Fireplaces often serve as a strong focal point in a room, allowing you to relax and read with friends or spend time reading a book. Like any other element in your home, your hearth needs to blend into your interior design aesthetic, and decorating your fireplace mantel accordingly is a great place to start. If you're not sure where to start, let these beautiful mantel decorating ideas ignite your creativity.
Coast details
Interior design by Jennifer Ribeck.Nicholas Sargent Photo
When decorating in a coastal setting, it makes sense to utilize nautical aesthetics. Here, Jennifer Ribeck Interior Design streamlines the fireplace mantel with two richly textured shells and large, bright green palm leaves in a clear vase.
black background
finishing
If you prefer darker tones, consider taking inspiration for your fireplace mantel design from this modern approach by Stephanie Purzycki, founder of The Finish. Perfect as an attractive art background. “The layered art represents her husband's talent as an artist, as well as the homeowner's fun and eclectic personality,” Purzycki says.
minimalist gray marble mantel
brittany umbridge
Keep mantel decorations to a minimum if the mantel itself is already the center of attention. This beautiful mantel design is generously filled with a narrow glass container of matches and a small round vase. The geometric mirror above adds texture and helps reflect light around the room.
vintage retro vibe
Bria Hummel interior, spaceship photography
This fireplace mantle decorating approach by Bria Hammel Interiors is the perfect blend of vintage and retro design elements. Upcycled wood sits atop painted white brick, and bold art shines brightly. Books and brass candlesticks give the room a natural warmth.
black and white fireplace mantel
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
This black and white fireplace mantel was conceived by Nadia Watts Interior Design. Her goal, it seems, was to keep things low-key. “She wanted the fireplace and art to stand out, so she kept the mantel simple and symmetrical,” she says. “Less can be more on the mantel, especially if there's art in the picture.”
driftwood decoration
Christina Phillips Interior Design, Lisa Russman Photography
If you're looking for a beachy decor aesthetic, look no further than beautiful, unadorned driftwood over your fireplace mantel. It fits perfectly in this beautiful room filled with neutral tones and loud pops of color by Christina Phillips Interior Design. “The fireplace's shiplap backdrop and watery blue art balance the adjacent floating ledge, all of which blend beautifully with the coastal feel of this family home,” says Phillips.
live plants on the mantel
deVOL kitchen
Keep your fireplace mantel decor simple by adding a few live plants to your shelves. Pair it with conversation-starting art that blends into your home's aesthetic.
A large bowl with swaying greenery
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
Watts says you can't go wrong with oversized greens in a large bowl. “Bringing plants outdoors creates an inviting aura to the fireplace area,” she says, adding that there's a reason people like to sit outside around a campfire. “Being outdoors in nature feels cozy and encourages conversation. Bringing plants into your indoor fire area can create the same feeling of being surrounded by nature.”
trio of plates
Provided by Alexander Parnell/The Nature Reserve
Whether you're decorating a rustic homestead hearth or expressing a contemporary or traditional aesthetic, don't discount vintage plates as art. This perfectly placed trio gives a play of pattern and gives a sense of history.
golden mirror, art and green
finishing
In this design by The Finish, an arched French mirror reflects light from a globe chandelier, making the space feel larger. “Layered artwork is personal and represents the homeowner's personality,” says Purzycki. “The touches of green combine with the green sofa to help create a cohesive, calming palette.”
faux fireplace mantel
Our food story, deVOL Kitchens
Even if your home doesn't have a real fireplace, it doesn't mean you have to completely abandon this charming addition. Source a vintage fireplace mantel and secure it to the wall, like the shabby-chic variation in this space designed by DeVOL Kitchens. This fireplace mantel decor features brass candlestick holders, tilted framed prints, and dried plants in rustic pots.
vintage art and accessories
deVOL kitchen
A carefully selected collection of framed vintage art rests above this simple fireplace mantle in a rustic dining space designed by deVOL Kitchens. Live plants, green glass bottles, and a bouquet of feathers add to the rustic vintage aesthetic.
Abstract art wooden frame with greenery
leslie mitchell
Natural wood finishes create an organic and warm look, especially when combined with exposed brick. Sitting above this fireplace mantel, an abstract painting, a glossy black vase filled with dried greenery, and a vintage mirror add an eclectic mix that's both cohesive and dynamic. .
unadorned gray marble fireplace
finishing
The mantel in this living room is clearly the star of the show, so Purzycki placed it center stage. “The custom marble was the focal point of the room and itself a modern sculptural expression, so no additional styling was needed,” she says. As they say, sometimes less is more.
