10 (+) Ideas for Decorating Your Fireplace Mantle

4:06:00 PM

This is the first time I've had a fireplace in an apartment! And of course it's right when we moved to sunny San Diego. There's a 90% chance we will never use it in the 1-2 years we live in our apartment, however, it's an opportunity to decorate a mantle so that's a plus! I've never had a mantle before, so at first I wasn't sure what to do. Pinterest to the rescue! A lot of Pinterest mantles look like they're piled with junk, but below are some mantles that inspired me. Our mantle blends in with our white walls and only like 3" deep so yeah... it's more like a tiny ledge than a mantle. We made due, though! I absolutely love the 42" white-washed wooden ship wheel we got as a wedding gift from our best man. I also love the wooden plaque from my matron of honor and the beautifully detailed handmade pottery from our Aunt Pat. The succulents and flowers taken from our wedding centerpieces are the perfect touch. The mirrored "J" was a $5 find from the Homegoods clearance section in Solana Beach. I love a good deal.

1. Mix in layers of candles + plants + mirrors+ artwork.

2. Mix in natural elements like stacked rocks or seashells. Notice they still kept the symmetry.

3. Keep it simple and modern with multiple variations of the same things all in a row, like these fern and hosta leaves in clear vases. The mirror adds an element of glamour!

4. Here is another cool way to have variations of the same items all in a row, this time in a more vintage, personal way. What a COOL way to display old photos!

5. You can easily DIY paint distressed stripes on a wooden palate to tie in your colors.

6. Use an old window as a backdrop for your knickknacks. Get a vintage feel with apothecary jars and antique metal signs.

7. Again, use an old window, but use the panes as a way to display letters or photos. Mix in some books and flowers. Check out afloral.com if you need some decorative flowers to mix in!

8. I love the use of this old driftwood. It's such a fresh take on a candelabra!

9. This is not your typical "nautical" theme! I love this take on a "beachy" inspired mantle that uses surfboard art, a glass fishing floater, and the vintage camera.

10. Who says you need a fireplace to have a mantle? This is a great example of a faux mantle-look that you can create with a chunky bookshelf. I think the light, airy look is a great take on fall decor. I appreciate that "fall decor" doesn't have to be dark, rich colors. The wheat spraying out of the silver metal vases is so fresh!

Here are more mantles that I love: