How to Decorate a Mantel Like a Pro

A fireplace can be a great focal point in a room, and the mantel is the icing giving it that special pizzazz. But how do you get started? What decor looks good on a mantel? What if a tv is above the fireplace? We will walk through some tips and show you how to decorate a mantel like a pro.

Establishing Balance

While the decor on your mantel does not need to be mirror reflections from one side to the other-- it is important to establish balance and proportions. If you have a large candle on the right side, and a small one on the left side your fireplace will look a little off balance. So choosing items that are of relatively the same height and width on the ends will help provide that sense of balance.

Choosing Decor

There are never ending options for decorative accents for your mantel and you can find some great items at Home Goods, antique stores, Amazon, Wayfair, and Joss and Main.

Lanterns/Large Candles
Mirrors
Windows
Clocks
Signs
Monogram Letters
Family Photos
Decorative Books
Vases
Engraved photos
Decorative accents
Decorative teacups
Large faux plant stems

Set Up

There are a few ways you can design your Mantel.

Matching on the ends- Large piece in the center

This is a more formal setup that works great in a formal living or dining area where a tv is not in the picture. The ends of the mantel have a rather large item on them which either match on both sides or are at least in similar proportion. In the center is a large object (mirror, or window) and a few smaller objects displayed in front (pictures, candles).

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Sparse, but elegant (preferable for tv)

This style focuses mainly on the ends of the mantel because the center will be occupied by a television. Candles, lanterns, or vertical pictures frame the ends of the mantel, with nothing in the center. In this setup it is preferable to have the sides marked by different pieces (still watch out for proportions).

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Loaded and Eclectic

If you have a large mantel, like the one pictured below, the sense of proportion kind of goes out the window. Since the space is so large you really won’t take in both sides at once so it is nice to have completely different items on the ends. Since the space is so massive it is also difficult to put a large piece in the center, so instead you use a variety of interesting pieces. In this case, a stove is right in the middle providing a bit of a breakdown of the space which makes it a little easier to take it in.

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Corner Mantel

The dreaded corner mantel. If you have a stove in the corner of a room you know exactly what I am referring to. Corner mantels present a challenge because you really want to establish balance, but the space is awkward and makes it difficult to do so.

To maintain balance use similar sized items on the end pieces (think Medium-large, a small candle isn’t going to cut it). You can place a slightly taller item in the very center and layer some smaller items in front of it to help the eye focus. Once you have the outer edges and the middle figured out the rest is a lot simpler. Interesting signs, clocks and family phones can fill up the remaining space and should be an appropriate height to not take away from the balance of the edges and center.