Fireplace Décor

Fireplace decorating is more than just what you put on your mantel. It’s the culmination of your personal style that pulls your look together. A natural focal point because of its size and usually centrally-located position, the mantel and surrounds are an important place to start when you consider your décor. Since the mantel is at eye-level, it’s natural that its decoration draws attention first. Family pictures, beautiful objects, heirlooms and things dear to the heart will make the truest statement about your home.
Fireplace Decorating

Step back and see how your mantel fits into your fireplace decorating project. Does it compliment or compete with the fireplace? What color is the mantel? Does it draw the eye with an attractive, clean style and finish? If not, see what other mantels might fit better.

Artwork is always striking above your fireplace, so include unique displays like a single, bold piece in a beautiful frame, or try clustering smaller paintings or prints in asymmetrical groups for contemporary, interesting impact. You can also group items of similar shape or color on your mantel for a whimsical look, again trying differently symmetrical configurations since an aspect of incongruity is pleasing to the eye.

Now move to the hearth, the next area of your fireplace decorating project. Balance is the name of the game when it comes to your hearth, so try a potted plant or topiary on either side of your fireplace opening. Beautifully polished andirons also create a classic, balanced tableau. If your mantel displays candles, sculptures or vases in equal measure on each side, try shaking up the scene on your hearth with a stunning set of fireplace tools at one end, and a gleaming wood holder at the other. Those who prefer a sleek, bare look can try a simple, striking clock or a wreath hung over the mantel.

Fireplace decorating is important even if you don’t use your fireplace regularly. Placing a candelabra inside your empty fireplace adds a touch of personality and gives your fireplace a polished look. Seasonal variations like a cornucopia in the fall, a basket of pine cones in the winter, flower arrangements in the spring and even a collection of sea shells and driftwood in the summer make your fireplace a living part of your home.

As you move to the end of your decorating project, don’t forget form when thinking function. The very finish of your fireplace tool set, wood holder, andirons and firebacks pull together your complete look. If your living room style is understated and elegant, polished brass pieces always look smart. If you have a more casual décor, copper, bronze and even black iron tools look stylish, not fussy. More contemporary? Nothing says ‘modern’ quite like brushed pewter. Underscore your preference in finishes by choosing a matching fireplace screen, or the perfectly brilliant pair of glass fireplace doors, which work well for masonry, prefabricated and firebox insert fireplaces.

Fireplace decorating is the quickest, easiest way to pull together a total look for any room. If you create a warm, beautiful and inviting environment, you’ll find your fireplace becomes a focal point around which your family can’t wait to gather.

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