How to Put Items on Your Fireplace Mantel Step-by-Step

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Making sure the fireplace mantel looks its best can be a daunting task. The fireplace is a central point in our living spaces and its design should reflect your style and interests. A well-appointed mantel adds personality to any space and provides an opportunity to show off your knick-knacks, books, memories, and art pieces in the form of detailed displays.

Fortunately, you don’t need tons of skills to pull it all together; follow this step by step guide for creating an eye grabbing mantelscape that suits your individual style:

Step 1: Choose your base material. Before adding items to the mantel itself – think shells, antlers or pottery pieces – start with a focal point material as your base. This could include heavy fabric like canvas or suede hung on either side of the firebox, airy fabric like chiffon draping across one end of the shelf in loose folds or bold patterned wallpaper cut in sizes (an inch or two wider than you need) to wrap around parts of the mantel’s trim work. For those who prefer something three dimensional and sculptural, look towards lightweight boxes covered with scraps of fabric found at a thrift store and fixed atop the shelf – use felt pads to keep surfaces scratch-free!

Step 2: Layout height differentials. Incorporating different heights onto your mantelscape adds visual interest without taking up too much visual ground space — decorate with items like ladders, mirrorsand artwork placed vertically amid highlights such as tall vases, sculptures and stacks of books that sit parallel to one another at varying heights to create more surface area while giving dimensionality back into the scene. To avoid a jumbled mess when selecting objects for uneven levels set them in ascending order from left to right adding only what fits comfortably within view leaving just enough breathing room so nothing looks crowded or out of place– even if it would otherwise seem perfect!

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