Studio 5 : Mantle Must-Haves

Earlier this week we went up to Hunstville to pre-tape parts of the live segment today. It is always wonderful to have live shots of rooms to talk about.  Now we have this beautiful home published in print and on film!  Grateful for a gracious client allowing us to bring the cameras in.   You can watch the segment here and read my article or click here to redirect to the Studio 5 site.


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If your home has a fireplace mantle you should consider yourself lucky! Mantles are such a wonderful focal point to any room. They add implied architectural detail and all the comforts of a cozy area to gather. However, many homeowners curse their mantles because they are unsure of how to appropriately decorate and fill the space.  Today designer Lauren Oviatt shares her tips of the trade to ensure your mantle gets all the attention it deserves.


Unlike a broad family room wall, a mantle is a defined area – which should make it easy to tackle. I like to employ the rule of the “golden mean” when deciding on artwork, mirrors or sculptural pieces to hang above the mantle. This means selecting a piece that fills 2/3 the space while leaving 1/3 bare. This rule of design is as old as ancient Greece and Rome and is the secret behind nearly everything that appeals to our eyes – from nature to architecture and everything in between.


The height at which to hang these pieces depends on the height of your ceiling – but the best advice I can give is to keep the piece closer to the mantle than the ceiling. The idea is to create a focal point - which is best represented by the grouping you’re creating. Having artwork that floats too high will feel all wrong. Try to keep the bottom of the artwork anywhere from 4 to 10 off the mantle to keep it nice and close.


Now that the artwork is hung, it’s time to address the accessories on the mantle. Leaving all else aside, here are my top three tips when it comes to the fun stuff.
1. Give it some height
To take the eye upwards choose candlesticks, finials, a vase or urn that is taller than it is wide. Depending on your own aesthetic, you can split a pair for a symmetrical look or keep all the height to one side. These accessories should not be taller than your artwork.
2. Fill it out
Now that you have your height, choose something lower with more mass. This could be a grouping of books or stacked boxes, a plant or floral arrangement. This element should be wider than it is tall and helps the eye travel back down and from side to side.
3. Add something odd
To give your display personality and keep it from looking too much like a showroom, pick something meaningful or even odd to place on the mantle. This could be a small collection of ceramic pieces, a card from a friend or something you brought back as a souvenir from your recent trip. This fun element becomes a conversation piece.