rustic lodge fireplace mantel
Bria Hummel interior, spaceship photography
Incorporate a recycled wood mantel into your fireplace for a rustic feel. In the space above, a handsome moose with dramatic antlers takes center stage in this fireplace mantel design by Bria Hammel Interiors. You might also consider faux taxidermy or a dramatic wreath made from local plants.
wallpaper accent
deVOL kitchen
Wallpaper is an easy way to add instant texture and dimension to your fireplace. This design by DeVOL Kitchens features a shallow recess in the area above the mantel, making it the perfect canvas for a floral print accented with birds. The mantel itself leans into a rustic theme via wooden candlestick holders and carved acorns.
big and bold
Bria Hummel interior, spaceship photography
If you're looking for fireplace mantel decoration ideas that exude pure elegance, take inspiration from this giant marble hearth. The mantel takes center stage, with simple decor such as a large landscape painting and cream-colored china adding subtle flare.
tall candlestick and golden mirror
Bria Hummel interior, spaceship photography
In this sophisticated contemporary home with an academic feel, tall, slender brass sconces sit above the fireplace mantel next to a golden round mirror. Singular pieces of framed art add interest through texture and asymmetry.
Handsome vintage mantle frame with fresh flowers and art
Bria Hummel interior, spaceship photography
A fusion of luxurious textures brings this fireplace mantel to life. Elegant marble with subtle veining surrounds the fireplace, surrounded by opalescent herringbone tiles that catch the light. A vintage mantle frame with deep wood stain and beautiful carvings wraps it all up. The shelves are kept simple, with fresh flowers in clear vases and two framed pieces of art.
wonderful bust
Brian Wetzel Photo
Busts are never out of fashion. The key is to style it carefully. On the side of this fireplace mantel, with nothing else on it, sits a singular bust. Select the bust that suits you based on the color scheme. Here, the glossy black shape lends itself to a moody aesthetic.
Mixed textures and materials
Elizabeth Bolognino interiors
While it often makes sense to choose similar items and textures, doing the opposite is also an effective approach. This fireplace design by Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors features a stunning combination of soft cotton swab, ceramic, paper, and glass.
Calm tones and abstract art
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
This gray fireplace mantel has three mustard-colored organic vases on one side and a clear vase with tall green stems on the other. These make the perfect abstract art piece for a southwestern color scheme.
simple symmetry
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
Two oversized chinoiserie pots sit perfectly on either side of a large painting in this mantel design by Watts. “Simple symmetry often makes sense, such as when you want to focus on art,” Watts says. “Keep the presentation elegant and classic, yet bold. People like to over-decorate their mantels with lots of accessories and different objects, but I like to keep the surface items simple and focus on the art.” I prefer.”
stack of black and white photos
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
If you have vertical space to work with above your fireplace mantel, consider installing a triptych of nicely framed prints. This design by Watts favors black-and-white photography, and the minimalist mantel features several sculptural pieces.
greenery on wooden mantel
Jared Kuzier Photography
This extremely cozy fireplace features a large, beautifully stained wooden frame as the focal point. This design takes a symmetrical approach, with her two large ferns placed on either side paired with a small white vase.
Elegant marble with oversized decoration
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Susie Brenner Photography
This magnificent white marble fireplace speaks for itself. Watts focused on elegance with a beautiful oversized container filled with greenery and paired it with a colorful oil painting of flowers in an ornate gold frame.
Brass candlestick and big map
finishing
This teal and brick fireplace is beautiful in its own right, making the mantel the perfect backdrop for creative decor. “Offsetting the map was a strategic choice because homeowners needed to get to the access panels,” Purzycki says. However, you won't sweat. “We balanced the art with beautiful brass candlesticks.”
Wainscoting and bright art
Christina Phillips Interior Design, Ryan McDonald Photography
Add a little texture to your hearth by installing solid-colored wainscoting above the mantel. For a pop of color, add a beautiful oil painting or abstract art and keep shelf decorations to a minimum.
“Set against a putty-hued grass cloth backdrop, artist Susan Jacoby's oil painting takes center stage in this stately living room,” says Phillips. “The tooth detail below the mantel (and repeated along the crown) adds class to the space. The double Corinthian columns on either side of the fireplace opening and the single The Roman ship motif further enhances its grandeur.”
simple art and candlesticks
Nadia Watts Interior Design, Emily Minton Redfield
“Let your art shine with simple lights placed on either side. This is a very classic and elegant way to show off your art and bring some light and warmth into your space,” says Watts. “Layers of light bring comfort and cohesiveness to a space. Adding light to a mantel is a beautiful way to introduce a layer of light without taking up floor space.”
Single color mantel with pop floral pattern
Ricky Snyder
A monochromatic selection of neutral tones creates a light, airy, and simple effect in this living room design. A black vase with twisted metallic flowers adds the perfect amount of glitz.