If you’re a regular reader of mine, you’ll know that I love writing about color/design suggestions for our current season, although they can often be used all year long. As I write this piece, we’re in mid-late summer; however, it’s never too late to embrace this time of year and make the best of it in creative ways that will last into the fall.
With this article, I wanted to discuss an area of the home often overlooked and left alone for most of the year, mainly the spring, summer, and early fall. Of course, I’m talking about the fireplace and fireplace mantle! Yes, I often hear questions about fireplace mantle decor, such as, “Amy, how do you outfit your fireplace in the summer? Do you do anything at all?” So, let’s cover some design strategies to implement so your mantle doesn’t sit dusty and ignored while waiting for the December holidays to arrive!
Biophilic interior design focuses on connecting people with nature. It helps to improve well-being and create a sense of calm and tranquility in indoor spaces that would otherwise lack such harmony. By incorporating biophilic elements into your mantle decor, you can bring some spring/summer wonder indoors!
Try using naturally occurring materials such as wood, stone, or plants – with plants being the focus. Arrange potted plants or fresh wildflowers on either side of the mantle to bring a hint of greenery into your living space. If you live by the seaside, it’s a perfect opportunity to use items that wash upon the shore, such as driftwood and sea glass, as pieces to coincide with plants scattered across the mantle.
Mirrors are a versatile (and underused) decor element that can add something special to your fireplace mantle. During the warmer months, using a large mirror as the centerpiece above the mantle reflects natural light and creates a sense of spaciousness in the room. Natural illumination directly from the sun will cast light around your whole room—what’s better than that!?
If larger mirrors aren’t your thing, you can place smaller decorative mirrors on the mantle to add depth and dimension to the display, even if they don’t cast much light across the space. Don’t forget to choose mirrors with interesting frames or shapes to complement your room’s decor.
Artwork is a great way to infuse your fireplace mantle with personality and style. If you’re like me, you’ve got plenty of artwork to choose from and often can’t display it all at once! The shifting seasons allow us to feature artwork that best suits the time of year.
During the spring and summer months, try displaying artwork that celebrates the season with vibrant, loud colors, botanical motifs, or scenes of nature. You can hang a large piece of artwork above the mantle or lean smaller pieces against the wall for a less-involved installation. Mix and match different types of artwork, such as paintings, prints, photographs, and even postcards, to create a dynamic scene to tell your story!
Sculptures are another fantastic way to decorate your fireplace mantle and create a visual story. Whether modern, traditional, or eclectic, sculptures made from metal, glass, or ceramic can add texture and dimension to space and create focal points that would not exist otherwise.
I have found some beautiful sculptures in museum shops, where the replicas are just as beautiful as the original pieces! Another suggestion is to explore antique or vintage shops for something unusual that catches your eye. A fireplace mantle is also a great place for collections, a group of vintage clocks (that is what is on my mantle), or even a collection of vases, candles or dried flowers. Try using pieces of retro pop art if you’re feeling funky, or even antique woodworking or farming tools can look great and add an old-fashioned farmhouse summery feel to your space – the point is to get creative; there is a wide range of create ways of decorating your mantle, have fun with it and you’ll love the result!
As with all my writings and color specialist suggestions, I want you to feel inspired and find motivation to decorate spaces in the home that often go neglected for one reason or another. Just because Santa isn’t coming down the chimney anytime soon doesn’t mean you should be waiting to decorate your mantle! Your fireplace mantle doesn’t need to sit flat and dusty; it’s just waiting for you to make your statement and tell your own visual story!!
So tell me, do you change your fireplace mantle decor from season to season? What do you do for the warmer months of the year? Please share your thoughts and suggestions with us, fellow color experts and design enthusiasts!
