Fireplace Mantels News, Articles and Information

When you begin to decorate your home for the holiday season, remember that the purpose and parameters of holiday décor are the same as decorating your home any other time of year – creating a comfortable space for your loved ones to gather, enjoy each other, share old memories and create new ones.

There are no limits when it comes to decorating ideas for the holidays, given the myriad of traditions that vary from one home to the next. However you and your loved ones will be celebrating the holidays, your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be a main display in your overall décor. Whether you are trying to create that cozy feeling of home, or you are going for an over-the-top theme to wow your guests, your fireplace can be the focal point of any room that it occupies.

Because your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel is such a strong element, the décor you choose for the fireplace should be echoed all around the room for consistency. And if your holiday tree and fireplace share the same room, you definitely want both to duplicate a similar theme, because you don’t want them to compete with each other – rather, you want them to complement one another.

Keep in mind that your theme will be influenced by the room where your fireplace is located. For example, a fireplace in the den is going to have a different decoration style and create a different kind of mood than a fireplace in the bedroom. In other words, you do not necessarily have to duplicate the same theme and/or design on every fireplace mantel.

As you begin to review possible ideas for your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations, from celebrating a different culture to showcasing your own family traditions over the years, below are a few themes to brighten any room in your home.

Holidays Around the World

Do you have a favorite country that you have visited or would like to visit? Are you from another country and want to incorporate your heritage into your mantel decorations? You can use your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel project as an opportunity to learn more about celebrating the holidays in a different country, whether your family has visited there or not. If you have visited the country that is central to your theme, you can incorporate your souvenirs into the fireplace mantel’s decor. If you have emigrated from another country, use this space to display any keepsakes or novelties of sentimental value, or items that are unique to your culture.

Travel Back in Time

Take this idea one step further by not only focusing on a different country, but also a different time in our history. For example, you can focus your décor around the theme of Colonial America, French Provincial or the Victorian era. If you have more than one fireplace mantel in your home, you can choose to focus on different time periods for each one.

Just One Thing

If you want a very clean, scaled-down look for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel, you can choose one type of item, such as candles or flowers, and add some Christmas mantel scarves and some garland, to create an elegantly simple display. You can personalize this idea by specifically choosing your favorite type of plant or flower, or choosing an aromatic candle with a scent that speaks to you. And don’t limit yourself to traditional holiday greenery and aromas, such as poinsettias and pine. You can use any plant or flower from bamboo to orchids to roses, and any candle aroma from gardenia to sage.

Gifts Aplenty

Your fireplace mantel can serve as another place to display gifts – think of is as an extension of the space under your Christmas tree. Use your mantel to display gifts you have received, or some gifts you intend to give. Putting gifts around the room, not just under the tree, creates unexpected surprises.

Artifacts of Christmas Past

Dedicate your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations to a collection of handmade crafts, sentimental gifts or special items from holidays your family has shared in the past.

• Perhaps a relative sent you a special gift one year that relates to your family’s cultural history – if so, place it on the mantel with some relevant accessories.
• Maybe one year you and your family decided to visit a major city during the holiday season, such as New York or Washington D.C., and you have an exquisite souvenir that would make a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel.
• You can share a traditional family recipe for sweet treats such as cookies or candies, making them the centerpiece or part of your display, accompanied by a picture frame that contains a brief written history of how the recipe has been enjoyed for generations.
• A simple photo gallery, with several picture frames, can include photos of how your family has grown and changed over the years, from one holiday season to the next.

Your Favorite Christmas Scene

Your Christmas decorated fireplace mantel can be an opportunity for you to display your favorite holiday scene. Many of us are familiar with the Christmas Nativity scene celebrating Jesus’ birth, but there are other scenes that remind us of the holidays as well. You can expand your scope to the many scenes that are known from age-old Christmas stories, such as Santa on his sleigh or on the rooftop with a sack of toys. You can display a scene from a more specific story, such as the battle between the Prince and the Mouse King from the Nutcracker ballet, or when the Grinch meets Sally Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas or when the children follow Frosty as he sings the theme song from Frosty the Snowman.

The holidays are a magical time, and your holiday decorating activities are an opportunity to capture some of that magic in a space where your family, friends and guests feel comfortable. Get creative and have fun, combining your imagination with your own signature style, and your fireplace mantel Christmas decorations will be an important part of creating a memorable holiday experience.

Summer is coming to a close, and with the fall and winter seasons approaching, it won’t be long before many of us will be decorating our fireplace mantels for the holidays and gathering around the fireplace to make more memories.

