Decorating With Fireplace Mantels
For many modern home owners with highly efficient heating systems fireplace mantel designs have become a symbol of a safe and peaceful refuge from the hectic day to day stresses of modern life. The dream of sitting around a roaring fire with pictures of loved ones sitting and enjoying fireplace mantel designs attracting more and more people.
Now with the invention of zero-clearance fireplace technology just about any home owner can share in this dream. But with zero clearance fireplaces comes the problem of selecting the best mantel designs for your home or room.
This article will attempt to explore some of the better design ideas for using marble, stone or wood fireplace mantels to beautify your home.
The biggest advantage of modern fireplaces is that all factory built units use a form of zero clearance technology. These new fireplaces are made from tough metals that resist overheating and are designed so that they can safely be installed against combustible materials like the wooden frame of your house.
All harmful exhaust gases are expelled through vents that are put through the side of the wall. No more need for chimneys or flues or chimney flue caps. With a direct vent and a zero clearance design, you can install fireplaces inside walls, against out the way nooks and inside cabinets or under delicate electronics like televisions and home entertainment centers.
Types of Mantel Designs
Now this leaves the actual décor of the fireplace pretty much as a function of the fireplace mantel shelf. Mantel designs as a general rule follow the basic architectural styles such as Baroque, Rococo American Colonial, Georgian, Neoclassical & Federalist, Greek Revival, Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Classical Revival, Neo-Gothic, Art Deco and modern or contemporary.
You can match fireplace mantel designs to your home’s architectural style and your fireplace hearth designs or if your home doesn’t have a strong architectural influence you can design your mantel piece around any colors, themes and styles you personally like.
The easiest way to define your own style is to become aware of the various fireplace mantels and how they appeal to you. Start what designers call a “Look Book”. Study pictures in magazines, newspapers and websites of the different types and styles of mantel designs. Cut out or print out the ones that you like the best and tape them into a cheap spiral back notebook. Write down any notes in the margins on why you liked these designs better than others.
Become a tourist. In almost any city or town there will be historical homes or farms that have been turned into public showplaces or museums. These places are great for learning more about the styles of that period as well as local tastes. These homes are obviously well documented and you can often closely examine the fireplaces and mantels.
Become a shutter-bug. If at all possible take as many pictures of the various mantel designs, you run across in your travels. Be shameless and ask family, friends and friends of friends if you can see their fireplaces if they have one.
The more you see what works and what doesn’t the better able you will be in blending your own sense style with common fireplace mantel designs.
