Styling a mantelpiece, in theory, is an easy task – get lots of lovely ornaments, photo frames, a vase or two and showcase them all directly under some form of statement piece.
But putting theories into practice can often lead to problems… In terms of mantelpiece décor; you want to get the balance right and create an interesting space that isn’t too interesting, i.e.. overwhelming. And it is all too easy to fall into the trap of creating a somewhat busy display of items that end up looking more like clutter as opposed to décor.
We’ve popped below a few tips and tricks that will hopefully help to keep you on track when dressing this ever important focal point of your space.
#1: Start from the centre and move outwards
Creating a focal point to your space will give you a foundation to build upon. By starting on the outer edges, by the time you reach the middle you might have gotten slightly lost and run out of room for the star of your mantelpiece show! Even if you plan on popping more on the edges of your fireplace, still start in the middle and build outwards – it will mean you have put lots of thought into all of the space available.
#2: Create an illusion
Symmetry is everything when putting together any focal point of a room. And even if your taste is somewhat verging on the side of eclectic, as opposed to minimalistic, you can still balance your items in an orderly fashion that results in an organised chaos. Think about the heights of your items and how you can balance them out on the left and the right side of your area.
#3: Think outside of the box
Don’t get stuck in a rut before you even start. When decorating, we can often struggle to think outside of the box as our memories are clouded by hundreds of generic examples that we have come across. Photo walls, mirror collages, unusual replacements for tiles and alternatives to your average vase, are just a few quirky ideas that will help make your fireplace look stylishly unique.
#4: Don’t forget the finishing touches!
Our fourth and final mantelpiece décor tip is to not be afraid to show some personality, decorations are lovely and mirrors may make a room much brighter… But photos of your loved ones, special occasions and maybe the odd ornament that has been in the family for years, will help make your living room very homely!
