How to Decorate Your Mantle
Whether you have a small, large, ornate or rustic mantle, there are a few key basics to keep in mind when choosing items to decorate. Since the fireplace and mantle is most often considered the focal point of the room, it makes sense to carefully choose the perfect pieces to enhance the ambiance of your room. What you choose to display should be things you love and that reflect your personality and decor style choices. Don't be afraid to experiment with different items and design ideas until you find the perfect decor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mirror
- Artwork
- Flower arrangement
- Candles
- Pictures
- Mantle runner
- Lights
- Garlands
- Gourds
- Sugared fruit
- Fall leaves
- Greenery
Instructions
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Take into consideration the entire room decor. Choose pieces that enhance and work with the style of your furniture and other accessories.
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Take into consideration the size of your mantle. Very small items will virtually disappear on larger mantles and large items will look out of place on smaller mantles.
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Create a centerpiece. Place a favorite piece of framed art or a mirror in the center of the mantle to create a main focal point. You can lean the piece against the wall or hang it. If you prefer not to use artwork or a mirror, a beautiful floral arrangement can be the centerpiece. You can also create a wonderful ambiance during times of the year when it is too warm for a fire with a grouping of candles of different heights. Try creating picture groupings above the mantle if you don't have one large picture.
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Choose a good mix of both small and large items to accessorize your mantle, creating a balanced look. Rather than lining up the accents straight across the mantle, try staggering or layering the pieces (some in front of others) for more variation and depth.
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Use color for interest. Focus on one or two accent colors found in one of the fabrics of your upholstery, curtains or rugs. You can use a mantle runner to add a splash of color or interesting texture
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Resist the urge of displaying too many of your favorite treasures on the mantle. Remember that less is better. If you have too many items displayed, the beauty of the individual pieces will be lost in the clutter, not to mention the overall look will be one of disorganization and clutter. Odd numbers of pieces work best and look better when grouped, rather than spread across the entire mantle.
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Change fireplace mantle decorations seasonally. You can do this easily by adding twinkling lights or garlands during the winter holiday season. In the fall, add interesting gourds, sugared fruits and fall leaves. Brightly colored pictures, flowers and greenery during the spring and summer make for a nice change.
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Tips & Warnings
There are no rules set in stone for decorating your mantle or any other area of your home. What you choose is the way that you reflect your personality and décor style choices. Things you love, no matter what anyone else thinks should inspire your fireplace mantle decorating ideas. Don't be afraid to experiment with different items and design ideas until you find the perfect mix to match your personality and decor.
If your fireplace is functional one, it is not a good idea to place on the mantle fragile heirlooms, kerosene oil lamps or anything else that could easily catch fire, or suffer from excessive heat damage.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
