How to Style a Mantel~ Tips & Tricks from a Stylist

I could scroll for hours on Pinterest looking at beautiful home interiors and perfectly styled mantels, shelves, and room vignettes. But for some reason, I can never quite figure out why those images are so pleasing and the mantel or bookshelves in my own house always feel a little… off. I asked interior stylist and long time friend, Lisa Minor, for tips & tricks for styling mantels. Her philosophy of using what you have and making a beautiful home regardless of budget fits perfectly with the Learning Contentment philosophy of a being content with what you have and making the most of it.

Check out Lisa’s Instagram Hummingbird Home and Baby

Styling a fireplace mantel, shelves, or any flat surface

Here are 5 tips for styling the perfect mantel on a budget:

Use What You Have
Create a Cohesive Color Palette
Find a Focal Feature
Balance is Beautiful
Simplify Your Stuff

The advice here can apply to more than just a fireplace mantel. Bookshelves, coffee tables, console tables, kitchen shelves, nightstands, and more can all benefit from these styling tips & tricks. Let your creativity run wild!

Use What You Have

I know. I know. This one is not very glamorous and doesn’t have the catchy alliteration of the rest, but it’s too important to the Learning Contentment way of thinking (and Lisa’s recommendations) to ignore. You don’t have to go out and buy all new décor items. Shopping first from what you already have is a great way to cut down on excess stuff and keep your budget in check. If you do need to purchase some new items, check out antique stores, thrift shops, and online secondhand sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for deals on unique and interesting pieces.

Find a Focal Feature

The focal point of your mantel is arguably the most important piece that anchors the mantel and helps determine the rest of your décor options. Mirrors and artwork are popular choices, but there’s no need to hang them. Leaning art or mirrors against the wall prevents holes in the wall and provides and opportunity to layer favorite pieces. This is a great trick to creating a more informal feel. Since your fireplace mantel is probably the focal point of the room it lives in, taking the time to think through the anchor piece/focal point of the mantel is worth the effort.

Create a Cohesive Color Palette

Beyond just sticking to your color palette, the idea of cohesiveness applies also to the décor and vibes of the room and the rest of your house. For instance, if your house is very modern and your living room is full of chrome and glass, decorating your mantel with a farmhouse flair will be incongruous and feel out of sync. Similarly, if you have a a neutral or muted color palette in the room, but go crazy with bright colors on the mantel, it’s going to feel out of place.

This doesn’t mean you can’t blend styles! In fact, a bit of an eclectic mix can provide an interesting tension in a room that keeps things from being boring. It’s not so much about a strict set of rules as much as it’s about creating a unified look and feel.

Balance is Beautiful

Creating balance is also a key element in styling the perfect mantel. Some people prefer everything symmetrical (each side mirroring the other). You might have matching lamps, vases, greenery, ornaments, or artwork on each side of a central focal point creating that symmetrical feel. Another popular way to achieve balance is by considering the visual “weight” that each piece brings. A little bit of asymmetry is often pleasing to the eye so long as it is balanced by other objects of similar weight. If your mantel feels a little “off” and you aren’t sure what the problem is take several steps back and try to imagine it as a seesaw or a ship. Is there more emphasis on one side over the other? Does it feel like your ship is sinking? If so, you may have a problem with balance.

Simplify your Stuff

While a layered and eclectic mantel can be gorgeous (especially if you fall into the more is more camp), it’s often very difficult to achieve a balanced cohesive look on a mantel when it’s packed with stuff. Tons of clutter and tchotchkes, especially if they are small and all the same height, will just make your mantel look like it’s suffocating under all that stuff. Curate your very favorite pieces and keep things simple. Try groupings of 3 and vary the heights–you don’t want everything lined up like a row of soldiers across the mantelpiece. Try adding in greenery, plants, branches or flowers. This adds movement, texture and a spark of life.

Final Thoughts on Styling Your Mantel

None of these tips are meant to be hard and fast rules, but rather guidelines to help you achieve a beautifully styled mantel. The key factor here is that YOU are happy with it. It may not be perfectly Pinterest worthy, but if it brings you joy, then it is a success! If you are finding yourself struggling to get it just so, Lisa would encourage you to keep fiddling with it and trying different things until you find something you like. When it comes to interior styling, the fun part is that you can continually change it, giving you scope to play with colors, textures, and anything that might inspire you. Good luck!

How to Style a Mantel~ Tips & Tricks from a Stylist