Fire Up Your Mantel

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While a coffee table is the centerpiece of your living room, the fireplace is often the focal point.  It draws your guests’ eyes upward. And while they are looking up there, you want to give them something visually appealing to look at.

The properties of a beautiful fireplace mantel are similar to those of the coffee table, but you are dealing with a narrower, taller space and it can be tricky. There are a few secrets to style your fireplace mantel to make it look like a professional helped you.

Three Plus One

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Here you want the accessories on your fireplace to make the eye travel up and down as much as possible. To further explain this I am going to quote FireplaceMall.com:

For the “Three” part of the “Three Plus One” scheme, select three related, similar objects and place them on one side of your fireplace mantel. The three objects should not be of identical height, but, then again, they shouldn’t vary too much in size.

Don’t cram the three objects all the way to the left or right end of the fireplace mantel. Leave a bit of space after the last object so the end of the fireplace mantel serves as an edging for your grouping.

For the “One” part of the “Three Plus One” trick, select a large object and place it on the other end of your fireplace mantel. As a rule of thumb, this singular object should be either about twice as tall as the threesome of objects or have the “visual mass” of the three objects. If you go with a tall object, it should not be as tall as the top of your mirror or painting. Again, don’t push the object all the way to the very end of the mantel.

Visual Triangle

This is a symmetrical option that uses your items to create a triangle look. Start with one large object in the middle – possibly the artwork you have hung or have leaning on the wall – and place pairs of accessories on either side. The pairs do not necessarily have to be a identical items, just related.

Another way to produce a visual triangle can be to start with the large center item. Then on one side choose something like candles in varying heights. The other side should be one single object that adds weight, like a large vase. Add flowers or branches to give that piece a little height. Then incorporate some smaller items using layers – stagger items of different sizes and heights in front of each other. Like this:

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Here are some more tips to make sure your mantel is fabulous:

• Do not just line up everything like little soldiers. Layering is a great technique. And it is also perfectly fine to have a large space in between items.
• Some great ideas to add height to your mantel – topiary, tall vase, candlestick, sculpture or tall clock.
• Painting a mantel is a great way to add color and ensure your fireplace is a focal point of the room.

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• Remember that really small items get lost on mantels.
• Hung art should be at least 1/3 the height of the chimney breast.
• If you use books as part of your display, it is best to use hardcovers and remove the dust jackets.
• Fireplace mantels are a great place to display collections, just don’t go crazy.
• To make a single, grand statement, you can use one amazing piece.   Make sure this piece is 2/3 the size of mantel or it will look too small.
• Bring the outdoors in and add some greenery in nice vases.
• “When in doubt, arrange in threes”, advises CasaSugar.
• Another good combination to ensure success – remember to incorporate color, symmetry and balance.

The fireplace is the heart of the home. And the mantel is where you can get creative and showcase some of the things you love and your style. Remember, if you love it then it is not wrong. Unless your fireplace mantel houses a television…

Is your fireplace mantel in the need of a makeover? Or is it perfect? We’d love to read your comments below either way. Even if you disagree with our TV comment.

Genna graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with an English degree and realized she can do one of two things - teach or write. She opted to write, which means she is poor. Luckily her husband is not. She lives in Dallas with him, the world's bossiest five-year old and cutest dog. She loves reading, writing, technology, and being organized. She hates mushrooms and believes that if you put the scissors back in the same place every time, you'll never lose them..

Genna Corwin

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