Mantel Decorating Ideas

First you get the mantel, then you realize it looks plain and boring and desperately needs decorating. You need a fireplace mantel that draws the attention of your guests and becomes the focal point of your room. But crafting a beautiful display can be tricky. Here are the top ideas we've found to help you with your plans.

If you have a collection of something the mantel is a great place to put it, but don't put everything there. Leave a few pieces out so you can change them periodically to keep it fresh.

Try tossing in something uniquely funny or humorous. Mix up your collection with unusual items that most wouldn't expect to see there.

Have an unequal number of items displayed.

Overlap items, stagger them front to back and side to side to avoid the dreaded boring row of items. It's almost impossible to get this wrong, although you should frequently step back and view your work from a distance since being right in front of it can cause you to lose your perspective. Get the opinion of a family member, too. You're striving for balance and eye popping beauty while avoiding uniform patterns.

If you are featuring a main item, usually something larger, don't block its view with lots of little things in front of it.

Place your items in loose triangle assortments to gain the balance and cohesiveness you're looking for.

Mix textures and features. Don't just have a mantel full of small figurines made of the same thing. Throw in a plant, picture, pot, or tall sculpture to provide height and depth as well as textural changes the eye must follow.

Change your display with the seasons or on a regular monthly pattern. Mix it up so you always have something fresh and exciting to show your guests.