Home Interior Decorating :: Fireplace Mantle

Fireplace Mantle: A Mantle For Every Fireplace

A fireplace mantle is an absolute must-have for anyone who wants his or her fireplace to look good. Many of today's fireplaces are free-standing units - meaning there is no need for a chimney. Instead, the unit has gas logs and can be placed in any room at all, which is a huge advantage.

(1) A fireplace mantle you buy must match your fireplace style! A rustic fireplace rarely goes with colonial-style mantle. But the matching style does not mean that they must be of the same color although often (usually) they are the same.

(2) Check if a fireplace mantle you buy will be strong enough to support all things you intend to put on it. It isn’t usually a problem, but there are some very delicate fireplace mantles that won’t support much.

(3) As you can spend almost indefinite amount of money on a fireplace mantle, decide how much money you have to spend before you go shopping.

(4) Be aware that some mantles are suitable for custom uses, like the fireplace below that fits into a corner space.

Some mantles, of course, are so untraditional that we might not even think of them that way.

Fireplace mantle decorations:

When you have your fireplace mantle, installation isn’t a big problem. Troubles begin when you start decorating it. A lot depends on your room and mantle’s style, but there are a few very common mistakes you should avoid.

(1) Never put too many things on your fireplace mantle. It will look crowded and the decorative effects of the items you put there will be greatly reduced.

(2) Most fireplaces are extremely safe now, but you should avoid putting anything that is easily flammable on your fireplace mantle. Wood is ok, but not paper.

(3) Again, fireplace mantle’s decorations should match the style of a fireplace and a mantle. Contrasts don’t usually look good.

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