Log Cabin Mantel Decorations

A simple piece of pottery is stunning on a log cabin mantel.

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.

Function

Fireplaces are the focal point of any room. Enhance the appeal of your cabin by choosing items that will draw the eye to the fireplace. Keep it simple, however. Balance is key, according to House Beautiful. Do not over-clutter your mantel with too many items. Instead, choose only a few, attractive pieces to show off.

Types

Log cabins can be elegant or rustic, but one thing they have in common is a relationship to the outdoors. Bring the outdoors in and emphasize this relationship by choosing items from nature. A simple glass cylinder filled with polished rocks or shells, for example, looks stunning placed on one end of a log cabin mantel. Balance the cylinder by placing some tall, tapered candles on the other end. Or, lay an interesting piece of twisted driftwood on the mantel of a beach cabin. Evergreen branches are the perfect decoration during the holidays, perhaps accented with some holly berries or strands of cranberries.

Materials and Colors

Choose items that are made from natural materials and that come in colors found in nature. Framed art and photographs always look nice on a mantel, for example, but choose frames made out of wood that complement the wood of your log cabin, rather than sleek chrome frames. Keep the art simple so that it does not compete with the drama of the fireplace and walls. A mantel clock is also a great choice, but again, choose one that is made of wood, not metal. Select items that are green, brown, cream, gray or blue to emphasize the log cabin's link to the outdoors. Finally, keep the items as simple and friendly as the cabin itself. A beautiful piece of pottery or even a hand-painted ceramic pitcher filled with wildflowers are both great choices for the mantel of a log cabin.

References

• House Beautiful: Mantel Decorating Ideas