How to Decorate a Mantle

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Ann Myrick, and today I'm going to show you how to change your mantle up. There are so many different ways you can do your mantle. I'm a decorator, and I love to work with what people have, and what happens is, people will go and get a few things for their mantle, and they'll put it up there, and that's it. And, you know, whether it's a vase, whatever it is, it's been up there for ten years and they've never changed it. Well, there are so many things you can use for a mantle to decorate with. And, then also, there's so many different ways you can go with a different style. This is more of a traditional style, and I'm very eclectic, so I've used pieces that I grew up with in my family, which were the silver pieces. And then I have a few...I have some antique pieces. Then, I have a special picture of Italy that I have, and then, making kind of an architectural feel or a look..kind of a creative look, I used, just an empty frame. But, there are just...some people like very full mantles, and some people like, kind of sparse, and so if I wanted just to clean it up, I could take all the silver pieces off, and just have it like that. So you just have the frame with the other frame, and then it just is really zeroing in on the artwork. If you want to just see an example of how you can change it up so differently, I'm going to take this down, and then I'm just going to take this old breadbasket and put it up. And this, all of a sudden, adds texture. This will be more like a cottage or garden feel, and then I'll take my McCoy, I love using white on white, so I'll take my McCoy pots, and just start playing with it. Now, I love to just have fun with the mantle, and kind of come...try to see what I can come up with. So, I don't have a problem in just playing with it, like, trying to...put it centered, put it over at the other side, just playing with it and seeing how I can make a real fun, creative look. I'll put one more white...I think I want another white one here. Now you have another mantle, totally done, totally different style, but I've used everything that's in the house. So, have fun with your mantle, bring in textures, and just play with it, and you'll come up with a different look. This is Ann Myrick, and that's how to decorate a mantle."