I have a design dilemma. My mantel - it’s plain and boring. I have a big mirror that is propped up on it right now, mainly because I loved the mirror and thought it might look good there. The only other little things up there are some candles off to the right. What can I do to make it pretty? Any ideas?
~ Mamacita
Mamacita, there are probably about a million ways to skin this cat, but I really like the mirror that you have started with, so we will let that be the basis for our design.
Your mirror with it’s thick black frame works well for the space in terms of shape, color, style and size — so congratulations, you’ve covered all the design bases with just this one piece. You are off to a good start.
Based on that information, I think the thing to do is to keep it simple – pair it with just a few other things that are also simple and modern in line and dark in color that refer back to the mirror.
The obvious thing to do is to hang the mirror horizontally and centered just a few inches above the mantel. Then proceed with the standard 3+1 rule of design - a collection of three related objects of varying height on one side, usually the left, and a single item on the other. On the left, something like this collection of Misao vases would work nicely. If you need to create height for visual interest, consider placing the tallest vase on a decorative wooden or laquer box.
On the other side of the mantel, the right, you could put something funky like this pair of horses. I realize that the two horses violates the 1 part of the 3+1 rule, but as a pair they read as a whole And? There really are no rules in design.
Into this monochromatic design, we need a lightning strike of color, so consider adding some tall branches of dried burnt orange bittersweet or red berries to the vases and call it a day.
As you are on the lookout for mantel accessories, I would avoid small unrelated items, tiny pictures or anything fussy, cluttery and unrelated to the whole. Look for grayscale in color and let that one colorful organic item take center stage.
Next Time: A Fireplace Mantel - Case Study #2. We’ll look at the same fireplace mantel with the same mirror, but take the design a completely different direction.
