15 Fireplace Ideas to Elevate Any Mantel Any Time of the Year

Who says art should be laid out side by side? The mantel here has layers of objects and framed art for a dimensional look and a more unexpected visual interest.

Let a beautifully decorated fireplace mantel do double duty by using it to display a mirror that also serves the purpose of bouncing natural light, seeming to enlarge the room.

This fireplace mantel touts the Virginia home’s own history by displaying bottles uncovered in a barn on the property. But any carefully curated cluster of found objects adds a dose of personality and unique flair to a mantel.

For the aesthetic value alone, you can’t beat a mix of organic materials, such as branches of foliage and dried oranges, and candlesticks. We suggest using battery operated candles so you only have to keep your eye on the main fire.

Designer Kelley Motschenbacher decked her mantel with collectibles that impart a sense of whimsy and total individuality. "I really like antiques because they’re often weird, nontraditional sizes that are ideal for smaller rooms," she told Country Living.

A pair of metal lamps placed on either side of a television above a fireplace mantel lends both an appealing sense of symmetry, and also a dose of functional lighting, to any room.

Give the whole room a highly personal look by hanging a monogram above the fireplace mantel — such as this oversized letter from a garden store in a Texas ranch.

Unexpected objects get a place of pride on this mantel, including figurines, flowers, seashells, and cups. And if you're looking for a place to store all of your books, an unused fireplace is ideal.

Let the mantel command the attention it deserves by setting it with brightly colored objects in various sizes and textures. Here, potted plants, art, and vases pop in coordinating hues of yellows, blues, and greens.

Mosaic sconces and potted greenery flank a wall-mounted antique horse in this example of how symmetry on a fireplace mantel can lend a tidy and soothing aesthetic to a room.

The mantel is an ideal place to inject a little humor into the home decor. For hers, stylist Sibella Court collected portraits of men and boys with mustaches — and for the ones who didn’t, she added a ‘stache for each, using ruffled paper fringe, a mask, and even a penciled-in version with a clown nose.

Potted plants displayed on a fireplace mantel can add a dose of freshness — not to mention a cheerful pop of color — to the room.

When it comes to a collection of vases, the more variety, the merrier. Mix shapes and sizes, and vary heights and colors, for an eye-catching result — whether filled with real or faux florals, or with nothing at all.

There’s no need at for a matching set here. Display pretty dishes above your mantel for a delightful look — and piling on patterns only adds to the charm.

A collection of art, of varying shapes and heights, adds dramatic visual interest to the room.