The mantel of the fireplace has always been a great place for decorators to stretch their wings. But, most people like to clutter the mantel with grocery lists, keys and everything else that might need a shelf when nothing else in the house will do. When you decorate it, you add another eye catching spot for company and friends. The most unique homes I’ve ever been in were home where everything had its place and there was a place for everything.
Flowers
A nice flower arrangement will decorate the top of a mantel nicely. You don’t really have to remove it when the fire is burning. The mantel should be far enough away from the fire when you light it. But, you can remove the flower arrangement when you have a fire going.
Pictures
Family pictures are the common choice. But, you can get more creative than that. Put some pictures of your pets on the mantel. Choose interesting ones of the kids. Country roads, city skylines and ocean sunsets are a few choices that are quite different than the norm. Of course, mirrors are great. People get a kick out of seeing themselves when they look at your picture frames on the mantel.
Vases
Different size vases add some variety. The vases alone can work just fine. But, flowers work too. Real flowers are great, but they would have to be changed often. Silk flowers, artificial greenery, and dry flowers are better arrangements to make because they will last much longer. You don’t really want to arrange the vases in order of height. The two taller arrangements on the outside will work. But, you can also place the taller arrangement in the middle and the two other heights on either side. Just break up the space.
Candles
You might think that this is redundant. After all, candles light. Fireplaces light. But, candles are awesome. They can be different sizes just like the vases and you can arrange them randomly so that you break up the space.
Diffusers
Diffusers are actually a great addition to a fireplace because they utilize the heat for an awesome purpose. When you place a few drops of oil on the diffuser, you can have your room smell like anything. Pine, coffee, wine, linen and just about any other aroma you can get are all great choices for fragrances.
Books
Let the world know you read. Put what you’re reading on display. Especially if you have a habit of sitting beside the fireplace to read, the mantel is the perfect place to display what you are reading.
Of course, you might want to combine several choices. Let a candle, a vase and a picture be your mantel decorations. Also, the mantel makes a nice place to display anything original. If it’s some rare item you purchased in a foreign land and need a place to display it, the mantel is perfect. That’s it’s purpose.
