44 Fireplace Mantel Decor Ideas for Every Season

Here's how to style your mantel like a pro.

Design by Mikel Welch

If you have a fireplace in your home, chances are it's the official focal point of the room. That's definitely the case for the primary bedroom in the 2024 Real Simple Home. Designer Mikel Welch tackled this space, and his first piece of mantel decorating advice was all about the things surrounding it.

According to Welch, the items on your mantel should tell a story and vary in materials and textures. On the mantel in his space, he mixed antique candle holders, ceramic vases, and wooden sculptures. Each contributed to the English countryside vibe of the room. "Layering these objects in varying heights and textures imbues the space with dimension and visual interest," he says. "The inclusion of natural elements like dried flowers or branches enhances the rustic ambiance."

For a little extra help, we've rounded up some of our favorite ways to turn your frumpy wood-burning or electric fireplace into an illuminating masterpiece. And the best part? These fireplace mantel decor ideas are seasonless, so permission is granted to leave them up all year round if you want.

Getty/ Andreas von Einsiedel

Hanging a mirror over the mantel is a beautiful, classic decorating move. "Incorporating oversized vintage mirrors serves not only to elevate the aesthetic but also to expand the perceived space and enhance luminosity," Welch says. Choose a shape and style that matches the vibe of your space—Mikel used one with intricate detailing to complement his Cotswolds-style primary bedroom.

Crystal Sinclair

Art might be the most natural fit for above a mantel, but if you're afraid of commitment (i.e. putting nails in your wall) leaning art is just as pretty. In this home, designer Crystal Sinclair expertly layered pieces above the mantel. "Layering art creates good depth and softens a room," she says. "About 1/3 of one piece should overlap another." Just make sure you pay attention to actual artwork and you aren't covering up anything important. "You have to be strategic in the placement," she says.

Hayley Ellen Day for Jason Saft

If you're not into the layered look, one big piece works perfectly over a mantel. "I wanted a striking piece of art that would captivate the eye the moment you turn into the room," says home stager Jason Saft. He found this incredible piece (called Pink Cloud by Ulas & Merv) on Artstar. Because it's clearly the star of the show, he kept the rest of the styling minimal, adding some white vases and a low vase of dried flowers.

Your mantel encompasses not just the shelf of your fireplace, but everything surrounding it, too—meaning the wall situated alongside your fireplace mantel is also fair game for decor. Use it as an opportunity to bring a bit of texture and visual interest to your space, especially if you want to keep it basic with the accessories. Here, Bethany Sy from Reality Daydream put up a charming printed paper from Spoonflower, accenting the eclectic nature print with seasonless accessories like rattan trays, wood candlesticks, and potted plants.

For fireplace mantel decor that is as classic (and seasonless!) as it is timeless, play around with a curated selection of accessories and lots of symmetry, like Paige Minear from The Pink Clutch did in her living room. The lifestyle blogger, who gravitates towards preppy motifs and classic silhouettes, styled up her brick and wood mantle with mirroring brushstroke jars from Jana Bek and vintage candle sconces, uniting the center with a stack of books, plant, and artwork from Paige Gemmel, all in a playful palette of hues to keep things vibrant.

If all eyes are heading to your fireplace mantel decor, you might as well give 'em something good to look at! At least, that's what we'd imagine the motto of Amelia Brooks to be, who created this stunning space in her Victorian townhouse. The design enthusiast (she runs online shopping destination Audenza, alongside her mom and sister) fulfilled her maximalist fantasies by coating the entire room—mantel included—in rich peacock teal (Serpentine by Zoffany), then accentuating the scene with equally gutsy accessories like a ceramic cheetah, an art print by Dodo Flugge and a pink neon heart light.

Elevate your houseplants to a spot of respect by placing a bevy of them on your mantel for everyone to admire. Sarah Symonds from Grace in My Space used pothos that she was propagating to dot her mantel, placing the plant babies alongside the eye-catching mother plant, of course.

White mantels are classic, but bathing your whole fireplace area in a dark color makes it feel cool and cozy. To make it feel more spring/summer, Lucy Akins of Craftberry Bush brightened up her moody mantle with several cool bulb arrangements (you can see exactly how she made them here). An assortment of brass candlesticks add some height and visual interest.

Sunday House / Kaitlin Green

If you're going to display a plant or two on your mantel, why not select a planter that has a bit of personality? This face-shaped one that Sunday House used in this space is designed to resemble a classic Greek bust and is sure to turn heads (no pun intended) when visitors stop by.

Natalie Papier

Maybe you'd rather display a few branches in a vase on the mantel than opt for a plant, but again, you will want to select an eye-catching vessel. This geometric one adds funky flair to this already eclectic space that Natalie Papier designed.

Kristin Keyes / Native House Photography

Who's ready to party? Make like Kristin Keyes and keep spirits high all day long by displaying a disco ball on your mantel—it's sure to infuse instant energy into your space. As a bonus, it'll create some super cool-looking shadows on the wall as sunlight flows in throughout the day.

Diane Rath

If you have a non-working fireplace, you can get pretty creative when it comes to filling the firebox. Here, Diane Rath added books into this simple white fireplace located in a kid's room. Keeping books on the floor will allow young ones to access their reads on their own as they please.

Michelle Gage / Kyle Born

Maybe you're inclined to keep your mantel decor on the simpler side but go all in with the area around it. Why not display a gallery wall featuring some of your favorite prints from over the years? This one Michelle Gage made is expansive and features a wide range of shapes, art styles, and colors, resulting in a perfectly collected look.

