Decorating the Mantel: Create a Fireplace Focal Point
If the "haphazard disarray" school of style has your mantel as a student, consider these techniques for a more artfully balanced arrangement
Decorating a mantel doesn't sound hard, until you actually try it. Although the mantel is a small sliver of space, it starts to feel gigantic when you have no idea how to accessorize it.
The key with creating an eye-pleasing mantel display is to enhance visual interest as much as possible. No, this doesn't mean cramming it with every little knickknack in sight. Instead, focus on creating a look that allows the eyes to travel and focus on more than one object.
The key with creating an eye-pleasing mantel display is to enhance visual interest as much as possible. No, this doesn't mean cramming it with every little knickknack in sight. Instead, focus on creating a look that allows the eyes to travel and focus on more than one object.
Of course, the three-plus-one rule is just one of infinite ways to decorate a mantel. For some, more is more, and a mantel is the ideal place to proudly display a collection. Try organizing things symmetrically so your mantel feels balanced, but don't forget to layer and mix up height.
A mantel display is a great opportunity to integrate new colors into your home decor too. Choose a favorite color that you weren't able to work into your home and highlight it in your mantel display. Try picking something that contrasts with your mantel, or paint your mantel to make your display stand out.
A mantel display is a great opportunity to integrate new colors into your home decor too. Choose a favorite color that you weren't able to work into your home and highlight it in your mantel display. Try picking something that contrasts with your mantel, or paint your mantel to make your display stand out.
Playing with repetition of objects is a sophisticated way to add a splash of style. Try leaning photos of similar images against your fireplace surround for an easy display.
Decorating your mantel symmetrically is another good design tool. It's automatically pleasing to the eye. Try basing a mantel display around a mirror if your fireplace is in a smaller room. It'll reflect light, open up a closed space and provide another vantage point in the room.
Mix up your style in your display to give the room a different vibe. Have a rustic-looking living room? Add a piece of slightly contemporary art above the fireplace for visual depth.
Decorating your mantel symmetrically is another good design tool. It's automatically pleasing to the eye. Try basing a mantel display around a mirror if your fireplace is in a smaller room. It'll reflect light, open up a closed space and provide another vantage point in the room.
Mix up your style in your display to give the room a different vibe. Have a rustic-looking living room? Add a piece of slightly contemporary art above the fireplace for visual depth.
One of the easiest ways to decorate your mantel is to start with a big piece and center it above the fireplace. Pick something you love — whether it's a mirror or a piece of art — and then base the rest of your design around that.
Play with movement by adding in light and height — candles and items of differing heights allow the eye to move up and down along the display. Add visual weight to the display with a secondary focal point, like a vase or sculpture. This will relieve the weight of the other pieces.
Starting with a single large object achieves a look similar to the three-plus-one rule — a visual triangle that allows the eyes to travel up and down, creating a display that you'll never tire of.
Play with movement by adding in light and height — candles and items of differing heights allow the eye to move up and down along the display. Add visual weight to the display with a secondary focal point, like a vase or sculpture. This will relieve the weight of the other pieces.
Starting with a single large object achieves a look similar to the three-plus-one rule — a visual triangle that allows the eyes to travel up and down, creating a display that you'll never tire of.
Find three similar objects and place them on one side of your mantel. Try not to line them up — layer and stagger them. Play around to find what looks and feels best for you.
Once you've done that, find one larger object and place it on the other side of the mantel. The general rule is that this object should be at least twice as large as the other three, but this doesn't need to be exact. Try to have a unifying element for all of these objects — whether it's color, texture or a theme.