topic Re: Decorating A Mantle in Home

Decorating A Mantle

pattypeep — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 00:39:44 GMT

I constantly face a challenge when decorating our mantle. Fuss and fuss and change and fuss. Nothing pleased my eye. I finally went on pinterest and looked up how to dress a mantle. I was going about it all wrong. Secret is heavy on both ends and filler in the middle. I had to hunt through the house for a few things, but I'm satisfied and next time I am out and about, I will look for some things that may suit me better.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 01:07:10 GMT

@pattypeep.....My mantle is very long. Years ago I thought I had to have it decorated end to end...but discovered that it looks much better when I decorate 1/2 of the mantle (center) and leave the far ends bare. Makes it much easier to decorate, looks better as well.

For me, usually in the center is the largest piece...mirror, candelabra, or I use a black metal piece that has 3 glass containers. I fill it with moss and short greens. and add a touch of color that coordinates with the room, and then work off either side coordinating things, but never have I done matchy, matchy. Have fun. I reall enjoy decorating my mantle for the seasons.

Christmas is the only time I decorate the entire length..

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Patz822 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 01:08:23 GMT

I have the same problem I’m okay for holidays but for day to day I am never

happy with how mine looks.. I have 2 large candlesticks on mine now at each

end. It’s really bare. Suggestions?

Re: Decorating A Mantle

sugar22 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 01:21:31 GMT

Photos???

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Silver Fox1 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 01:39:03 GMT

I'm in the same boat. I went to Pinterest also and couldn't find a thing that I liked. It seems that everything they showed had either a mirror on picture in the middle. Not my taste. It sure is a challenge and the worse part is I used to be so good at things like this. Right now I have three pillar candles, varying heights, on either end but the middle is bare.I Ugh . .

Re: Decorating A Mantle

GCR18 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 01:52:07 GMT

I have mantle issues too. LOL. My mantle is long enough, but the width is too narrow. I'd like to put something bigger on it, but I think it accentuates how narrow it is. If I put something that looks to fit widthwise, it looks undersized. At some point, I'd like to replace it.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

fthunt — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 02:21:33 GMT

Mantles should be easy - but they are not! Tall candlesticks don't work for me - so I have one QVC disney (what are they called) white short fat candle that comes on around 5:00 - reset when sunset changes. One average size picture works and I have/need two small BOSE TV speakers on outer ends. You could use something similar in size . I find not to overload the mantle with too much stuff - 5 or 6 pieces works on mine. Clean lines and one battery candle to light ithe spot up.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Snowpuppy — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 04:35:37 GMT

One look I like is adding a mantle scarf.

Old school, romantic...maybe even a bit shabby chic. Heritage Lace has them as well as seasonal looks. Most are polyester and wear well without the expense of real lace.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

beach-mom — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 04:51:04 GMT

I always have a challenge with ours too. We have a floor to ceiling stone fireplace, with uneven stones, so nothing can be hung on them. Our mantle is beautiful, but not that long and very thick. We also have an oak mantle clock I won't part with because it was a gift from my mom when we moved in here. Right now I have the clock in the middle, two family pictures on each side, and tall winter floral arrangements on each end. I have a "basket" vase that I put different florals in, and once in a while I use flameless candles or lanterns instead.

For Christmas in the past I've taken the clock down, but I miss it. I'm so used to sitting on the couch and looking at it. So this year I left it up, but I wasn't able to put as many decorations on as I usually do.

If anyone else has any other suggestions or ideas, I'd appreciate them! I'll also take your advice @pattypeep and do some research!

Re: Decorating A Mantle

panda1234 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 10:40:34 GMT

@Silver Fox1 wrote:
I'm in the same boat. I went to Pinterest also and couldn't find a thing that I liked. It seems that everything they showed had either a mirror on picture in the middle. Not my taste. It sure is a challenge and the worse part is I used to be so good at things like this. Right now I have three pillar candles, varying heights, on either end but the middle is bare.I Ugh . .

