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How to Style Your Mantle Like a Pro - and When to Leave it Alone


Modern living room with beige sofa, striped pillows, and a wall-mounted TV above a sleek fireplace. Glass windows overlook a balcony.
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Here's how I learned to style my mantle: I used to take pictures of my mantle, go to HomeGoods, pull up Pinterest, and fill my cart with decor. Like TONS of decor. Then I would find a surface in the store similar in size to my mantle, lay out the decor, arrange, rearrange, play around with spacing, etc. until I decided what to buy. I'm sure people thought I was crazy. But that's how I learned what worked and what didn't.


Then over the years, I moved six more times and started staging my own listings, and it was during that time that I finally figured it out. There was just something that made certain mantles look super stylish and professional while others... not so much.

Four circular images: twisted candles labeled "Home Decor," cat wall art labeled "Wall Art," green lamp labeled "Lighting," and knit blankets labeled "Bedding." "Etsy" in orange text below.

The first thing I realized is that you can't rush the design. When I move into a new home (which is basically every other year at this point), I have a tendency to want everything to be perfect right away. With furniture, I always opt for Quick-Ship because the thought of waiting 12 weeks is nightmarish. Same with my decor. I don't want my house to echo, so I force the design very quickly.


Well, I used to do those things... But sometime within the last few years, I realized that with any good design, you need to be patient [and when I say you, I really mean I]. I've learned to be patient, to spend some time in the space, decide how I want to use it first, understand the mood, the lighting, the feel of the space, and then make my design decisions. And through all this learning, I've also tried to hone in what I think are the most important things to consider with any design. Hence, my guide to styling a mantle and when to leave it alone.


The photo above is a listing I staged recently, and one that I would have probably over-styled in the past. But now I know when to let the design speak for itself, and when to give it a little something.


So following is everything I've learned, as concisely as I can make it...


The TL; DR of Mantle Styling aka Table of Contents



Modern dining scene with a dark table, beige chairs, and a vase, promoting "Winter Savings" for France & Son. Text: Quickship Deals, Pre-Order Specials.

  1. Understand Your Space

Before grabbing random decor pieces like I once did, step back and assess the space surrounding your mantle. Styling begins with understanding what you’re working with.


Evaluate the Size of Your Mantle

Take note of your mantle’s dimensions. A larger mantle can carry more substantial or multiple decor pieces, while a smaller mantle thrives with minimal and carefully curated items. In one of my houses, I had the skinniest mantle ever... it took me SO long to get it right, because almost everything I tried was too wide for the mantle, and now looking back, I definitely don't love the choices I made.


Elegant living room with white fireplace, patterned armchair, and gray sofa. Beige walls, large mirror, and a decorative plant create a cozy feel.

This is the listing photo of my "skinny mantle" from when I sold that particular house. Looking back, I don't love how I styled this mantle, other than the round mirror. The other pieces are too small.


Consider the Surrounding Decor

Your mantle doesn’t sit in isolation; it interacts with every element in the room. Here are some common scenarios:


  • If you have a TV mounted above your mantle, you will likely have substantially less (or no) mantle decor.

  • If you have focal artwork adjacent to your mantle, you'll want to choose less or minimal decor on your mantle for balance, or just be very selective and intentional with what you place on the mantle.

  • If your mantle is surrounded by built-in shelves or bookcases, you'll need to consider your shelf styling and make sure the mantle decor works within that bigger picture.

  • If your mantle is off-center within the room, you'll want to pay particular attention to balance.


Bright living room with gray sofas, colorful cushions, a round table, a fireplace, and a TV showing a beach scene. White shelves hold decor.

In my last house, I chose not to place any decor on the mantle because 1) my shelves were very styled, and 2) the mantle was thin and floating, so I thought it would be too much to have decor on the mantle


  1. Start with a Focal Point

A professionally styled mantle always begins with a strong focal point.


Choose a Statement Piece

Pick one main decor item that immediately draws the eye. This is usually the tallest or largest piece on your mantle. Ideas include an oversized piece of artwork, a mirror, or a wreath. This statement piece anchors the entire arrangement and sets the tone for your mantle’s design.


Elegant living room with black walls, white fireplace, and artistic decor. A framed photo is above the mantel, emphasizing a modern vibe.

I'm obsessed with the contrast here. Photo @havenly


Nail the Placement

Your focal point can be centered but doesn't have to be, as long as it's balanced (see more details in the next section). You can hang or lean the focal piece - I've done both, and your focal point can be made up of multiple pieces.


Bright living room with cream sofas, a fireplace with decor, TV on white cabinet, large windows, light wood floor, and elegant lighting.

This is the listing photo from my house that I sold in 2021. This room was actually our dining room for most of the years that we lived there, but in 2020 we swapped and made it our family room. Again I chose a round mirror for the focal point, but looking back I think it should be a little bigger, BUT this is a tall mantle so I wouldn't have been able to go much bigger without running into the ceiling.


Elegant dining room with blue walls, wood table, patterned chairs, and a large chandelier. Shelves with decor flank a white fireplace.

