A fireplace mantel has a specific kind of power due to the fact that a fireplace mantel typicaly sits at eye level in the room where people gather. Additionally, a fireplace mantel is suppose to hold the objects that you deem to be the most important in your home. Finally, a fireplace mantel can help to set the tones for the remaining objects and décor items that is located around the mantel itself.
When you decide to decorate your mantel in a rustic fashion, you are essentially creating an area that represent all of the generations that live in your home. Additionally, the best mantel decorations for a rustic home will look both lived in and intentional, which is one of the reasons that rustic fireplace mantels will never go out of fashions. The secret to creating an appealing decorative mantel that represent a rustic home is to focus on elements of your décor that represent texture, history and the outdoors in your home.
By removing any conflicting decorative element from your mantel, and by choosing only the most useful decorative items for your mantel, your mantel will begin to tell the story of your home. Each of the ideas that are described below will help to give you a starting point in decorating your mantel effectly.
Beautiful Ways To Decorate Your Rustic Mantel
1. Reclaimed Wood Beam
One of the best ways to decorate your mantel is to use a reclaimed wood beam.
The best type of wood to use for your mantel will have elements like saw marks, nail holes, or may even be from an old barn rafters or warehouse joist. The various textures of the reclaimed wood will allow your mantel decorations to not necessarily rely upon as many decorative elements as other. Your reclaimed wood can remain bare, or it can include a single decorative object centered upon the reclaimed wood.
Additionally, using reclaimed wood for your mantel is useful for homes that has low ceilings. However, you must ensure that the reclaimed wood beam is properly support as well as properly sealed in order to avoid shedding dust into the fireplace when you light a fire.
2. Antique Books
Another of the best decorative elements to include on your mantel is antique book.
These books can be arranged in towers upon the mantel of varying height and orientations. Additionally, placing a pair of reading glasses or a dried leaf upon one of these books will make it appear as though the book is being read. Antiquated books are useful for mantels in living rooms that function as a libraries.
However, because books tend to gather dust, they will need to be cleaned every couple of week with a soft brush.
3. River Rocks and Driftwood
Another decorative element you can include on your mantel is a collection of river rocks and driftwood. These natural element will add a sense of the outdoors to your living room.
The color options for most river rocks will allow them to be changed seasonally; green seed pods can be added in the spring and summer, while pine cones can be added during the winter months. These natural decorative elements will be useful for those who has more formal architectural features in there homes. Additionally, these elements will help those who visit your home to remember that a fireplace represent a modern campfire.
Avoid using too many of these decorative elements in the display, however, to avoid creating the feeling of a cluttered mantle.
4. Metal Decorative Items
Another decorative element to include on your mantel is metal decorative items. Examples of metals to use on your mantel may include vintage enamelware items, iron items or even cast iron.
These items will provide weight to the mantel decor as well as ensure that the mantel does not appear to be too lightly in design. Additionally, the metals will reflect the fireplace within the room during the winter months when the fireplace is lit. Metals are useful items for kitchens that may open into the living area.
However, only use two or three of these metal decorative items to avoid creating the idea of a hardware store mantel.
5. Large Mirror with an Aged Frame
One of the best decorative items that can be added to your mantel is a large mirror that includes an aged frame. An aged mirror will reflect the décor in the room as well as the fireplace itself.
Additionally, if the mantel features a deep mantel shelf, the mirror can be leaned against the wall. Using a mirror will be useful for those who live in narrow rooms or small apartment. Additionally, the remainder of the mantel can remain bare of decorations.
Many find it calming to have an empty mantel. The downside to using mirrors is that you will see any speck of dust upon the mirror; a cloth should be placed nearby to clean the mirror with a microfiber cloth.
6. Textiles
Another decorative element that you can use on your mantel is textiles.
Items such as blankets and runners could be added to the mantel. Blankets in natural color will allow the décor to appear as though it is in harmony with the rest of the area of the home. Additionally, a blanket can be used during the colder months of the year to add some greenery to the mantle; the greenery can be added to one of the fold of the blanket.
This decorative element can be used in homes whose mantel décor needs to be softened. Additionally, it is an easy decorative element to change with the changing of the seasons; however, it is important to ensure that the blanket is aired out every few week.
7. Family Heirlooms
Another decorative element to include on your mantel may be your family heirlooms.
Examples of these items may include a silver baby cup, a watch of one of your great-grandfathers or even a photograph that represent the family. These items will add to the story of your family and your home. However, do not include many items of this type as they will fill the mantel.
Instead, use one or two decorative items to create a sense of curiosity of those who visit your home; this is the desire for your mantle décor. Additionally, this type of décor will create a quiet museum of your family history. However, the downside to using heirloom items is that you may not want to light the fireplace with these items due to the way the fire and sparks will interact with such precious item of your family; instead, select only items that you are willing to display with the fire.
8. Plants
Finally, one of the last decorative elements to include on your mantel are plants. Plants will add life to your home and will improve the air quality. Additionally, any type of greenery will work with almost any type of mantel décor; greenery is a temporary décor element.
Instead of creating a permanent commitment to add greenery to your mantel, you only have to worry about making sure that the plants receives enough water; too much water may damage the wood beneath the plants.
Regardless of the decorative items that you do decide to include on your mantel, one specific quality will be shared among the best rustic mantel décor. The best rustic mantel décor will be items that appear to have evolved over time to reach the décor that exists today.
To create such a mantel, begin with your favorite type of wood or stone. Add one decorative element that makes you smile to your mantel. Allow the fire to burn for a week while you wait to add any additional decorative items to your mantel.
When you successfully include such an element to your décor, the fire will take care of the rest of the work. Additionally, if you take the time to properly decorate your mantel, it will no longer remain décor for your home, but will become the heartbeat of the room.
