How to Decorate a Mantel
Create a stylish mantel with our simple tips.
An effectively decorated mantel easily enhances any home aesthetic. Wondering how to decorate a mantel to transform your own abode? Keep reading this practical guide for all our tips on curating your mantel with cohesion and balance.
1. Find Your Mantel's Purpose
First, reflect on the mantel’s purpose! Do you want it to display family photos, a personal collection, or to serve as a place for decor? Maybe you’re thinking about a wreath for a seasonal arrangement, which you can swap out with the changing seasons. Or perhaps you’d prefer a more neutral mantel to provide year-round decoration, serving as dedicated spaces for mirrors or candles. Determining its function helps you assess exactly how to decorate a mantel.
Begin by measuring your mantel in order to determine its size and scale before selecting above fireplace decor. Choose decorations that are not wider than your mantel to ensure everything fits! Modern decorative objects are ideal for creating a cohesive aesthetic.
Next, take into consideration the room’s style – does it follow a contemporary design, something more traditional, or possess a bohemian flair? Whatever the case, orient your mantel decor around the room’s existing aesthetic.
Selecting a focal point for your mantel area is key in creating a coordinated look and anchoring your design! First ensure that your chosen focal point is appropriately scaled to the mantel’s overall size to avoid overpowering the space. Then, center it on or above the mantel. Opt for an elegant mirror or eye-catching artwork. We love the clock in the above image, which provides a foundation for the mantel’s other decorative elements like taper candles and a bird figurine.
Crafting a proportional space is one of the most important steps in how to decorate a mantel. Deciding whether you’d like to achieve a symmetrical or asymmetrical design helps you proceed. Symmetrical mantel designs are ideal for formal or structured displays, like the framed wall art set featured above. Asymmetrical designs contribute to a laid-back feel in your space, creating visual interest and emphasizing your personal style. Whichever route you choose, place mantel decor on both sides of your center focal point to maintain a sense of unity. Achieve a symmetrical design by selecting decor of the same size and shape for each side of your focal point. For asymmetrical arrangements, pair taller items with smaller objects to create cohesive balance without strict symmetry.
Choosing your color scheme is one of the best parts of the mantel decoration process – it allows your personality to shine and creates a cohesive look. If you’re unsure where to begin, pull inspiration from the room’s existing color palette. Coordinating with the decor surrounding your mantel will ensure your space looks uniform and polished. We love the soothing blue books and vases used to decorate the above image’s mantel, which match the color palette and decor in the rest of the living room.
Next, introduce accents! Pops of color can be integrated into mantel decor to create contrast. While neutral colors are great for a classic look, colorful selections imbue your space with personality – check out our Guide to Decorating With Color the Fun Way for more inspiration!
Now that you know how to structure the space, it’s time to select and arrange your mantel decor. In order to create a display with visual interest, incorporate a variety of textures – like the wooden accents seen above. Create layers by placing smaller items in front of larger backdrops. Framed images provide decorative scenery for other decorations topping the mantel.
If you decide upon a symmetrical design, select matching above fireplace decor for each side of your centerpiece to maintain balance. If you’re going for an asymmetrical look like the one featured above, choose a collection of unique decorations like plants, candles, or vases for a purposefully mismatched mantel.
Tip!
Looking for more style guidance now that you know how to decorate a fireplace mantel? Browse our Easy Mantel Decorating Ideas for inspiration!
