How to dress a fireplace
Fireplaces are quintessential to millions of UK homes.
Whether powered by gas or electricity, modern fires use energy-efficient technology to warm your house. There are plenty of gas fires and electric stoves on the market, each with differing heat outputs for large, small and medium-sized rooms.
But ultimately, a fireplace is more than just a heater. Fires are a key architectural design element that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
They’re great for highlighting your home’s aesthetic: fires set the stage, drawing guests’ eyes straight towards its flames. If you’re looking to unlock your room’s design potential, knowing how to dress a fireplace mantel is the key.
1. Keep things simple
Sometimes, it’s best to let your fireplace speak for itself.
If you’ve chosen an ornate or intricate design, why not simplify your mantle? Select a few of your favourite knickknacks, like a snowglobe, candle or vase, and accentuate your fire’s best features without overwhelming them.
2. Add a mirror
Mirrors are magic, especially in small rooms.
By reflecting natural and artificial light, they create the illusion of space. To achieve this, you can either position one large mirror or several small ones above your mantle.
Not only will this serve as a piece of visual art, but it’s practical! However, it’s important to choose a mirror that’s proportionate to your fire. A mirror that’s too large may be distracting and take focus away from your beautiful fire.
3. Get cosy with candles
With one source of light coming from your fire, why not add another dimension? Decorating your fireplace mantle with varying types of candles is a timeless trick.
Mix and match pillar candles with tealights, glass candles of different colours: the possibilities are endless. Stick with a consistent palette, or get creative with multiple shades of bright blues, greens and reds.
4. Decorate with artwork
A fireplace mantle is the perfect way to showcase your favourite art.
Whether you’re a long-time collector of high-end pieces or prefer charity shop prints, placing them above your fire can be a great way to display them. Our advice is: don’t hesitate to combine mediums!
Arrange a mix of framed paintings, photographs, and even sculptures or trinkets. Such a combination can create an eclectic, personalised look that reflects your interests.
5. Create a media wall
If you have an electric fire, media walls are an excellent way to keep all your cables, game consoles and entertainment systems all in one place. Best of all, you can enjoy your fire as you watch!
Crafting a media wall takes careful planning and may even require help from a professional electrician or builder. However, once they’re finished, they’re an excellent way to draw focus towards your fire and save space in a small room.
Before building your media wall, you must have the electric fire appliance first, as the media wall has to be built around the electric fire.
6. Personalise with pictures
Adorn your mantle with those you love the most. Print out some pictures of your family and closest friends in varying sizes and choose some quirky frames to match.
Stick with a consistent theme, like warm oak frames, mirrored stands, or thin, black holders. If you’re someone who likes finding bargains, why not shop around for a diverse collection of frames?
Choose black and white photographs, coloured or an interesting mix of both. What’s important is that you decorate your fireplace with your most cherished memories.
7. Mix and match ornaments
As time goes by, we often collect ornaments along the way.
Whether it’s a cinema ticket for your favourite film or a holiday souvenir, learning how to dress a fireplace often involves a sentimental touch.
Gather your favourite ornaments: for a modern, dynamic look, arrange them asymmetrically. Group items of different shapes and sizes at one end of the mantel, leaving the other end more open?.
Or, if you prefer structure, do the opposite! Arrange your items in matching colour groups for a more organised look.
8. Add seasonal decorations
A surefire way to make your mantle a hit all year round is to decorate seasonally.
Your fireplace is likely the focal point of the room, making it the perfect place to showcase all your favourite tchotchkes.
In spring, focus on florals, pastels and bright colours. Display a bouquet of summer flowers on your mantel, and in autumn, focus on warmer tones.
Caramel orange and olive green candles, leaf garlands, or even miniature pumpkins will make your fireplace feel cosy. In winter, dress up your fireplace with holiday garlands.
9. Incorporate greenery!
Take your mantel to new heights with plants! Greenery is an excellent compliment to any fireplace, whether matte black, chromatic or wood-effect.
For a natural touch, consider adding plants like eucalyptus, snake plants, succulents, or garlands above the hearth. They can be fake or real (if you have a green thumb!), but you should always be mindful of their growth to avoid any fire hazards.
Choose potted plants, like succulents or cacti, for an understated look. Or, if you’re not ready to commit to real plants, drape fake ivy from your mantle ledge.
Choose Fires2U for your new fireplace!
Investing in a new fireplace can be exciting, but the fun doesn’t end at delivery.
With our high-efficiency gas fires and cost-effective electric fires, you can enjoy incredible fires all year round. They’re the perfect addition to your lounge, living room or extension and are a great way to expand your home’s decorative possibilities.
Make a fireplace your own with our tips and get the most out of your purchase all year round.
