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Professional Decorating Tips For Fireplace
Mantels
By: David S
Although fireplace mantels
were originally used for cooking and heating, contemporary mantels have become
the key focal point for setting the decorative style and atmosphere of a room. You
can utilize simple accessories to enhance the room, or go all out with themed
holiday decorations to transform the entire space for any special occasion.
Paying attention to basic
design elements such as color, texture, balance, and size will help pull your
decorations together into a beautiful display.
Getting Started
Professional designers
often start decorating projects by jotting down ideas for the mood they’d like
to create, and then collect an assortment of items to emphasize that style. They
might not use everything they’ve found, but having things on hand means they
can play with different combinations until hitting on the best design.
Spend some time
considering how you’d like the type of event you’ll be hosting. Are you having
a flashy black tie cocktail party, or a relaxing springtime brunch? Maybe you’d
just like to find new ways to freshen up the everyday look of a room? Either
way, remember that different combinations of colors as well as the style
(Victorian, modern, retro, country) of items you use will affect the overall
mood of your room.
Choosing a Backdrop
To begin, you’ll want to
select an item to be the focal point of the display. Often this will be a
painting or wall hanging that is placed on the wall just above the mantel, or
even resting on the mantel. You can even change the focal point to match the
occasion or season.
If you’d rather group
several paintings together you’ll want to only use a few items on the mantel
itself to keep things from being overwhelming. The larger the item or grouping
the more attention it will draw. A mirror is always a good choice to use as a
large backdrop. It not only helps make the room feel larger, but reflects and
draws attention to the other pieces you’ve placed on your mantel.
Don’t forget to light your
backdrop. Whether you use candles or install spot lighting, you’ll want to make
sure that the focal point isn’t lost in the shadows.
Placement & Shape
The next step is to create
a ‘path’ for the eye to follow, moving from the main focal point down and
across the mantel. By using a variety of heights and sizes, and even texture,
you can develop an interesting landscape that commands attention.
You can create a
symmetrical design by centering one item on or above the mantel, and surround
it with a series of identical items on either side. Each half of the mantel is
a mirror image of the other. You can also layer items by height, with shorter
items overlapping larger pieces. This style is often used to create a sense of
formality.
Asymmetrical designs are
usually the most popular, as they create a sense of motion by having different
items on each side of the mantle. The key to this form is to keep the weight of
items balanced visually. For instance you might have two larger objects on one
end of the mantel, with a grouping of five small objects on the other end.
A radial design is created
by placing objects around a central. The center item, regardless of shape, acts
as an anchor. This kind of arrangement is best done similar to a symmetrical
format; otherwise it can become too busy.
A layered look with lots
of pieces and filler (such as greenery or garlands) works well for fall and
winter, but is often too heavy for other seasons. One exception might be if
your mantel is located in a large banquet or great room with high ceilings,
otherwise keep things minimal by leaving breathing space between items.
Wrapping It Up
Whatever design style you
select always be sure to follow safety precautions when using the fireplace. Do
not place any items too close to the hearth itself, and use a protective screen
to prevent ignition from sparks.
If you don’t actually use
your fireplace that often try placing decorations below in addition to on the
mantel. You certainly wouldn’t want a black void to detract from your display.
A layered arrangement of white candles and greenery can be stunning for any
occasion, but you could also do something as simple as a stack birch logs.
Another alternative is to cover the hearth with a painted fireplace screen.
There are hundreds of
options to choose from when decorating your mantel, but the same basic
principles always apply. Using these designer techniques can help turn a ho-hum
room into a memorable space that can easily be changed for any type of occasion.
About the author: Kristene
Markert is a writer and consultant for http://MissionStone.com; a
manufacturer of custom cast stone fireplace mantels that have been featured on
numerous home remodeling tv shows.
Article Source: www.isnare.com
