantel is a decorative shelf that usually hangs over a fireplace. Mantels can be simple items constructed from a single piece of wood or more elaborate structures with intricate detail. Just as your fireplace serves as a useful and elegant room focal point, your mantel can add a delightfully decorative touch to any decor. Create decorations for your mantel and fireplace along a seasonal scheme that brings all the glories of fall color into your home.
Your fireplace may be the center of attention in your living room, or it may be the romantic getaway in your bedroom. The mantel above the fireplace affords an opportunity to dress up the room. Make your decorations personal, whatever you do. Make your fireplace mantel totally yours.
There are no hard-and-fast rules for decorating a fireplace mantel. How you decorate it depends on your personal taste and style. There are some guidelines you can follow, however, to make your mantel more visually appealing. Cluttering your mantel with two many items, for example, can distract from the clean lines of the fireplace. Use these guidelines to create a mantel that will be the focal point of any room.
Whether you prefer stark and minimal or homey and warm, the fireplace mantel can extend the theme of your interior design plan. Use the mantel as a showcase space, displaying some of your favorite pieces and artwork, but don't forget utilitarian pieces as well such as lighting and mirrors. The best aspect of decorating a fireplace mantel is that you can create a dramatic impact with just a few shifts in color, finishes and accessories, so take some risks and try some eye-catching juxtapositions between pieces.
To the homemaker, fireplace mantels are akin to an artist's blank canvas. They are a focal point in any room, and afford a design and decor luxury, since they may be quickly and easily changed on a whim. Perfect for holiday decor as well, fireplace mantels allow you to change a room's style by simply replacing a few simple accessories.
Corner fireplace mantels have the advantage of providing more space than traditional fireplace mantels. Still, the rules for decorating a fireplace mantel remain the same. Avoid putting a television set on top of your fireplace and instead follow the steps below to make your corner fireplace mantel an elegant focal point in your room.
Freshen up for Springtime by decorating your fireplace mantel with beautiful Spring accents. A mantel is a main focal point of a room and the perfect place to add color to your decor. Here are some tips for decorating a mantel for Spring time.
Fireplace mantels provide a prominent, blank canvas for decorating. The way they are decorated, however, can make or break a room. For example, fireplace mantels that are too cluttered with photos and kitsch can make a room feel busy and dated. Alternately, fireplace mantels that are left bare can make a room feel empty, cold and unwelcoming. Fireplace mantels are commonly decorated according to season and can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the formality of the rest of the house.