But as we head toward chillier temperatures, keep in mind that safety should be the first priority. Before lighting the first fire of the season in your fireplace, take precautionary steps to minimize the risk of a fire burning out of control in your home.

Below is an article from the United States Fire Administration with some tips:

More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.

Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
• Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
• Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
• Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.

Safely Burn Fuels

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.

Protect the Outside of Your Home

• Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
• Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

Protect the Inside of Your Home

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
• Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.

Text by The United States Fire Administration
Copyright The United States Fire Administration

I found this great article about fixing up your fireplace! Written by Zoe Courtman Smith, the article talks about decorating your fireplace all year long, whether you use it or not! Lots of really great ideas. An edited version of the article is below.

Where do you start when decorating the fireplace? Start by surveying the fireplace itself. Brick paint or fireplace paint that’s specially-formulated to withstand the demands of a fireplace can wash over the drab, old brick – even if it’s been painted before – and completely revitalize your fireplace and your room.

The process is easy, fun, and can be completed in a few hours.

After brightening the masonry, step back and see how your mantel fits into your fireplace decorating project. Does it compliment or compete with the fireplace? What color is the mantel? Does it draw the eye with an attractive, clean style and finish? If not, see what other mantels might fit better.

Since the fireplace mantel is at eye-level, it’s natural that its decoration draws attention first. Heirloom, pictures, beautiful knick knacks and things dear to the heart will make the truest statement about your home. Artwork is always striking above your fireplace, so include unique displays like a single, bold piece in a beautiful frame, or try clustering smaller paintings or prints in asymmetrical groups for contemporary, interesting impact. You can also group items of similar shape or color on your mantel for a whimsical look, again trying differently symmetrical configurations since an aspect of incongruity is pleasing to the eye.

Now move to the hearth, the next area of your fireplace decorating project. Balance is the name of the game when it comes to your hearth, so try a potted plant or topiary on either side of your fireplace opening. Beautifully polished andirons also create a classic, balanced tableau. If your mantel displays candles, sculptures or vases in equal measure on each side, try shaking up the scene on your hearth with a stunning set of fireplace tools at one end, and a gleaming wood holder at the other. If you prefer a sleek, bare look you can try a simple, striking clock or a wreath hung over the mantel.

Fireplace decorating is important even if you don’t use your fireplace regularly. Placing a candelabra inside your empty fireplace adds a touch of personality and gives your fireplace a polished look. Seasonal variations like a cornucopia in the fall, a basket of pine cones in the winter, flower arrangements in the spring and even a collection of sea shells and driftwood in the summer make your fireplace a living part of your home.

As you move to the end of your decorating project, don’t forget form when thinking function. The very finish of your fireplace tool set, wood holder, andirons and firebacks pull together your complete look. If your living room style is understated and elegant, polished brass pieces always look smart. If you have a more casual décor, copper, bronze and even black iron tools look stylish, not fussy. If you are going for a contemporary look, nothing says ‘modern’ quite like brushed pewter. Underscore your preference in finishes by choosing a matching fireplace screen, or the perfectly brilliant pair of glass fireplace doors, which work well for masonry, prefabricated and firebox insert fireplaces.

Fireplace decorating is the quickest, easiest way to pull together a total look for any room. If you create a warm, beautiful and inviting environment, you’ll find your fireplace becomes a focal point around which your family can’t wait to gather.

Fireplace Decorating Quick Tips:

* Paint the inside of your fireplace with black fireplace paint.
This will cover any unsightly stains and make the opening look like new.

* Look to see if your fireplace mantel color competes with the overall look of your fireplace. No mantel? Try a pretty wreath instead.

* Balance your accessories. Try a large mirror in the middle and a topiary on each end. Or, a large picture in the middle and decorative vases or urns on each side. But remember, asymmetrical groupings can make interesting focal points, too.

* If you have a real wood burning fireplace or wood stove, a hearth rug will protect your floor from falling embers. Decorative fireplace tools are also a plus.

* If you don’t use your fireplace, you can still decorate for a stylish, easy look. Try a large fern in the opening, or a candelabra.

* Seasonal fireplace decorating is always fun, and may be the easiest place to start. A collection of grape vines, white lights, small pumpkins and gourds creates a great fall look. Re-use those white lights with greenery and red candles for the merriest mantel during Christmas.

Zoe Courtman Smith

Sponsored by Brick-anew.com. Brick-anew.com provides fireplace decorating ideas and products to implement these ideas.