Your fireplace is a perfect space to add some ambiance and style, with some creative decorating. Here are our tips to help you do just that!
Style
Fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing they have in common is that they have a center column or span of brick and stone. When choosing your fireplace mantel or trim, go with something at least as tall as this column so it won’t visually be dwarfed by the opening.
The goal is to give your fireplace some visual height. So, look for items that span at least 3 feet, and try to avoid items that are under 1 foot tall. In addition, you can use accessories like mantelpieces and brackets in order to add visual height to smaller media centers. Also, the height of your fireplace does change depending on the room it’s in. You want something that will be visible from across a room so that all guests can easily see it.
Style of Decor
There are two main styles of decor to choose from when styling your fireplace: Traditional and Contemporary.
Traditional: Traditional decor is anything that fits into the “timeless” category, where it doesn’t seem like the design is out-of-date or didn’t come from a specified time frame. One popular item in this style is a mantle. It is a flat ledge that adds visual height and is typically placed above the fireplace opening. Mantles can be made out of a variety of materials like wood, stone, and marble. They are often carved or veneered with patterns. Some mantles are integrated into the design of the fireplace itself, while others are separate items that can be added to any fireplace style.
Other popular traditional decor includes tables next to the fireplace (often called “mantel tables”), family photographs/pictures, and framed mirrors.
If you are looking for style and traditional decor for your fireplace or mantel, choose items that have a timeless feel to them!
