During the spring and summer months they may be two of the most overlooked items in your home. But once winter rolls around the fireplace and mantel become the center of attention. If you have a fireplace then you know–home is where the hearth is. And, with the amount of time friends and family members spend warning their hands and feet by the flames, you are almost guaranteed that they will be looking at your mantel.
Long before you haul your Christmas tree indoors your fireplace and mantel can kick-start the holiday season. A mantel may be small (which makes it simple and affordable to spice up), but if it is decorated nicely it can make a huge contribution to your living space.
· Avoid “The Black Hole.” When you are done with one fire fill your hearth with logs for the next fire. If your fireplace is more decorative than practical consider filling it with candles. You could try the candle trick for a romantic evening and then revert back to using logs. Also, use a fire screen to hide a dirty or sooty hearth.
· Place a bowl of potpourri in front of the fireplace –the heat from the fire will release an intense fragrance.
· Buy aromatic wood.
· Clean your chimney regularly to be safe and worry-free during the winter months.
· Mirrors and Mantelpieces. Here’s a trick that has served my sister-in-law well: Tilt mirrors above high mantelpieces forward so they reflect the room, not the ceiling.
· When decorating your mantel, don’t stagger small objects; rather group them to bookend larger items.
· My aunt loves to use her mantelpiece to display her Oriental box collection. I know others use their mantels to display collections of family photos. Mantels are great spots to show-off items that tell visitors a bit about yourself.
· Hang a wreath on top of a mirror, or prop a painting in front of it.
· Fresh flowers are a fabulous addition to any room—only they don’t tolerate the heat of a fire so keep them off the mantel.
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