How to Decorate a Mantel

Your mantel is a canvas for your personal style—and a great place to show off prized keepsakes. These are our tips for curating it.

Striking the Right Balance

No matter the style—whether it’s a floating shelf or above a fireplace—your mantel is a chance to create a focal point that’s expressive of your unique style. Curating this space is all about balance—you don’t want to overcrowd the relatively small footprint, and too few flourishes could result in a disjointed look. Follow our pointers and you’ll be on your way to a display that’s eye-catching and balanced.

Our Go-To Tips

Variety is key when styling your mantel—curating a mix of items is essential to creating a comprehensive, collected look. Consider these building blocks.

Choose a focal point

This could be a large item—like a mirror, piece of artwork, or vase—or distinct item that you want to stand out. This will be the item around which everything else is arranged and balanced.

Opt for varying heights

Play with scale and choose items that vary in height, filling in the space and creating visual interest and balance.

Layer your items

Position items so that they overlap for a more dimensional look. E.g. place a small vase or candle holder in front of a framed item—the key is using the depth of the mantel as well as the length.

Let the light in

Add a light source—whether that’s taper candles, a lantern, or a small table lamp. It draws the eye in and creates a cozy feel.

add meaningful objects

This is your chance to show off items you’ve picked up in your travels or other prized finds. This is a great time to add a conversation piece into the mix.

Bring in an organic element

Adding a plant or some dried stems in a vase brings a lively feel in and creates eye-catching contrast.