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  4. 40 Cozy Ideas for Fireplace Mantels

40 Cozy Ideas for Fireplace Mantels

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
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Create a Cozy Fall Fireplace
Credit: Pinterest/The Frugal Homemaker

In the South, we love a well-styled and accessorized fireplace mantle. The more layers, the prettier the finished product. One of our favorite mantel decorating ideas is to layer varying sizes of framed or unframed art decoratively on the mantle. You don't always have to hang. If you do, don't hang frames too high. Just a few inches above the mantel is the ideal height. Another fireplace mantel decorating tip is to hang numerous sizes and shapes of mirrors instead of just one. There are so many seasonal and festive fireplace mantel ideas that you can try out too. We have mantel decorating ideas for Christmas while many of our fall decorating ideas also involve the mantel. Whatever you do, don't neglect your outdoor fireplace. Your outdoor porch mantel deserves some love too.

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Fall Foliage

Foliage-Filled Outdoor Fireplace
Credit: Helen Norman

Take advantage of the seasonal foliage and incorporate it into your home décor. We love these elegantly-draped oak and magnolia leaves, and stacked pumpkins complete the fall effect.

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Manicured Mantel

Boxwood Garland with Ribbon and Flowers Around Fireplace Mantel
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller and Elly Poston Cooper

A festive fireplace garland can be tailored to suit any season. It adds a pop of natural color to a monochromatic room.

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Pop of Color

Play Up Your Favorite Color, but Keep the Base Neutral
Credit: Photo: William Waldron

A neutral fireplace allows bright accessories to really pop when placed on the mantel.

  • See more of this Designer's Virginia Home

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Laid-Back and Authentic

Chelsea Meissner Johns Island, SC Home Living Room
Credit: Jillian Guyette

The simplicity of the black-and-white fireplace mantle, topped with a single large framed photo, complements the rest of the room's playful, relaxed aesthetic.

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Screen Saver

Hanna Seabrook Living Room in Louisville, Kentucky
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

​​​​​​​A white wicker screen matches the cottagey décor of this home's living room. It's both practical and stylish.

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Seasonal Accents

Create a Cozy Fall Fireplace
Credit: Pinterest/The Frugal Homemaker

This fireplace combines everything we love about the fall into one cohesive display. Stick with a color palate like this orange, white, and brown scheme to ensure all your décor is complementary. Fresh fall flowers, like mums, bring life to this display.

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Stylish and Chic

Know When To Save or Splurge
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling: Heather Chadduck,

An inexpensive honeycomb mirror hung over the mantle dresses up this fireplace with unique style.

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Antique Character

Antique Fireplace Mantel
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

The distressed finish on this 19th-century relic lends historic character to the new wood burning fireplace.

  • See more of this Smart Cottage Style Home

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Authentic and Eclectic

Authentic Gas Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

A ventless gas fireplace has an authentic feel with an Eldorado fireplace surround and a wood mantel. Instead of one large painting above the mantel, a grouping of framed and unframed pieces creates an eclectic display.

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Pretty in Pink

Brittney Forrister Pink Living Room in Her Nashville, TN Cottage
Credit: Mary Craven

A pale pink wall color brings a delicate, warm feel to this space. A vase of pink flowers perfectly accentuates the eye-catching wall color.

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Focal Point

Get Inspired by Art
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling: Matthew Gleason

A white brick fireplace provides the perfect backdrop for cheery pops of color. Though the seating faces away from the fireplace, it still commands attention as the focal point of the space.

  • See more of this 1920's Vintage Home Redo

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Collectible Display

Curate a Rotating Mantle Display
Credit: Photo: Alexandra Rowley

Above the mantel, this homeowner displays an ever-changing arrangement of artwork and accessories. An avid flea market and antique store shopper, as he finds new collectibles, he likes to bring them in as a quick way to change up the look.

  • See more of this Renovated Lake Retreat

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Marble Grandeur

Allison Allen Neutral Living Room
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

This room may be bursting with décor, but the grand marble fireplace remains the focal point. The white tones and natural green elements relieve the eye from the busy shelves and furniture.

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Embossed Marble Fireplace

Formal Living Room
Credit: Wayne C. Moore of Back River Photography

This carved antique mantle requires little dressing up. A fresh bouquet of seasonal flowers and a statement mirror that brings out the fireplace's gold accents does the trick.

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Old and New

Jenny Keenan Designed Living Room for Her Parents House in Mount Pleasant, SC
Credit: Marili Forastieri; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

The mantel is one of two that the Hackenbergs relocated from Charlotte. The distressed wood of the fireplace reminds of the family's history. A piece of modern art reinforces the antique yet contemporary feel.

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For the Bibliophile

Fireplace Storage
Credit: Pinterest

Not enough room in your shelves for all your books? Turn the fireplace into a storage spot for your extensive collection. This rustic look is perfect for the fall.

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Dogtrot Hall

Dogtrot Hallway Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman, Styling: Rebecca Omweg

This fireplace is located in the central hall of a dogtrot home. A painting by South Carolina artist Linda Rorer sits atop the reclaimed cherry mantel.

  • See more of this Modern Dogtrot Home

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Whimsy and Elegance

Blend Elegance and Comfort
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Comfortable and formal collide in this vibrant living room. A traditional mantel juxtaposes the whimsical decor.

  • See more of this Classic Charleston Living Room

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Symmetry and Balance

Achieve Balance
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Asymmetrical arrangements can be intimidating, but formal symmetry is easy to pull off and adds a calm balance to a room. The simple arrangement above this fireplace is clean and elegant.

  • See more of this Formal Nashville Home

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Warm and Cozy

Go Local
Credit: Photo: Erica George Dines

Local artwork is a meaningful accessory. A locally painted scene of Florida live oaks hangs above this family room's cast-stone fireplace.

