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A Guide To Decorating Rustic Fireplace Mantels

By Nancy Harris


Most asymmetrical features and build-ins in any setting are usually appealing to the eyes. When it comes to decorating the rustic fireplace mantels, they tend to add a sophisticated look that is both elegant and beautiful. Therefore, any decoration made should be a complement to the rough edgy look in the fireplace. Beautiful rustic fireplace mantles do not only warm up people but their eyes too. It is therefore important to know how to decorate the mantle in a bid to impress more.

Old seasoned and rough edged timber taken from old barns and houses can be used to create a rustic feel when decorating a fireplace mantle with. They tend to look the rough and tough to the eye and touch making the mantle seems artless. Carvings can also be made in a bid to decorate the wood used. The wood can be of different varieties such as pine and white oak among many others.

A stone built mantle usually has much bucolic character. The earthly elements; bricks or stones can be loosely arranged in a pattern or random making the mantle look aged and a bit rough. The arrangement can also be made different shapes and patterns in order to achieve more traditional designs would give the fireplace a rustic look.

Pictures, art or portraits can also be able to transform a fireplace from a modern look-alike hearth to a pastoral one. Old paintings give a feelings old age to a walls and the mantle. They can be the cheapest way to decorate the mantle since they do not have to be expensive, only of the right color and texture and they will do just fine.

The look and feel to a place is largely influenced by the color. Painting technique and colors too are important in determining a feel of room or a place too. Dark and quite rough finishing on a fireplace mantle would make the feel austere. Therefore, depending on the type of finish one would desire, the painting job should be done right and precise to come up with the look.

Ornaments and sculptures are also very important on the decoration of the mantle. Old looking sculptures and collectible ornaments can be useful into making a fire-place look rustic. Ornaments can be shells while sculptures can be made of wood carvings or metal sculptures. Depending on the era the sculptures display is from, the hearth will end up to be seemingly that old too. Example, a Viking axe or shield would invoke the times the Vikings lived.

Theme settings too can have a place greatly transformed. When one decorates a mantle with farm pictures, tools or animals, it makes them look rustic. This could include carvings on the stone or wood that has specific meanings, like wild animals. Such paints or shape of the mantel would greatly influence look and feel. Wild life themes tend to be more natural to eyes.

No matter the decoration, one should not feel closed in to not expressing his or her own personal choices and preferences. Since decoration is a matter of personal sense of style, experimentation is allowed. But keenness should be observed to avoid overdoing and cluttering the mantle. Simple is always best to achieve sophistication and elegance to antiques.




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