Things You'll Need:
- Mirrors
- Seashells
- Silver items
- Silk Flowers
- Pottery
- Signs
-
Step 1
Clear off mantle. Gather decorative items from throughout the house that say summer to you. Choose items that are glass, light in color, mirrors, ocean colors like blues, greens. A beach theme always says endless summer.
-
Step 2
Place a large mirror on the mantle first. This will be the background. Choose a mirror that has a light colored wood frame or shiny metallic frame. Try to avoid dark woods and dark frames.
-
Step 3
Place decorative items in front of the mirror. Try to group items in groups of odd numbers like 3 or 5. If you are doing a beach or ocean theme, use a tall silver candlestick with a big conch shell and a medium sized white china vase with sea grass or cat tails. Vary the heights of the objects.
-
Step 4
Place a light colored, white, blue or green table runner on the base of the mantle.
-
Step 5
Use a large clear glass bowl or vase and fill it with lemons, limes or oranges.
-
Step 6
Use candles that are the colors and fragrances of summer. Coconut is the quintessential day at the beach scent.
-
Step 7
Get creative and frame a 2-piece bikini in a shadow box frame.
-
Step 8
Use stripes, they remind us of a summer beach towel. Get some striped awning type fabric and stretch it over a blank canvas frame (available at craft stores). Staple the fabric onto the back after stretching tightly and evenly. Make this your mantle backdrop instead of the mirror.
Comments
Susanh said
on 6/25/2008 Wonderful ideas!
Limowreck said
on 6/24/2008 I know it's summer when my mom takes the mantle decor and paintings down for a change up. This is a great article. Thanks!