How do you style a long fireplace for spring? Here, boards and signs in various styles take center stage while both sides are beautified with floral arrangements.
How Do You Style a Long Fireplace Mantel? (incl. 10 examples)
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Published: January 18, 2022
Updated: August 30, 2022
How Do You Style a Long Fireplace Mantel? (incl. 10 examples)
Written by
Zakhar Ivanisov
January 18, 2022
A long fireplace provides tons of opportunities for decoration to elevate the aesthetic appeal of your space. If you have one or planning to install one and would like to know how to style it, we have the answers for you.
So, how do you style a long fireplace? The two most essential aspects of styling a long fireplace mantel are balance and focal point.
With the variety of decors and ornaments that will be used to accessorize a long mantel, keeping it balanced makes it look more pulled together and complete. Visual balance can be done symmetrically or asymmetrically, depending on your preference and the items that you will be putting on the mantel. With symmetrical balance, you will need to identify a centerline and create a visual triangle, M composition, or a visual rectangle.
In a visual triangle, a large item, such as artwork or mirror will occupy the centerline. From there, you can work towards placing shorter items on both sides. This creates two diagonals, resembling the sides of a triangle. In a visual M, the center item is shorter than the rest while the taller decors are located on both ends of the mantel. A visual rectangle, on the other hand, incorporate items with the same height and scale. This can be translated to using frames or vases in equal sizes, giving the mantel a uniformed look.
In styling a fireplace with asymmetrical balance, one side has more elements that bring height and focus to that spot. Balance also means that aside from the mantel, you can also draw in some visual weight to the bottom of the fireplace by placing decors on the floor.
In any of the instances, you will need a central item referred to as the focal point. A focal piece serves as an anchor to pull all of the other decorative items together. A good rule of thumb in choosing a focal piece is for it to occupy at least half of the mantel itself.
Here are 10 ideas that you can explore on how to style a long fireplace.
03 of A Long Fireplace Mantel with Mirror
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Layer your mirror and turn it into the focal point of your long fireplace. In this example, the mirror is positioned vertically to fill up the height of the mantel. The addition of the wooden candle holders elevates its glamourous, antique vibe.
04 of Sophisticated Setup for the Fireplace TV
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How do you style a long fireplace with a TV wall? Turn the screen into the focal point and combine it with chic pieces that do not take away too much attention from the TV. The wicker and blanket basket on the floor are nice touches that echo the texture of the bricks while warmly contrasting its white color.
05 of Harvest Décor for Fall
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A long fireplace provides tons of opportunities for a gorgeous harvest décor setup during the autumn season. Here, the mantel features a lineup of white pumpkins in various sizes. The “Harvest Market” sign board on the wall is a great addition that brings a pop of color to the red bricks.
06 of A Merry Christmas Mantel
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The large Christmas-inspired sign serves as an anchor piece for the long fireplace and is made more festive with the addition of candles on brass holders, white stockings, and a lush garland. A large Christmas tree is placed on the right side making the whole setup balanced.
07 of Neutrals and Foliage
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How do you style a long fireplace that occupies most of the wall? The answer: style both the mantel and the fireplace floor to make it the focal point of your living space. This stunning fireside uses frames, signs, and leaf arrangements in small vases for the mantel. Because of the low height from the ledge to the ceiling, the mantel’s décors are horizontally oriented, creating a sense of proportion. On the floor, the play of heights is more apparent with the use of tall vases and stools.
08 of A Sentimental Quote
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A sentimental piece can bring tons of personality to your living space and can be used as the focal point to your mantel. This chic fireplace vignette incorporates a framed DIY sign, leaned casually on the mantel wall. With its ample dimensions, minimal accents are added, including thin candlesticks on one side and a leaf arrangement on a glass vase, on the other.
09 of Fall Farmhouse Mantel
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Here, everyday decors such as frame, mirror, and amber glass bottles are mixed with seasonal fall items. The addition of the pumpkins, dried botanicals, and a Fall-inspired décor sign brings rustic texture and autumn appeal.
10 of Frames and Foliage
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How do you style a long fireplace with a low ceiling height? Here, short and wide decorative frames are used to populate the mantel. The central piece is a long window frame, layered with a framed quote, and accented with a hanging foliage garland. On both sides, stylized boards and smaller framed pieces are placed to create a semi-uniformed appearance. Candlesticks and mason jars serve as accent pieces in between the frames, offering variety and added interest to the mantel.