The Easiest Way to Style a Fireplace Mantel

If you agonize over styling your fireplace mantel, then I have a simple formula for you. Simply copy this look for the easiest way to style a fireplace mantel. In no time at all, it will look like a designer visited your home. #yourwelcome

The room in my house where I switch up the vignettes the most is my family room. Probably because it’s the room where we spend all our time and I’m always staring at my tablescapes and vignettes.

I’ve really been enjoying the thin frame round mirror trend. I found this one (below) from HomeSense but they are available everywhere right now.

I also installed one in my master ensuite when I renovated it this past summer. 

When I took photos of this room for the blog, it occurred to me that this vignette is so easy, anyone could duplicate it without a lot of effort.

But first, a design tip for a sofa chaise

In one of my Fall Specify Colour with Confidence workshops, one of the participants laughed when she told me it was such a lifesaver when she read my post about keeping a permanent throw at the end of the chaise (below). Not only does it keep it cleaner, but it also softens the look.

I go one step further and underneath this Pottery Barn fur throw, I have a queen size fleece blanket that I fold in half lengthwise and then fold it again like a sleeping bag. It’s the coziest spot ever, to crawl inside, keeps the chaise clean and this is where I usually fall asleep before I go to bed.

I have talked about this before, but now that we’re discussing furniture arrangement, a designer will RARELY if ever specify a loveseat. A loveseat can only seat one person comfortably. If you hire a designer to decorate your house, you’ll usually get a recommendation for a sofa and two chairs, two sofas, or a sofa and four chairs.

The same advice applies for a sofa with a chaise. You’ll rarely see this in a shelter magazine. I would ONLY install a sofa with a chaise in a room where it was the ONLY configuration that makes sense. It makes installing a coffee table awkward just for starters.

Also, you should only buy a sofa with a chaise with a tract arm style (square arm), I cringe when I see a sofa with a chaise with a traditional rolled arm (for example). It mostly looks bad and they shouldn’t even make them.

However, since my family room is narrow, I would have nowhere to include a second chair. So in a pinch, the chaise adds another seat, especially for TV watching.

Don’t miss this: 10 Ways to Make Your Home Look More Expensive

Okay so back to my mantel-scape tutorial.

The easiest way to style a mantel

1. Hang a Round Mirror

First you need a round mirror with a thin frame, here are several you could choose from:

1. Wayfair  |  2. West Elm  | 3. Target | 4. Williams Sonoma Home

2. Add 2 Ginger Jars (or temple jars)

You’ll also need two ginger (temple) jars like the orange and white striped ones you see here. I’ve had them for a while and they are not available anymore but here are some lovely ginger jars you could coordinate with your colour scheme. Place them on either side of your mirror.

1. Wayfair  | 2. Wayfair | 3. Wayfair | 4. Overstock | 5. Overstock | 6. Overstock (good for a tall mantle)

3. Add a Vase of Flowers

You can never have too many vessels to hold potted plants. I bought some pretty faux white and orange roses to coordinate with my temple jars but you could also buy some Kalanchoes, which are my favourite potted plant.

If you buy them from the grocery store when they are just starting to bloom, they can last over two months.  Don’t forget a couple coffee table books to give your flowers some height. I also inserted some limes for filler.

Read more: How to style a vignette if 5 easy steps

Here are some arrangements you can purchase already made:

1. Joss & Main  | 2. Joss & Main | 3. Joss & Main | 4. Joss & Main  | 5. Joss & Main

4. Use Coffee Table Books to Add Height

Place your vase of flowers on a few coffee table books. It looks better if there are some varying heights in your tablescapes and vignettes. I love to use coffee table books – especially when the book jacket or cover relates to the colours in my decor. 

Don’t have any books? There are lots of Etsy shops selling curated groups of coffee table books.  Style magazines stacked up work well too. But, you can find coffee table books on the cheap at HomeSense (Home Goods), thrift stores, used book stores, etc. Just start collecting them now so you’ll have them at the ready when you need to change up your mantel or tablescape. 

5. Fill in empty space with a few simple trinkets that reflect your style

I love these vintage brass cranes. They are skinny enough to tuck in between my decor and add a little height. You can easily find some at Etsy here.

I’m enjoying my art with a colourful city scene I recently picked up from HomeSense. Especially the gerber daisy potted plant that picks up the orange and yellow.

Pumpkin season made it easy to repeat the orange and yellow a little more.

I know a lot of people are already in ‘christmas decorating’ mode where I live but Thanksgiving for my American friends is still on its way so I’m sneaking in an autumn post a little late!

Have a lovely weekend!

Related post:

Add Some Brown to your Living Room Using Brown (I Did)

Fresh or Fake Flowers Yay or Nay?

Are Your Accessories Dated?

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