- 1). Clean and dry your mantel thoroughly. Make your mantel fresh before decorating it ensures your decorative display has a crisp backdrop. Mantels are made of many materials: brick, ceramic, wood and even stainless steel. Clean your brick mantel carefully with light soap (or brick cleaner, if you have it) and water; clean grooves with a toothbrush. Ceramic and wood can be cleaned with a gentle cleanser, water and a warm cloth. Stainless steel can be sprayed with window cleaner and wiped dry.
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Everyday decorations can add much to a mantel's visual appeal.Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
Set up your everyday living display by laying a piece of fabric, often called a mantel runner, on the mantel. A mantel is typically narrower than a table, so if you do not have a mantel runner you can make one by tailoring a table runner to the width and length of the mantel. Lay silver candlesticks on the mantel and fill them with candles. Place several glass vases of varying sizes on the mantel. Fill each vase with dried or fresh flowers. Add several family photo frames to the display. This creation is for everyday living. Each item on the display is also functional: candles add elegance, the photo frames serve as conversation starters for dinner parties, and the flowers add warmth to the room. - 3
The mantel can be a holiday focal point.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Having a mantel for the holiday season is something many people can only dream of. Take advantage of your mantel and deck the halls for the season. Lay a piece of felt on the mantel in a traditional color such as red or green or in a modern holiday color like white, and have this serve as the replacement for a mantel runner. Fill glass vases and bowls with assorted colored ornaments. Add holiday-colored candles to the silver candle holders. Finally, weave bows of holly through the display. - 4
String a birthday banner for your loved ones from one side of the mantel to another.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
Add a pink, red or white satin or lace mantel runner close to Valentine's Day. Keep your mantel appropriately styled with pink, white or red candles, and fill glass vases with rose petals or dried flowers. If you're living with kids, fill the glass vases with assorted Valentine's Day candy, such as candy hearts and jelly beans. - 5). String red, white and blue bunting from one side of the mantel to the other when you celebrate the Fourth of July. Keep the top of the mantel patriotic with red, white and blue candles. Spread an American flag on the wall above the mantel for a decorative frame.
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