STYLE IT RIGHT
Simple steps for making a statement with your mantel
A fireplace mantel in your home,
be it real or faux, is a wonderful feature. It adds personality and coziness to a space and gives every décor lover another surface to “play” with. However, if you’re not sure what to do with it, it can quickly become a frustrating eyesore.
We asked Danelle Harvey, a self-taught styling whiz and lifestyle creator, who along with her partner, Deb, has been renovating and decorating homes for over 20 years, how she creates her striking mantelscapes.
Danelle shared that her primary goal is to think big. “I always look for pieces that are way bigger than one might think would work”, she says. She avoids using numerous small items that tend to look cluttered and do not make a strong statement. As you can see in the “Before” photo, the candleholders are lovely, but do not add enough height or weight in relation to the overall size of the fireplace. The vases of tulips are also great pieces, but they are too similar in height to the candleholders and create no variation or place for the eye to travel. The pots and bowls are also appropriate items; however, their arrangement adds more busy-ness than interest.
In the “After” photo Danelle began with her focal point in the center. She chose artwork, but a mirror or an architectural piece works well, too. She then gathered the rest of her items and worked from the outside edge inward. “I like to work from the outside in and layer items from front to back, kind of connecting and intertwining them,” she says. She added vases of tulips next to her candleholders, then added tall branches of blossoms behind to fill in space and add softness. Next, she added a stack of books to each side with a pot on top and a lower profile bowl on each side as the final touch. By placing items quite close to one another, she creates a sense of cohesion, and the eye can travel easily across the arrangement.
Danelle kept the hearth simple with slipcovered chairs, richly textured pillows and a sweet ottoman in between for a beautiful final look.