subject: Decorating A Fireplace Mantel [print this page] Your fireplace can be an interior decoration to your home, in addition to offering your living place a warm and homely feeling. All you need to do to extend it as a piece of adornment is to decorate it. The mantel can be a small showcase, which holds your collection of art pieces, some family souvenirs or other beautifying pieces. Even with small changes in colors and some additional accessories, you can make a huge difference in your fireplace mantel. Just follow some of these decorating tips and you will soon have your very own decorated mantel.
The Architectural Elements
Your mantel could be a very simple one or something that is built up very marvelously. How simple or magnificent it is, there is way that you can create an impact by adding some architectural designs. For instance, to draw the observer"s eyes up, you can add a plaster or wooden arch above that matches the mantel. You can also substitute existing architectural details with more appealing ones. Scrolled wrought iron handles or sconces are some examples. Those who desire a lighter touch can choose to bead a board trim down the mantel wall.
The Color is Important
The best tool that you have in hand for generating an eye-catching view on your fireplace mantel. White is the best for a crisp and clean theme. For the trendier ones, a gray mantel with blue undertones would be nice. For those who want to create a warm feel, rose based undertones would be perfect. To give your fireplace mantel a country cottage feel, antique white coupled with muted earth tones would be a good choice. The adventurous ones must go for something bolder like saffron, muted green or poppy orange for your fireplace mantel.
Choose the Right Art and Accessories
Make sure you choose some interesting accessories for your mantel. Family Photos, heirlooms, and travel souvenirs are the perfect examples. Make them the fundamental position of your mantel piece and surround them with less flashy pieces. Arrange them according to their subject, shade, substance, or place of origin. Uneven groupings can be even more interesting than the fully balanced ones.
These are just a few tips to make your fireplace mantel more attractive. Let your mantel display a part of your personality. Enjoy decorating it and it is definite that anyone who sees it will appreciate you for your work.
