Design Options For Fireplace Mantels

Fireplace mantels can be as simplistic as you want them to, but they can also be the key to bringing attention to your fireplace. When framed properly, a fireplace can be a great focal point for a room. There are many routes you can go to plan out a fireplace design and how your mantel is configured, and planning is just a matter of knowing what works for your space. Here are a few tips to make your fireplace look its best.

Large Mantels

If you have a large fireplace that needs some balance, a large fireplace mantel can be an ideal solution. This only works if you keep the large theme going though. Use 12 inch tiles or big bricks to frame the fireplace itself and then put a thick wooden mantel above it. If you want to go a different route, you can use wood to frame the edges that help pull the material from the large mantelpiece down to the floor a bit better.

Small Mantels

If your home fireplace is nothing more than an accessory in the room, you may need a mantel just big enough to put a row of candles or a few picture frames on. There are options for smaller mantels available in an array of materials, from iron to wood and much more. Use small tiles or textured paint to frame the mantel and sides of your small fireplace so the mantel does not seem out of place. Having a small mantel doesn’t have to be a negative if you set it up in the correct way.

Built in Shelves

You can put fireplace mantel shelves along the wall your fireplace is on if it is large enough. This can actually add monetary value to your home by adding storage, and it can provide decorative value for it by bringing a new focus to the space. If you do plan to put a built in shelving unit around your fireplace, make sure the shelves do not distract the viewer from the fireplace. If the wall seems too busy, consider adding doors to make the unit more solid in certain areas. Depending on the type of material you choose to use for your shelving, exotic or premium woods will not only add value but character as well. Make sure and finish off these rich woods with the right stain and you will be on your way to adding a custom feel to an ordinary living room or den.

Other Design Options

There are plenty of other fireplace mantel designs to explore, so all you have to do is think creatively. You could opt for a glass mantel, for instance, or one that acts as a light display at night. Many home owners today are mounting their flat screen TV’s above the fireplace since it is usually the focal point of the room. Be careful to make sure your fireplace is venting properly so that excess heat is not escaping the front of the fireplace and rising up towards the TV. This is a great option for TV placement but it can sometimes be tough getting a power outlet and cable TV routed up the fireplace. You’ll have to look at your home to see whether or not this option will work for you.

Whatever you choose to use, make sure the fireplace mantels or appliance’s your are considering will be able to withstand the heat of the fireplace. You could put your home in danger if you do not consider this ahead of time.

Using Your Fireplace Screen Properly

Everyone loves a fireplace. Wood burning fireplaces are particularly popular places for the family to gather on a chilly autumn or winter evening. And it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas Eve without a roaring fire to add a bit of extra festivity to the occasion. With the choice of the right antique fireplace screen, your hearth can continue to be the focal point of your room, even after the last ember has died away. Certain precautions, however, should be taken to protect your screen as well as your home and family.

There are a huge variety of fireplace screens available on the market today. Glass fireplace screens are particularly popular since they combine beauty with practicality. Not only does the glass provide a charming, elegant look to your hearth, but it also serves as a shield to keep cold drafts that can slip past the chimney damper from chilling the room. A stained glass fireplace screen can be particularly beautiful and, with the addition of a low-power electric light placed in the fire box, can create a dramatic visual effect between fires.

One mistake many people often make with a glass fireplace screen, however, is to close it when a fire is burning. Although tempered glass is incredibly strong, most grades are not designed to stand up to the intense heat generated by a roaring wood fire. The glass can easily crack when exposed to such heat. In fact, it can actually shatter violently if something cold (like a carelessly handled glass of water) happens to splash against it when it is extremely hot. While some types of glass doors are safe to close during a fire, most are not. Unless your screen specifically advertises itself as being safe, do not take the chance of closing it.

While the glass should never be closed when a fire is burning, the metal screen should always be firmly in place. Whether the screen is a curtain-like mesh that draws closed or a door-like design that swings into place, it is important to have it tightly closed when in use. Special care should be taken with a curtain-like screen to avoid leaving a small gap where the two pieces meet, which can allow an errant ember to pop out of the fire box, damaging your carpet or, worse yet, burning someone.

Dire warnings aside, a glass screen adds unsurpassed beauty, safety and convenience to any fireplace. As long as you understand its limitations and respect the inherent risks of an open flame in your home, your fireplace screen will continue to add charm and style to your home for a lifetime.

Choosing The Right Fireplace Accessories

No fireplace is truly complete without the right fireplace accessories. There are lots of different fireplace accessories online to choose from, whether you have an electric fireplace, gas or other type. It is important to choose the right accessories based on the style of fireplace that you have. For instance if it is one with fireplace doors you will obviously not have to worry about getting a fireplace guard as an accessory.

On the other hand if it is an open fireplace with mantels you would want to get a guard to ensure no flames or ash made it out of the fireplace. Fireplace candelabras are also nice if you have a mantle. They create a warm, romantic environment and are well suited to the fireplace. These are available in all sizes and colors so you can make sure they go with the décor in the rest of the room.

Of course one of the other most important accessories for your fireplace is the fireplace poker. This is what you use to poke at the wood and move it to allow for more airflow or get the fire started up again. It is important to have a poker so you are not sticking your hands anywhere near the fire.

An offset log rack is another nice idea. For a real wood burning fireplace you need to always have some firewood on hand. Instead of keeping it out in the shed, forcing you to take a trip out there every time you want to start a fire, keep it right within arm’s reach. This way you know you can have a fire whenever you want, without needing to plan in advance.

Chimney cups also work well. These go over the top of the chimney and help keep the smoke and ash from making its way into the chimney. This saves you the trouble of having to clean the chimney out on such a regular basis. Especially if you tend to have a lot of fires this will really come in handy in the long term.

You should be able to find a decent selection of accessories at any home hardware or decoration store. Keep in mind when shopping for accessories for your fireplace that you want them to match. They should go nicely with the hearth itself and also the theme of the room. This is one of the best ways to finish off a room with a fireplace and have everything looking neat and nice in place.

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