A mantel is often the focal point of its room, so it can be the perfect place to set the tone and ambiance of your interior. With this incredible amount of potential, you may need some tips and tricks for decoration. Luckily, with these 10 ideas on how to decorate an inviting mantel, yours will bring warmth, dimension, and personality into the room.

1.  Use Seasonal Decor

As the season changes, so should your mantelpiece. Swap out the fresh flowers of spring and summer for some fall foliage, and then update the fall foliage for holiday decorations when the new season arrives. New décor on the mantelpiece will be an excellent conversation starter and will keep your living area revitalized throughout the year.

2. Add a Personal Touch

The perfect mantelpiece always displays a personal flair. Hang holiday cards you received during the season or stage with sentimental decorations your family has gathered or created throughout the years. Your personal touch should represent  you and/or your family to truly be both unique and memorable.

3. Create Space with a Mirror

Open up the entire room by adding a large mirror over your mantelpiece. This will create the illusion of extra space and light to your room’s interior. You can hang the mirror, rest it on top, or hang several different, smaller mirrors to create a chic, open, and inviting space.

4. Use Your Mantelpiece as a Bookcase

The mantelpiece can be just as practical as it is decorative. Use your mantel as a shelf, decrease clutter, and turn your reading material into décor at the same time. Decorative books, classic novels, magazines, and even newspapers can add a sense of intelligence, art, and charm to the room.

5. Display Your Loved Ones

Show off the smiles of the people who make your house a home. The mantelpiece is an excellent place to display photos of loved ones. For an upgrade in style, use different shapes and sizes for photo frames to add dimension.

6. Use Frames for More than Photos

Frames can be used to display words of inspiration, valuable heirlooms, and artwork. Frames can even be left empty for a modern and innovative look. If you have more than one frame on your mantelpiece, opt for interesting frame styles to add character and depth. An old wooden window frame is a unique idea that will add humble, cozy character into your living area.

7. Display Earthy Elements with Greenery

The mantelpiece is a perfect place to embrace the earthy elements of the outdoors. Add some potted plants to your mantelpiece for a spark of color and a natural environment.

8. Use the Fireplace as Inspiration

If your mantel is above a fireplace, you’ll need firewood. For decoration, you can neatly stack the wood on your mantelpiece to turn it into a decoration while being stored. You can also use a decorative bucket to store the tree branches to combine functionality with style.

9. Change up the Texture for Added Dimension

Diversity is key when decorating a fairly small area. So change up the textures on the mantelpiece for added dimension, from frames to art to runners, and more. To do this, find fabrics and materials that pair well together whether in color, shape, size, or other.

10. Use Layers to Add Interest

Since a mantelpiece is fairly narrow, it can be tempting to neatly align all your decorative elements. However, try stacking and layering the items. This will add interest and create a more unique and engaging style for guests to absorb.

Although the mantel is a small portion of the room, it holds a plethora of power. Make use of the valuable space and create the inviting ambiance you desire with these unique decorative tips.

Reprinted from www.bhgrelife.com

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