How To Decorate Your Fireplace Mantle
Does your fireplace look a little dreary after the holidays? Need a little inspiration? We’ve found some great accessories for your mantle that we are spotlighting on our home page labeled Accessories Now. Click here to see all of them.
The things we most often use to decorate mantles are tall candlesticks, decorative boxes, and large porcelain vases. Unique art objects can add a lot of personality to the space.
You’ll want to vary the height of the objects and lead the eye upward with a larger picture of grouping of pictures.
The easiest way to arrange things on a fireplace mantle is symmetrically, but this photo shows an asymmetrical arrangement that we love.
So go ahead. Have some fun. Turn on the music, pull out things you have and try rearranging your mantle. Or go online and buy some of our picks for a fresh new look for your fireplace.
Product Spotlight: Cast Stone Fireplace Surrounds
in Family Rooms, Fireplaces, Living Rooms, Remodeling & Home Improvement Projects
Does your fireplace command attention? Is it a reflection of your style? If not, you may want to think about a new fireplace surround. One option to consider is a cast stone fireplace.
Katie and I recently had the pleasure of working with Millbrook Stone in San Jose, California. This picture is one of their cast limestone fireplaces.
When many people think of stone fireplaces, they think of big, bulky, old world designs that take up a lot of space. However, this picture shows that a stone fireplace can hug the wall and work in a smaller space. You can choose a smooth or a rough finish. Many colors are available or you can have the fireplace surround custom colored after it is installed in your home. You can choose more or less ornamentation and different styles including contemporary looks.
Ripping out your old fireplace and replacing it with cast stone would completely change the look of your room. There are many quality levels and online resources for stone fireplaces. Some are surprisingly affordable.
When shopping for a cast stone fireplace surround, you’ll need to know the size of your existing firebox opening and any constraints on the walls surrounding the fireplace. It’s a good idea to take a digital photo of your current fireplace wall for your reference and to share with a manufacturer when talking about their products.
Are you happy with your current fireplace surround or would you love to do something different? Leave a comment below.
Contest Extended!
We’re so excited! The contest submissions are coming in and they are great! But we want more of you to be able to participate so we are extending our deadline to January 20th.
Here are some of the great design dilemmas you have sent us for this contest:
~How can I move a laundry area inside without giving up too much space and what are some ideas on where to put it?
What are some things I should be thinking about when getting my grandmother’s house ready to rent?
What size sofa table should I be looking for to balance an over-sized sectional?
What color should I paint my living room when it adjoins the dining room?
How should I decorate a kids’ bathroom when the adjoining rooms are decorated very differently?
My mantle looks drab after the holidays. What can I do to make it look better?
Entering the contest is so easy.
Just write a paragraph about your design dilemma and post it on your Facebook page with a link back to
ttp://askdecor.com/2011/01/contest-to-solve-your-design-dilemma/. Then email Nancy@AskDecor.com with your entry.
Not a Facebook user? Not a problem–just email your entry to Nancy@AskDecor.com.
We will choose three entries at random. You’ll be contacted right away to schedule your session.
You’ll win a half hour long one-on-one Designer Advice session. In this session, we will determine 3 design solutions for your design dilemma and provide personalized recommendations for your space.
It’s so easy! Enter now and tell all your friends!
We can’t wait to read your design dilemma.
Contest To Solve Your Design Dilemma
What’s holding you back from making changes in your home to make it your perfect retreat from the chaotic world? We’d like to help by giving you designer advice on how to solve your design dilemmas and we’ve created a contest to do just that!
What You Will Win:
A half hour long one-on-one Designer Advice session. In this session, we will determine 3 design solutions for your design dilemma and provide personalized recommendations for your space.
How To Win:
Write a paragraph about your design dilemma and post it on your Facebook page with a link back to http://askdecor.com/2011/01/contest-to-solve-your-design-dilemma/. Then email Nancy@AskDecor.com with your entry. OR just email your entry to Nancy@AskDecor.com.
Contest Rules:
Three entries will be chosen at random on January 15, 2011. You’ll be contacted right away to schedule your session.
Like askDECOR on Facebook 
Follow askDECOR on Twitter