Tips on Choosing a Fireplace Mantel for Your Home
First and foremost, measurements are very important. Accurate measurements are key when purchasing either a pre-constructed or custom mantel. Home improvement stores will usually have instructions on how to properly take measurements around your fireplace, in order to ensure that your mantel fits properly and evenly around the fireplace. It may be possible to have someone from the store or an independent architect come to your home to take the measurements for you. Depending upon how much work your mantel may require, a professional may be the right choice.
You can also find instructions on how to take proper measurements at the following website: http://www.e-mantels.com/measuring.htm E-mantels is an online showroom for all types of mantels and a great resource to being choosing a fireplace mantel for your home. Other online stores are listed below in the Resources section.
When choosing a style of fireplace mantel, you should look around at the room and its current decor. Should your mantel reflect a modern style or is a traditional mantel more suited to the surroundings? Other factors to consider are how much of a focal point in the room would you prefer the mantel to be. Will the fireplace be a central point of congregation, or will it subtly enhance the room? Will it be decorated, or remain somewhat sparse?
Mantels come in a tremendous variety of shapes and styles. They can be made of several different varieties of wood, marble, and stone, and can be of simple design, or decorated with accents. Some may possess bas reliefs or molded elements, while others bear an old world grandeur. You can choose a mantel consisting of sharp lines and tight corners, or curved architecture and a shelf that seemingly flows into its supporting columns.
The mantel you ultimately choose should be something that compliments the room as well as it befits the style of the room’s decor. This should easily help you narrow things down a bit.
In regards to material and style, some mantels will work better with certain types of walls, allowing for precision cuts and trimming to be made to in order to fit around brick, wood, or stone, while others cannot be altered. In addition, some mantels are preferred for wood-burning fireplaces only, and others for gas or oil fireplaces. Again, depending upon your own knowledge and the type of mantel you intend to purchase, a professional’s services may be required, as installing some mantels may also require some minor construction work in the room.
Often, most places that sell custom mantels will allow you to pick the wood and finish, and add decorative elements and accessories to further customize the look and style of your mantel. This can sometimes add heavily to the final cost of your mantel, but may also be less expensive than purchasing a mantel already rich with design elements.
There are many options available to the consumer when it comes to purchasing a new mantel. Many home decor and home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s stock pre-made, unfinished mantels at common mantel sizes. If the size is appropriate for your own fireplace, then this is a quick, affordable solution, though not as stylish as some custom options. Applying a stain or paint finish and securing the pieces to the wall is all that’s required once your purchase has been made.
Lastly, when the mantel has been chosen, an accompanying fireplace screen and fire tools serve to complete the overall look. You can usually find both at the same establishment you purchased your mantel from, with many being sold as a set.
