Browsing Tag

fireplace decor

how-to-decorate-your-fireplace-mantel

The fireplace is one of my favourite features in a home, it might be my favourite because I am always cold….

The fireplace is also a major focal point in the room that it is in – so your decor with be on full display.  A fireplace is a great canvas for decor and I love changing up my decor with the seasons and the fireplace is a perfect spot for that! There are a number of ways to decorate that mantel, personally I love a mix of pieces anchored to the wall and some that are layered and leaning – it gives a casual feel to the room. Mixing decor pieces like vases of various sizes, photos, candles and mirrors are a great way to add personal style. And greenery or florals … they add so much life to any room and on the fireplace they are front row center! Don’t forget the hearth – baskets, pillows and blankets also help balance out the entire focal point.

Here are some great ideas to inspire your fireplace decor:

Photo credit : The Frugal Homemaker

Coastal –

In the summer and spring months, the fireplace is overlooked – we aren’t using it so why decorate it? Well the fireplace is still a part of the room so keep it decorated with seasonal pieces.  I love the beachy accents around this fireplace – the area looks light and breezy. And I love a pop of yellow!

Photo credit : Magnolia

Modern Farmhouse –

This is so clean and crisp which plays into the modern look but the textures like the wood accents, and the natural accessories add that fresh farm feel.  I love the use of black in this room – the fireplace itself is black and balanced out with the black photo frames. The small pops of greenery add life to the room as well!

Photo credit: A Blissful Nest

Balance and Colour –

I love turquoise – it’s bright, bold and fresh! It is brightening up this room without taking over. It works beautifully with white and that splash of coral-red adds another punch to this room.  I also love the balance of the accessories – did you know that the eye is natural drawn to symmetry and balance? So that’s another layer that makes this fireplace decor so attractive. The large art piece at the center offers height and fulls that wall and the various sizes of the glasses vases not only brig in the balance but they fill up the mantel space – it is full of decor without looking cluttered. The glass pieces also bring a lightness and reflect light keeping the whole fireplace from looking heavy!

Photo credit : Twelve on Main

Rustic Farmhouse –

So cozy! The stonework surround has so much texture that you really need to work with that and add other textural elements in this room.  Textures like the straw from the hat, the small glass vases add a smooth texture plus a dash of colour and the magnolia wreath add more colour and natural texture (even if it is faux). The white pieces lighten and soften the whole look. This fireplace has a great mix of rustic and farmhouse which makes this entire room so laid back but stylish.

Fireplace Decor pieces:

Art is a perfect way to add some colour and movement to your room – it is also a great way to add an anchor to the room. This art piece adds some real interest and colour to any room – it would look great in a contemporary space.

A stool is a great way to add some extra seating for when you have large gatherings – it can also be sued as surface space for snacks for beverages but it also adds another textural element to the decor at the hearth. Garden stools like this one do come in many colours and some even have multiple colours or patterns.

Candles and candle sticks are a great way to add some height to your fireplace decor – I like the texture element that they add, too! Lighting candles mixes up the mood in your room. These candle sticks work so well with the farmhouse style – so another reason why I love these!

Greenery or florals always add life to any room – I personally like to keep it simple with one type of foliage in a vase or wreath – it looks so clean and adds modern simplicity. I have a magnolia wreath on my door and it works all summer and spring – I do switch it up for the fall and Christmas but I bring in my magnolia one and add it to either my fireplace or my gallery wall. I love the classic look of the magnolia wreath.

The fireplace isn’t necessarily in use everyday but it is in your space so be sure to space some time decorating it even when it is not the season for cozy nights by the fire.  The mantel (and hearth) are a perfect opportunity to showcase your style – the fireplace mantel isn’t just for TVs anymore!

  

SHOP FIREPLACE SHELVING AND DECOR….

0 comment
Share:
how-to-style-my-fireplace-mantelhow-to-style-my-fireplace-mantel

“This winter, my fireplace has been working over time!  I love snuggling up to my fireplace on cold winter days but my mantel is a mess. I want it to look good, can you send me some easy ideas to make my fireplace mantel pretty?”

Great question!  I think a lot of people have this problem.  The mantel should really highlight and bring focus to the fireplace not be an eye sore in the room.  We see this all the time when people use the mantel as a bit of a random collect-all area or a high ‘hiding’ space that the little ones can’t reach!

A mantel isn’t the place to pile up mismatched knick knacks or to leave bare, to gather dust…

It’s an eye-level stage of sorts, and a prime spot for showing off artful accents and collected treasures. Use the fireplace’s facade as a cue to your color palette.

Then select one large item to feature–a light or open sculptural piece is best because it won’t block the other objects. Pair it with a themed collection, like a few framed family photos or a grouping of different-sized glass vases. An oversized mirror or piece of art makes an ideal backdrop.

To keep it super simple but make an impact: follow this image –  even if this more traditional style isn’t to your taste, take the principles of layering and add a modern or country twist…..

Create 3 layers of décor

Always includes layers 1 and 2.

Layer 3 is optional depending on your decorating style.

1. Start with an anchor piece

– An oversized mirror is an easy option.  It let’s light bounce around the room and it works with any decor style.  We like a piece with an interesting frame.  This image shows a dark frame which give some contrast in this very light tone-on-tone room but you could add a bold art piece that would give you the same impact

2.  The weight and height. 

This image is demonstrating formal balance, that means you have two pieces (floral arrangements) that are the same colours, size, height, scale – identical and they are on each end of the mantel.  Creating a ‘frame’ for other, smaller display items.  These pieces could be vases, tall candles or candle sticks, sculptural items…it doesn’t matter just be sure to keep the height to the sides and make sure the items fit on the mantel (you don’t want anything to hang over)

3. (Optional) Filler.

Now this can get a bit tricky…you want to fill that open space under the mirror and between the flanking vases with decor pieces.  Notice here everything is shorter, so not to block the mirror but the pieces have an airy quality – the glass candle sticks, the white planters and the silver circle pieces aren’t heavy or bulky.  We see 3 main style of items and a few votive candles that are carefully displayed

Here’s an example of a mantel with layers 1 and 2 but not 3.  Again these principles of layering can be used in all decor styles, just replace the pieces with items in your taste and style.

This country style mantel uses all 3 layers. The pops of black help anchor the space and the textural elements with the mantels itself, the greenery and the woven chargers add some warmth and the display items compliment the decor style and they relate to one another.

It important to keep scale in mind not only as the objects relate to the fireplace, but also as they relate to one another.  All of the items should overlap each other so that they feel connected to each other and act as a cohesive unit.  Think of it as a step-down effect from the tallest point in the center of the mantel to the shortest point on the outside edges.  You want to take small, gradual steps without any jarring height decreases.

Do you have a TV on your mantel but you still want to create a beautiful styled mantel?  Yes, you can!

See this image, that’s a TV anchored by 2 beautiful vases with height, texture and a pop of bright yellow.  Yellow is an excellent choice here because it is the most intense colour on the colour wheel and that means your eyes can’t help but be drawn to it.  So when the TV isn’t on, these vases stand out and look beautiful

Once you’re comfortable with the process, think about what you might want to showcase on your mantel and where these items might fit within the layers mentioned above.  Consider using a mantel to showcase art,
collectibles, seasonal decor, fresh flowers or even family heirlooms.  Then sit back and admire your work!

SHOP DECOR FOR THE FIREPLACE…

3 comments
Share: