Published on January 30th, 2023

Last updated on February 3rd, 2023

Top 5 Fireplace Mantel Design Ideas You Want To Know About!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
fireplace mantel design idea

Fireplaces have an important practical purpose. They keep your home warm during the cold season. But also it has become an attribute of style, a bright touch in the interior of the living room. Mantel’s ideas for brick fireplaces create an atmosphere of coziness and warmth.

People use fireplaces mainly for practical purposes. With their help, you can:

  • maintain a comfortable temperature in wood and stone houses;
  • dry wet clothes;
  • heat water for household needs. 

You can find fireplaces not only in country houses and cottages. Safe electric fireplaces are often installed in apartments of different styles. If you decorate the mantel with a variety of decorative elements your space will play with colors.

This blog will discuss how to decorate the fireplace in a house or apartment. After reading the article, you will know the 5 best decorating ideas for fireplace mantels.

5 Easy Ways How to Decorate the Fireplace Mantels

luxury decorating above fireplace

The most acceptable way to decorate fireplace mantels are:

  • installing of TV;
  • seasonal decorations;
  • hanging a mirror.

You should choose the decor for the fireplace according to the style of the room. Otherwise, the design will feel imbalanced. For rooms decorated in the classic style, symmetry is important. 

You can use elements of different heights and unusual shapes to reflect your style. It works especially well if your interior is in a modern way.

The size and proportions of the fireplace portal are of great importance. Try decorating the above fireplace  with objects different in:

  • shape;
  • color;
  • textures.

A bright background or a spectacular detail can affect the impression. Carefully study the available options for the design of the fireplace. But don’t get carried away with ready-made solutions.

Before you decide what to hang over the fireplace mantel, arrange the furniture correctly:

  • Try to ensure that chairs, sofas, or tables do not cover the design and do not interfere with the view of the flames. 
  • Next to the fireplace, you can set a rocking chair or a small pouf, a cozy chair with a warm plaid.

Listen to your desires, and don’t lose your individuality. You can choose and create the fireplace of your dreams, using those details and decorations that correspond to your ideas about beauty.

Let’s look at the most popular ways to decorate a mantel. You can choose original variants of decor for each direction.

1. Add life to the space 

As a rule, designers use solid, heavyweight materials as the above mantel decor:

  • marble;
  • brick;
  • solid wood. 

The construction turns out to be bulky, because of which the interior can seem a little harsh. A way to level this impression is to decorate the mantelpiece with live plants:

  • Intricate smooth lines will soften the rectangular outline of the portal, and lush greenery will attract attention. 
  • Bouquet will give the living room a feminine, sophisticated look. 
  • Very stylish look shoots of cereals in the interior. Designers often use them to give volume and texture to the composition.

2. Decorate the interior with a picture

You do not need to be a collector of valuable paintings. It is enough to place your favorite painting decor above the mantel. You can also put images of loved ones. You can also arrange an entire picture gallery or limit yourself to one spectacular piece.

Go to vintage flea markets or look for similar pieces on the Internet. They always attract attention and cause particular excitement.

3. Hang a mirror

What to hang over the fireplace mantel? If you are not a fan of painting, hang a mirror. Several options will give a great effect:

  • One large fancy mirror above the fireplace; 
  • Two mirrors on either side of the fireplace. 

A mirrored surface reflects light from the window and visually enlarges the space. This option is also good. You can use the mirror for its intended purpose.

4. Put the TV on a shelf

We can no longer imagine a living room without a TV. There are ready-made mantel ideas for  brick fireplaces that allow you:

  • to mount a TV panel in the wall above the fireplace;
  • hide it in a sliding cabinet. 

And you can also enclose the screen in a carved frame, adding a touch of luxury to the interior. In any case, be careful with decorative items placed on the mantelpiece. As they can obscure the image.

5. Change seasonal decorations

Try to change the decorations above the fireplace depending on the season and your mood. We don’t just mean Christmas decorations. Have a few items you like and place them on the mantelpiece in any combination. 

All decorative fireplace mantel design ideas will help you create a unique look. For example, you can add:

  • candles;
  • vases;
  • original figurines.

In summer, put a bouquet of fresh flowers or a basket of apples above the mantel decor. In autumn, you can use a composition of berries and leaves. Ensure that the seasonal decorations are in harmony with the color scheme.

6. Decorate your fireplace with vases and figurines

Recently, it has become fashionable to decorate your mantelpiece with large objects. So, we think that it is one of the best fireplace mantel design ideas. Thus, the shelf above the fireplace can be an excellent showcase for decor options:

  • an unusual vase of the author’s work;
  • memorabilia with an exciting history. 

Use more elaborate options like avant-garde artwork or a butterfly collection.  

Bottom Line

A fireplace is a perfect solution for any home or apartment. It gives the room warmth and home comfort. The main thing is to study the technical side of fireplaces carefully. And choose the option among fireplace mantel design ideas that will fit perfectly into your living room design. Also, do not forget to read more of our interesting articles about home maintenance.

FAQ

How to decorate the island fireplace?

Poufs, couches, comfortable armchairs, coffee tables, and consoles can become a decoration. The main thing is to set the furniture far from the hearth. It will help maintain the visual spaciousness of the room. Paired items – chairs or shelves – placed symmetrically. They create a sense of stability and harmony in the interior.

How to decorate the fireplace in a classic style?

Often, designers make do with forged iron fireplace sets and furniture in the English style. Next to the fireplace, it can be comfortable sofas with expensive decorations, coffee tables made of natural wood, or a traditional Voltaire chair.

How to decorate the area by the fireplace?

Use more light. Additional competent lighting will accentuate the fireplace as the center of the room, highlight it and give it more significance in the interior.

What to hang over the fireplace mantel?

The traditional decor of the fireplace shelf is:
1. a mirror;
2. clocks;
3. figurines;
4. vases;
5. and photos of relatives and friends.
Still, there are more intricate options like avant-garde pieces or a butterflies collection.