front and sides of the plywood. Use
wood screws to affix the plywood to
the mantle. This provides a space you
can affix greens to without damaging
the mantle.
3. Place your main focal piece(s) up
first. Whether a mirror, large wreath
or a group of figures, be sure the item(s)
is large enough to create visual impact.
4. Add accessories to complement
your focal piece. This can include a
vase filled with florals, flameless candles,
special decorative items, etc. Smaller
pieces should be grouped, larger items
placed alone. Try to achieve a balanced
design, even if your groupings are not
symmetrical.
A
festive mantle can help pull an
entire room together. Here are
some basic design suggestions to create
a magnificent mantle this season:
1. Decide on a theme. Whether the style
is glitzy, traditional or rustic, have enough
accents to carry out the design. If your
tree is in the same room, it should follow
the same theme.
2. Place a base of fresh
or everlasting
garland/boughs on the
mantle. Everlasting garlands
can be very realistic and
will last from year to year.
To prevent nicks and
scrapes from various
decorative items, cut a
piece of plywood the same
size as the mantle then
affix a matching moulding
(eg. white on white) to the
5. As a finishing touch, small accents
such as florals, berries or ornaments
can be added into the garland.
While your fireplace adds a cozy
warmth to your living space, the mantle
provides the perfect spot to showcase
your personal style and complement
the rest of your festive décor.