A fireplace adorned with a beautiful mantel makes grand statement to your home decor. There are variety of options for decorating a mantel, especially a dramatic theme makes it a focal point of any room. The contemporary designs range from sleek stream-lined to high edged mantels.
Fireplace designs have evolved since the 12th century, bearing the rich history of the Renaissance period. During that period, the mantels had typical architectural designs and patterns of Europe. A grand fireplace denoted the status of the family. However, you can implement plans according to the interior decor of your house.
How to Plan a Fireplace Mantel
The choice of designs depend upon factors like, the space available inside the room, its usage and the climatic conditions that prevail there. The traditional fireplace mantel styles are still in vogue, with exquisite patterns crafted with wood and bricks. So let's find out how to execute fireplace design plans for your house.
Plan the Layout: Clean the area completely where you are supposed to raise the mantel. If you are renovating, make sure you redesign it well. Take the measurements accurately and then layout the design. For this, you definitely need the help of an architect or an interior decorator.
Execute the Design: Assemble the components required for the fireplace mantel. Kits are available in the stores that contain all accessories required for the design. Once you have procured everything at hand, lay the pattern of the mantel and start designing as per your choice.
Fireplace Mantel Designs
Have you come up with any ideas for a fireplace mantel design? What do you prefer, traditional or contemporary or a mix of both? Well if you are still on the look out, here's presenting you some of the best materials to design a fireplace. Firebrick, wood and stones are the best materials to build a fireplace mantel.
Firebrick Mantels: Firebrick mantels have a crimson red or tanned brown appearance. They are very well set in the corners of a house. They have a countryside appeal and are semi-contemporary in nature. The traditional mantels have rustic settings over brick mantels.
Wooden Mantels: Wooden mantels are the perfect theme if you have a traditional type cottage house. Depending upon the decor, it can be traditional or contemporary. The wood is usually derived from trunks of pine, oak, cherry and maple. They are inexpensive as compared to stone mantels.
Stone Mantels: If you want the most contemporary designs for fireplace mantels, just opt for stone models. If expense is not a constraint, then a marble mantel is simply the best. Other stones used for crafting include granite, limestone and slate. Limestone and slate are cheaper than granite and marble.
Once you have decided the mantel idea for your home, just go ahead with the decoration. The color scheme and the architecture is one of the important aspect of fireplace mantel plans. The color can be either bold or neutral shades. Some decorative pieces include heirlooms, travel souvenirs, paintings, ethnic crafts, wall scones, mirrors, aqua bottles and red corals. The shades, artwork, accessories and ornamentation should complement the theme chosen by you. Just do it yourself!
