• Wood fireplace mantels can be a major part of any room's decor, especially if the design and finish stand out from other colors and furnishings around it. There are two specific types of fireplace surrounds: the standing mantel and the shelf mantel, both of which can be finished to match any theme, style and taste.
  
  

Country Mantel

• Country fireplace mantels are commonly found in knotty pine, which is a soft wood. Pine is easy to distress, a technique where the wood is dented, scratched and poked to give it an old, beat-up look. The stain and top coat that are placed over top of the wood penetrate deep into the distressed marks, darkening them from the rest of the wood. Country style can also be achieved by painting and then sanding the edges. A darker stain that contrasts with the paint color is then wiped over the top to give the paint a dirty look. Country style typically has no shine to its look, therefore a matte finish is commonly used.
  
  

Traditonal Mantel

• Crown moldings and trim along with decorative carvings or wooden decals make up the traditional-style mantel. Woods with a heavy grain such as oak are often used in this style. The finish of traditional style is done in light to medium stains with a light gloss finish, known as satin.
  
  

Contemporary Mantel

• Woods such as maple and alder are used for the contemporary style due to these woods' smooth grain. Contemporary style has clean straight lines and can be finished with any color of stain or paint that has a semi- to high-gloss shine. However, there is never any distressing, sanding of edges nor is there ever any decorative moldings. Contemporary style is simple but does not lack in character.
  
  

Rustic Mantel

• Rustic style is often found in the mountain cabin theme and is a mix between the simplicity of the contemporary style and finish of the country style. Rustic is almost always made from pine wood and can be distressed, though it is finished with nothing more than a wax, usually beeswax. Rustic does not have decorative moldings or decals, nor is it ever painted. Rustic looks natural with no added color or shine.