This is the dining room of that same house on the other side of the fireplace (it was two-sided). In this room, I leaned the focal point artwork as you can see.


  1. Master the Art of Layering and Balance

Layering adds depth and visual interest, and when done correctly, the result is stunning.


Layering for Depth

Use smaller objects like books, vases, or candles to build layers in front of your focal point. Play around with positioning to avoid a flat, one-dimensional look. If you have decorative molding above your mantle, you may opt for less decor, or a smaller focal point, as the molding itself can draw visual interest.


White fireplace mantel with framed art, black lamp, and potted plant. Bright room, wooden floor, and neutral decor create a serene mood.

Layered artwork, photo @werethewhites


Strive for Balance

Achieving balance doesn’t mean everything should be symmetrical—but it should feel intentional.


  • Symmetrical Styling: For a classic look, place matching objects like candlesticks or vases on both sides of the focal point.


    Framed art and paper on a white shelf with black candlesticks and green leaves in a glass. Minimalist decor against a paneled wall.

Symmetrical, but not completely, photo @courtneyturk


  • Asymmetrical Styling: If you want a modern, dynamic look, vary the decor pieces on each side, while keeping their overall visual weight balanced. The pieces can be similar, like the photo below, or totally different. Either way, just be sure they are balanced in some way.


    Mantel with blue-and-white vases, abstract art, and a small sculpture. White walls, soft lighting, elegant and calm ambiance.

  • Play with Heights: Incorporate decor items of different heights—think a tall vase paired with shorter items like small sculptures or stacked books—to create a pleasing visual flow. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see when it comes to mantle styling.

    • Be sure you are creating both height AND dimension when styling your mantle.


Cozy room with a tiled fireplace, wooden chair, and brown pouf. Decor includes a vase, candles, cityscape photo, and books. Light, airy mood.

Photo @havenly


  1. Incorporate Different Textures and Materials

Texture is an often-overlooked element that can elevate your mantle from good to extraordinary.


Rolls of patterned wallpaper in various colors are displayed on the right. Text on the left reads "Tempaper & Co. Peel and Stick Wallpaper SHOP NOW."

Mix Materials

Combine contrasting materials like metal, wood, and ceramics for a balanced look. For instance, a ceramic vase, a sleek glass bauble, and a distressed wooden frame complement each other beautifully.


Elegant living room with black fireplace, gold chair, and marble table. Pastel walls, lush plants, round mirror, and books enhance the chic decor.

Add Soft Elements

Plants or greenery bring life and freshness to your mantle, while textiles like seasonal garlands or decorative fabric add warmth and softness. Always opt for fresh greenery, if possible


Elegant living room with navy sofas, beige rug, and a wood coffee table adorned with flowers, books, and drinks. Art decorates white walls.

Photo @havenly


  1. SCALE SCALE SCALE


Scale in interior design refers to the size of objects and how they relate to the overall space and other elements within it. Proper scale ensures that furnishings, decor, and architectural features work harmoniously together, creating a sense of balance and proportion.


Floral wallpaper with flowers in red, white, and beige. Text: Save 20% on all in-stock items. Vase with leaves on a table. Hygge & West logo.

Disclaimer: I am not an interior designer, but over the past 20+ years in my career, I have studied design as it relates to real estate and staging, learning about and understanding what makes certain spaces more appealing to buyers and why. And if there's one thing I've learned the most about - for sure - it's scale. So often, I see people choosing items for their home: furniture, artwork, decor, etc. that is not quite right in scale, and as a result, it can make the space look awkward or unfinished. I think this is the problem I was having in my second home, which was the photo with the "skinny mantle" above - too many small items.


Back to mantles: When styling a mantel, understanding scale is crucial to creating a balanced and visually appealing display. To achieve harmony, it's important to mix different sizes, using taller pieces like a statement vase or candlesticks to draw the eye upward, while also incorporating shorter elements, such as framed photos or low decorative bowls, to ground the arrangement. Considering the overall height of the mantel and the ceiling will help you choose appropriately sized decor that enhances the room's dimensions rather than competing with them. Ultimately, the key is to create a cohesive look that feels intentional and inviting.


Modern living room with a black tufted ottoman, grey throw, and tray with glasses. A framed abstract art piece and fireplace are on the white wall.

Oversized artwork is key here in this room with super high ceilings. Photo @havenly



When NOT to Style Your Mantle


I've mentioned most of my rules for when not to style your mantle, but here's the summary:

  • If you have a TV mounted above your mantle, you may/may not choose to style

  • If you have focal artwork adjacent to your mantle, you may opt for minimal - or no - decor

  • If your mantle is surrounded by built-in shelves or bookcases that are heavily styled, you may want to leave your mantle alone

  • If the wall behind your mantle is a focal point (like the one below), you may want to skip the decor


Modern living room with white walls, a ceiling fan, and a marble fireplace. Blue and beige pillows on a couch, patterned rug, wall art, and TV.

I staged this beach house not too long ago and knew I definitely needed to skip the mantle decor because of the focal wall



 

Tell me your favorite mantle styling tips in the comments below, and let me know if I missed anything!



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