Decorating
7 Easy Ways to Make More of Your Mantelpiece
These simple and fun ideas will have you looking at your mantelpiece in a new light
An artfully curated display on a mantelpiece can make or break a room. When space to display your cherished items is at a minimum, the mantelpiece becomes the perfect place to arrange your vignettes. They’re not as common now in new homes, but who says you can’t install an old vintage fireplace and mantel so that you get to have fun with them too?
If classic and romantic is your aim in a room, a gilt-framed oversized mirror with an antique finish is a good place to start. Trawl antique and secondhand stores for a mirror to bring home, and see if you can find out a bit about its past homes. A piece with some history can give a home soul.
Tip: Layering artwork and accessories in front of a mirror brings life and personality to a room. Just make sure your mirror is big enough that it remains the dominant player.
The glamour of antiqued mirrors
Tip: Layering artwork and accessories in front of a mirror brings life and personality to a room. Just make sure your mirror is big enough that it remains the dominant player.
The glamour of antiqued mirrors
If the room is rich in decorative detail, the mantelpiece needn’t be laden with competing items. The oversized bevelled mirror above this mantelpiece makes the most of the natural light entering the dining room and, come nightfall, would enhance the glittering chandeliers. There’s little need for anything more on the mantelpiece than a single candle to add to the ambience.
2. Set the scene with symmetry
If you’re lucky enough to have a formal living room as well as one that’s more casual, why not give it a special-occasion feel with some formality in the design? Start with a square or rectangular mirror on the mantelpiece, then have one side of the room be a mirror image of the other. Symmetry gives any room a polished look, and instantly makes it more formal.
If you’re lucky enough to have a formal living room as well as one that’s more casual, why not give it a special-occasion feel with some formality in the design? Start with a square or rectangular mirror on the mantelpiece, then have one side of the room be a mirror image of the other. Symmetry gives any room a polished look, and instantly makes it more formal.
If you really want to amplify the natural light, considering flanking a fireplace with mirrors. Keeping mirrors and other furnishings and accessories symmetrical will also draw attention to your mantelpiece display by turning it into a focal point.
3. Put art on display
If you’re an art lover, why not showcase an evolving collection on your mantelpiece? Create a display of various-sized frames, mixing up scale and texture, to give your room an eclectic feel – matching frames of similar sizes risk making the display look too contrived.
If your frames are mismatched, consider creating a theme through what’s framed – a series of black and white photos or prints can bring harmony to a collection. And rather than having framed works sitting side by side, try overlapping them for a more relaxed feel. Mix up art and personal photos if you like – it all comes down to what you most want to look at.
If you’re an art lover, why not showcase an evolving collection on your mantelpiece? Create a display of various-sized frames, mixing up scale and texture, to give your room an eclectic feel – matching frames of similar sizes risk making the display look too contrived.
If your frames are mismatched, consider creating a theme through what’s framed – a series of black and white photos or prints can bring harmony to a collection. And rather than having framed works sitting side by side, try overlapping them for a more relaxed feel. Mix up art and personal photos if you like – it all comes down to what you most want to look at.
A large piece of art makes a bold and dramatic statement – and becomes the focal point of the room. Choose a bold and colourful work if it’s to sit against a white wall, or tone down the colour if the wall is as bright as this one. The artwork needn’t hang on a hook; it can just sit on the mantel as is. Make sure you have a sturdy mantel for any large or heavy items you want to display though.
Dos and don’ts of hanging art above a fireplace
Dos and don’ts of hanging art above a fireplace
4. Have fun with vignettes
Creating special vignettes for seasonal celebration will make your home feel more festive, and children especially love the sense of anticipation decorating can bring. Don’t stop at major holidays, why not celebrate the change of seasons with a new vignette – incorporate items you’ve collected from the outdoors (think pine cones, flowers or stones) into your display for an earthy touch.
Creating special vignettes for seasonal celebration will make your home feel more festive, and children especially love the sense of anticipation decorating can bring. Don’t stop at major holidays, why not celebrate the change of seasons with a new vignette – incorporate items you’ve collected from the outdoors (think pine cones, flowers or stones) into your display for an earthy touch.
An ever-changing display of cuttings from the garden and neighbouring streets is a lovely way to honour the shifting seasons.
5. Show off your personality
We’re all different – that’s what makes the world so interesting – so why not reflect a little more of your true self around your home? If you secretly still love Lego or toy robots, for example, why hide that passion away? Whatever gives you a little jolt of joy is the thing to put on display – or have each member of the family choose a favourite item to add to a community vignette.
We’re all different – that’s what makes the world so interesting – so why not reflect a little more of your true self around your home? If you secretly still love Lego or toy robots, for example, why hide that passion away? Whatever gives you a little jolt of joy is the thing to put on display – or have each member of the family choose a favourite item to add to a community vignette.
Tip: You needn’t clutter up the mantelpiece with too many items; just pop your favourites on display, thinking about colour and harmony with the rest of the space.
Browse more eclectic decor
Browse more eclectic decor
6. Curate a collection
Run out of storage for your ceramics (or other) collection? Put it on display, loud and proud. Assemble the arrangement by colour and tone, shape and size. If your display items are in contrast to the style or colour of the mantelpiece and fireplace, they will be sure to stand out and become an area of interest in the room. Ceramics can look beautiful against a white wall…
Run out of storage for your ceramics (or other) collection? Put it on display, loud and proud. Assemble the arrangement by colour and tone, shape and size. If your display items are in contrast to the style or colour of the mantelpiece and fireplace, they will be sure to stand out and become an area of interest in the room. Ceramics can look beautiful against a white wall…
… but against a dark wall, they really pop.
7. Make practical use of wall space
Televisions seems to take prominent place in most living rooms, but positioning it above the mantelpiece can free up valuable space elsewhere.
Televisions seems to take prominent place in most living rooms, but positioning it above the mantelpiece can free up valuable space elsewhere.
A sliding panel can hide your TV out of sight when not in use, if you’re reluctant to have it permanently on display.
11 ways to take the focus off the TV
11 ways to take the focus off the TV
For those fireplaces that actually work (as opposed to being purely decorative), precautions may need to be taken. If you are going to position your TV above the mantel, there needs to be a mitigating design feature such as a protruding mantel to divert the heat away from the TV, or you could look at recessing the television into the wall. Be aware that you can void your TV warranty by placing it above the fireplace.
Your say
What’s on your mantelpiece? Share a photo or tell us about it in the Comments below.
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Browse more living area photos
Your say
What’s on your mantelpiece? Share a photo or tell us about it in the Comments below.
More
Browse more living area photos
Think about how you want your room to look and feel. Formal and traditional? Bohemian and laid-back? Cool and contemporary? The style of mirror you choose for your mantelpiece plays an important role in reflecting the style of the room – and the people who decorated it.
Retro circular mirrors are popular at the moment, and can tie in with a variety of interior styles, from Art Deco to mid-century. Mirrors of this shape can also soften a room, especially one containing a lot of hard edges.