Last fall I scored the cutest $79 fireplace mantle from an antique store. I painted it white and then it sat, never really styled well. The thing is, I haven’t owned a mantle in 12 years- how do you even style one? So I did research, looked at lots of examples and thought I’d share my findings of howe to style a fireplace mantle with you! I came up with three versions!
before
Here’s how the fireplace looked right when we got it home, before we painted it.
how to style a fireplace mantle
The fireplace is the focal point of the living. A hearth is the symbol of the heart of the home- warmth, protection and love. But the tricky part is that it’s long and narrow so it’s hard to decorate without looking cluttered!
Here’s a simple formula for decorating a fireplace mantle-
- Anchor the fireplace with a mirror or art. This is the vertical element to draw the eye up.
- Add height with candlesticks, a vase, or a globe.
- Lay books on their side. This is the horizontal element to draw the eye over.
- Use an organic item (like a plant, flowers, branches) to bridge the horizontal and vertical elements.
- Group items in odd numbers- this is more pleasing to the eye.
- Create balance on both sides of the fireplace visually.
examples
I thought I’d show you some other examples of styled mantles. When I want to decorate a space I’ve never done before, I look at lots of rooms and see what works and what I like. These are the ones I viewed and I’ll show you what I spotted.
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One way to style a mantle is to group like items, with the same colors or shapes to create a focal point with smaller items.
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Tip 2- group an odd number of accessories together. That helps your eye move from item to item.
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Tip 3- the most common formula used to decorate a hearth is to use a large vertical item (the art) then balance that with a horizontal item (books on their side). To link the two together, use an organic item like the plant or bunny figurine.
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I think the number one rule when accessorizing is to show your personality! A fireplace doesn’t have to be so serious if you don’t want it to be. If a room is playful, a mantle should be as well. The accessories used should continue the style of the room AND tell your story.
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One visual problem with a fireplace is the opening for the fire can be a big black hole. Visually, it’s not so pretty. To combat that, use a fireplace screen, put candles in, or use light birch wood.
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Alternate large and small items to bring the eye in for a closer look. This variety in the sizes of the decor used creates interest.
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Last tip! Simple is always beautiful. Symmetry of the same pieces on either side of the art is a quick and lovely way to style a mantle.
step 1- gather accessories
While I was looking at these examples, I wrote down a list of commonly used accessories. This is something I do when I style a space. It’s an easy way to make a cheat sheet and quickly use items that’ll work.
Next, I pulled a bunch of accessories I thought would work (based on that cheat sheet) and put the on the console table next to the fireplace. I thought I’d style the mantle in three different ways and show you some options.
option 1
For this first one, I used the vase of branches from my thrift haul. I put it on the left hand side because it’s visually heavier. Since we read from left to right, I like to pull the eye to the left first and then let it view items to the right. That’s pleasing and reads as prettier.
Don helped me with accessorizing. He loves projects like this! I think it’s fun to involve him.
I like using pieces that are special and remind me of happy times. The little ceramic cat was found when Don and I were thrifting. He fell in love and wanted that more than a toy. It’s so sweet and reminds me of that outing! The vase with the rose in it was a gift from a friend who brought it from Japan.
The glass candlesticks were thrifted and I got them for a retirement party I threw myself when I quit my full time job to blog. We invited all our best friends and talked long into the night while these candles burned. Its such a great memory! These things might look pretty to anyone glancing at it, but to me, they are special and bring meaning to the hearth.
Side note, since the wallpaper is such a gorgeous focal, I didn’t want to cover it with a mirror or large art. Sadly, the accessories do get a little lost in the wallpaper, but I still love this chinoiserie paper, it’s worth it.
option 2
This option is my AirBNB friendly one. The art is a free download of my wifi password. There are no candles (fire hazard) or live plants to fuss with.
Personally, I like this one because it has the big Persian cat! It’s quirky and a little weird and I think it’s interesting. Being too perfect is boring and this cat is silly on what can be a very traditional and serious wall.
option 3
For this last one, I tried to create two groupings of small items that balance each other out and don’t feel too cluttered.
I also tried to arrange them in a triangle. So there’s a tall item and two shorter items. This helps the eye move in a triangle shape which feels nice and balanced.
If you’re ever in doubt with how to style something, follow this simple formula. Group decor, art, and books and arrange them in a triangle. This graphic was from my blog post on styling bookcases if you like tips on arranging accessories!
The fun thing about styling a mantle is that it can be a seasonal activity! Pretty soon here, I’ll be adding pumpkins. Then in the winter it’ll be holiday themed. It’s fun that they can be an ever-changing feature.
Ok! I’d love to hear from you- which option is your favorite? I ended up leaving option 1 up. I love that vase of branches up there! Do you have a mantle? If so, do you struggle with how to style a fireplace mantle? I’m hoping these tips will be helpful!
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