  • See more of this Farmhouse-Style Home

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A Personal Touch

Living Room
Credit: Ellis Creek

We love décor that is personal. These old family portraits give the room character without any of the cliché of oversized, posed photos.

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Patterns on Patterns

Spotswood Hall Atlanta Living Room
Credit: Rodney R. Collins/Beacham & Company REALTORS

With such an intricately decorated room, the fireplace offers a splash of simplicity. Twin sculpted plants rest on each side of a gold-framed painting.

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Does Your Fireplace Mantel Need an Update? Get Inspired:

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Wood and Stone Fireplace

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell Walland, TN Cabin Outdoor Living Room on Porch
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Jeff Minnich

Relocate your family outdoors. This stunning outdoors fireplace keeps it casual with festive fall foliage and wood panel detailing.

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Symmetrical Sconces

Add Interest With Decorative Trim
Credit: Photography Van Chaplin, Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

A neutral fireplace plays well with bold-patterned upholstery. Sconces above the mantel provide elegant symmetry.

  • Tour the Georgia Idea House Living Room

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Warm and Breezy

4337 Westway Ave Highland Park Living Room
Credit: Costa Christ

Easy, breezy, and modern. This space is a perfect example of how to tastefully hang a television without distracting from the room's color scheme or décor.

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Light and Dark

After: Rightsize Remodel Living Room
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Nestled in the center of bright white walls, the dark fireplace surround draws the eye. A thin coffee table ensures the view to the fireplace is unobstructed.

  • See more of this Family-Friendly Home Update

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Lake House Chic

Lake House Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Richly hued walls complement the stone fireplace. Comfortable seating makes for an inviting spot to enjoy the fire.

  • See more of this Lake House in the Trees

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Accommodate a Crowd

Accommodating Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Lisa Romerein, Styling: Rebecca Omweg

When not in use, this fireplace provides additional seating to accommodate a crowd. The deep fireplace hearth is outfitted with custom cushions for seating in a pinch.

  • See more of this Casual Chic Lake House

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Natural Light

Use a Range of Textiles
Credit: Photo: Tria Giovan, Styling: Matthew Gleason

A large clerestory window above the dark fireplace floods the room with natural light.

  • Take a Video Tour of the Living Room

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Guest Suite Retreat

Guest Suite Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

This unimposing fireplace creates a cozy spot for guests to unwind. Rich brown walls and a combination of neutral fabrics further the retreat's appeal.

  • Tour the Guest Suite
  • See more of the Nashville Idea House

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Rustic & Simple

Mix and Match Patterns


Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

A rustic mantel gives weight to the simple, white fireplace. A TV is mounted above, making this a popular spot.

  • Tour the Bayou Bend Living Room

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Unexpected Materials

Use Non-Traditional Materials
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Scott Martin

A stone chimney is beautiful, but it's also expected. The natural horizontal wood paneling around this fireplace ties it together with the built-ins flanking the hearth.

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Beige Beauty

Use Flexible Furniture in a Great Room
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

This living area contains leather swivel chairs that can be rotated to face the kitchen or the fireplace. A TV is mounted above the mantel giving this room laid-back appeal.

  • See this Family-Friendly Great Room

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European Inspiration

Visually Divide a Great Room
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Deep archways and book niches lend a European-inspired design. Niches on either side of the mantel add character and unique storage.

  • See more Internation Design Ideas

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Neutral Elegance

Lindsay Bierman's Neutral Living Room
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

A stately mantel is crowned with a commanding landscape that adds additional warmth to the space.

See more of this classic Birmingham home.

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Raised Fireplace

Raised Fireplace
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

This raised fireplace allows for wood storage beneath. The brick hearth meets the coffered ceiling and creates a striking structural feature.

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Modern Art

​​​​​​​A bright orange abstract painting atop the white fireplace is guaranteed to draw eyes. The painting highlights the colors of the glowing fire itself.

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Wild and Bright

Living Room with Purple Armchairs
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The bright accent pieces in this living room play off the dark stone fireplace. It's fun and doesn't take itself too seriously.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    View All

    1 of 40 Fall Foliage
    2 of 40 Manicured Mantel
    3 of 40 Pop of Color
    4 of 40 Laid-Back and Authentic
    5 of 40 Screen Saver
    6 of 40 Seasonal Accents
    7 of 40 Stylish and Chic
    8 of 40 Antique Character
    9 of 40 Authentic and Eclectic
    10 of 40 Pretty in Pink
    11 of 40 Focal Point
    12 of 40 Collectible Display
    13 of 40 Marble Grandeur
    14 of 40 Fill the Fireplace
    15 of 40 Embossed Marble Fireplace
    16 of 40 Old and New
    17 of 40 For the Bibliophile
    18 of 40 Dogtrot Hall
    19 of 40 Whimsy and Elegance
    20 of 40 Symmetry and Balance
    21 of 40 Warm and Cozy
    22 of 40 A Personal Touch
    23 of 40 Patterns on Patterns
    24 of 40 Does Your Fireplace Mantel Need an Update? Get Inspired:
    25 of 40 Wood and Stone Fireplace
    26 of 40 Symmetrical Sconces
    27 of 40 Warm and Breezy
    28 of 40 Light and Dark
    29 of 40 Lake House Chic
    30 of 40 Accommodate a Crowd
    31 of 40 Natural Light
    32 of 40 Guest Suite Retreat
    33 of 40 Rustic & Simple
    34 of 40 Unexpected Materials
    35 of 40 Beige Beauty
    36 of 40 European Inspiration
    37 of 40 Neutral Elegance
    38 of 40 Raised Fireplace
    39 of 40 Modern Art
    40 of 40 Wild and Bright

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