I got an email recently from a reader asking for some mantel decorating advice and inspiration. It's easy to suffer from "analysis paralysis" when it comes to decorating a mantel. It is often the visual focal point of whatever room it's in and that can be a lot of pressure!
The simple "formula" to creating the perfect mantel vignette lies in creating a visual triangle. Steven and Chris show us the way with 5 easy steps.
#1: Center a large piece (art or a mirror) on your mantel
#2: Add something with movement to the left. I struggle with understanding what "movement" means exactly but I think it means a pairing of items in varying height that cause your eye to bounce between them (hence movement).
#3: Add something with visual weight on the right (to counterbalance the movement element on the left). See...a triangle is forming.
#4: Layer in a couple of additional framed pieces in a cluster.
#5: Balance that on the opposite side with a couple of accessories (books or decorative boxes) in a cluster of varying heights.
I think formulas like this can be great starting points to get the creative juices flowing. Look around your house for what you can use and just start playing. Add, tweak, stand back and analyze.
But don't be too hard on yourself! I've collected an array of gorgeous mantel images to inspire you and, as you'll see, lots of them buck the formula entirely and the result is still gorgeous.
The simple "formula" to creating the perfect mantel vignette lies in creating a visual triangle. Steven and Chris show us the way with 5 easy steps.
#1: Center a large piece (art or a mirror) on your mantel
#2: Add something with movement to the left. I struggle with understanding what "movement" means exactly but I think it means a pairing of items in varying height that cause your eye to bounce between them (hence movement).
#3: Add something with visual weight on the right (to counterbalance the movement element on the left). See...a triangle is forming.
#4: Layer in a couple of additional framed pieces in a cluster.
#5: Balance that on the opposite side with a couple of accessories (books or decorative boxes) in a cluster of varying heights.
original image via
I think formulas like this can be great starting points to get the creative juices flowing. Look around your house for what you can use and just start playing. Add, tweak, stand back and analyze.
But don't be too hard on yourself! I've collected an array of gorgeous mantel images to inspire you and, as you'll see, lots of them buck the formula entirely and the result is still gorgeous.
Here's how my mantel looks today. I am definitely breaking some rules though I do have the triangle thing going on. I'm always making tweaks to my mantel decor and I love switching things out seasonally. The lanterns are constants but in the summer, I play around with beach inspired stuff like the sea fan, coral and large shell on the right.
Tomorrow's post will be all about my most recent mantel addition - that big red H!!!
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