@Silver Fox1 Pinterest is a good place to start. I have two pillar candlesticks with candles on one end, different sizes and on timers. Other end matching vase with tall wheat to match the height of the candles. In the middle I bought a small wood tray from Etsy. In the fall I filled it with small velvet pumpkins. Right now I have three large orbitals in it placed in the center of the mantle.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

faeriemoon — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 14:54:29 GMT

I try to keep it asymmetrical and unpredictable.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:03:55 GMT

@silver fox....my fireplace is large fieldstone - floor to ceiling- the room is modern farmhouse, obviously I do not know your room style but have you tried using an open frame or old window pane and haning a wreath in the center? Depending on the size of your mantle, that may be all you need.

It's cold in my area today but I am thinking of taking down the after Christmas decor and starting spring decorating.....unless my dh thinks of something more interesting to do!

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Mominohio — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:09:29 GMT

My mantel decorating issues stem from the fact that I DON'T HAVE ONE ANYMORE (BOO HOO BOO HOO!)!

I love fireplaces and mantels, was raised with them, and in my first home, had my dream fireplace/mantel. I was never challenged and loved everything I did with it. I've been gone from that house for 25 years, and still pine away for that fireplace/mantel.

I do see a lot of pictures online of mantels and it is obvious people have no idea what to do with the space. So many are way over crowded and the scale of things for the space isn't right. The most often thing I see in real life mantel shots (as opposed to professional photographs from catalogs etc.) is an excess of too small pieces all lined up in a row.

I think the most challenging mantels are the very thin and long ones. You have no option but to place things in a straight line when they are very thin, so it is even more important to get height variations and space in between items, in that situation.

The other thing I'm always mindful of, when decorating a mantel, is what you hang on the wall above it, and how it is hung. So many people hang wall art/pictures/paintings way too high. They are almost on the ceiling. The size and height of anything hung above the mantel is really important in the look of the space too, and often overlooked.

For those lucky enough to still have mantels, enjoy them. I know I would be 'dressing' mine over and over for all the seasons and at every whim when I wanted a new look.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

jeanlake — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:27:50 GMT

Doing something different, although husband keeps thinking we should fill the mantel shelf with items. (He was raised in a home with tchotchkes trinkets) Mantel is empty but the big, framed art piece above the mantel pops now. Lower fireplace area has tall, candlesticks on each side. Classic and simple. I like it.

My sis-in-law randomly fills her mantel with favorite things, and that looks great, too.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

ValuSkr — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:43:57 GMT

@faeriemoon wrote:
I try to keep it asymmetrical and unpredictable.

I prefer some asymmetry too. For example, both candlesticks on the same side rather than one on each end (which looks like an altar).

Re: Decorating A Mantle

pattypeep — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:46:01 GMT

@beach-mom I'm not a good one to ask for ideas since I'm trying to learn as well. Pinterest is very helpful. What I did after looking at Pinterest (for the time being) was to add a large slender vase with a small neck on one end filled it with two large twigs with branches. On the other end I placed three candle holders (all off white) with candles in varying sizes. The one closest to the end is largest then they reduce down. In the middle I placed three stacks of antique books and placed orbs on them ~ varying heights. I learned two things so far ~ take advantage of the height on the ends and then smaller in the center. And ~ less is more. I was thinking about those with a really slender mantle that you could get the height by using pictures and leaning them against the wall. I'm a lover of still life. I plan to go "on the hunt" maybe next week and see what i can come up with. I loved the "wheat" that was displayed in a tall slender vase that was shown on Pinterest.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Bri369 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 15:46:20 GMT

I think mantles are hard to decorate because people put too many things on them in a row or they use the wrong scale.

I really dislike seeing a lot of "little" items up there.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 17:01:12 GMT

@Mominohio my mantle is long and thin, yes, difficult sometimes to decorate but I have learned that pedistals, candlesticks, etc, help to elevate things to different heights, for visual interest.....sorry you no longer have a mantle....mine is the focal part of our family room.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

halfpint1 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 17:08:55 GMT

Photos--clocks--cat and dog --small dolls and one tall vase.

Re: Decorating A Mantle

AuntG — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 22:52:15 GMT

When I got a sample magazine from the Fixer Upper lady on HGTV, she had some tips for a perfect mantle. My neighbor followed her instructions and it really made an impact. Although I can't recall the specifics, I think five items were suggested. Stacked items (like books) were shown. So was a picture (perhaps a map). Something from nature (like a plant) was shown too. Asymmetrical seems to give a more relaxed feel.