The Vintage Room

If you could use a bit of light in the living room (or wherever your mantel is located) consider placing a rechargeable lamp on top of it and incorporating it into the decor, no pesky cords involved, as seen in this space by The Vintage Room. There are so many cute options on the market these days—people are really enjoying weaving these fixtures into their homes whenever possible.

The Colorful Colonial

If you love using decor to make a statement, go all in on your mantel top and showcase a few of your favorite quirky pieces. The Colorful Colonial did just that in her space, and yes, even her cat wanted to join in on the fun.

Molly in Maine

Many people enjoy styling their mantel so that it reflects a particular theme or aesthetic; here, nautical style pieces come together perfectly in Molly in Maine's living room and help to set the tone for this gathering space.

Courtney Fitzpatrick

Many people choose to paint over their wood mantels, but there's something special about leaving these pieces in their natural state, too. If your mantel is rustic in style, play up that aesthetic by outfitting it with rustic style pieces including baskets, muted art, striped textiles, and beyond, as Courtney FitzPatrick did.

Erin harman

Bring the outside in by adding earthy colors and textures to your mantel top like Erin Harman of Erin Evolving did. The framed tree art hanging above the mantel complements the nearby leafy throw pillows and other pops of greenery wonderfully.

Amanda Coakley

Infuse classic library vibes into your home by gathering a couple of books and displaying them as decor on the mantel, as Amanda Coakley of Flora and Font did here. Of course, you can choose to turn your books so that the pages face outward if you prefer a simpler, more textured look.

Sara Austin

If you love items that have a storied past, choose an antique (or antique-looking) piece of art and hang it over the mantel to bring major museum vibes into your home, taking a cue from Sara Austin of The Found Home. This stately portrait is sure to be an instant conversation starter.

Nina Watson

Even though we don't rely on traditional clocks as much as we once did, they still make for nice decorative accents, especially if you appreciate vintage style like Nina Watson of Art Deco Jewel. Weaving a clock into your mantel decor will remind you of simpler times in the best way possible.

Lella Life Photography

Florals and landscape works go hand in hand and will look lovely clustered together on the mantel belonging to Lella Life Photography. Keep in mind that you can easily source works of this nature while secondhand shopping; by no means do you need to break the bank while collecting beautiful art.

At Home with Izzy

After you've tackled the mantel, don't forget about the hearth! This can be a nice place to also display candles, plants, and more in order to keep your decor scheme going, as At Home with Izzy did.

Little Mill Abergavenny

You'll want to decorate your mantel so that it complements your home's aesthetic as seen in this space by Little Mill Abergavenny. This antique looking design is brought to life with pieces of traditional decor and a textural fabric remnant.

Sarah Caligiuri

If you love vibrant decor, don't hold back when it comes to the mantel! Bright books, plant pots, trinkets, and more are a great way to infuse your space with color without breaking the bank, as Sara Caligiuri of Tropicali Haven did.

Ruthie Jackson

If your mantel is black in color, decorate with brass objects that will really pop against the dark backdrop. Examples include candlesticks, vases, sconces, and more, as seen here in Ruthie Jackson's home.

Schitt to Shine

If you're a maximalist, display objects in a layered fashion on the mantel as seen in the home of Schitt to Shine. Stick to pieces that fall within the same general color scheme so that the end result doesn't appear too busy or cluttered.

Sarah Lyon / Margaret Rose Larson

If you worry about being able to maintain a live plant or don't want to have to purchase new flowers or greenery each week, consider opting for faux stems, which you can then display in a vase on the mantel. These will last for years on end and are pretty convincing looking based on this photo of writer and content creator Sarah Lyon's space.

Our Victorian Place

There's nothing wrong with neutrals! If you prefer a simple color scheme like Our Victorian Place, stick to a mix of browns, whites, and blacks. Adding texture to the mix is key in order to prevent the mantel area from falling flat.

Sarah Lyon

Weave some dark academia-inspired decor into your place like Sarah Lyon did by displaying a Greek bust statue on the mantel. There are so many new and vintage options to choose from that are available in a range of heights and shapes.

Leopard Print Stairs

Hanging a mirror a bit higher over the mantel like Leopard Print Stairs did ensures that you don't have to sacrifice space for decor while still allowing plenty of light into your space. This mirror is on the smaller side but will still work to make your room appear larger.

Sarah Lyon

Fill an empty firebox with a few favorite framed pieces of art. Layering them as Sarah Lyon did results in a cool, casual look, and it also makes it easy to switch things out as often as you desire—no nails involved!

Erin Myers / Laura Visioni

If you're drawn to a symmetrical look, here's a great setup from Erin Myers to replicate. Place a mirror above the mantel and then add a decorative item on each side for a classic display.

Charlie Smith

Add a peppy touch to the mantel like Charlie Smith did by displaying art prints that feature a range of positive or witty quotes. A colorful flower border above the mantel adds even more whimsy.

Rare Corners

When styling objects, keep in mind that things always look best when displayed in groups of three. Here, three see-through vases in various shapes sit on the right side of the mantel for a visually pleasing result in Rare Corners's home.

Linen and Twigs

Why opt for one mirror above the mantel when you can have three? These smaller mirrors in Linen and Twigs's home look gorgeous layered over one another and are a great alternative to one more expensive, sizable option.

Eclectic Avenue Styling

Add height to the mantel where you can as seen in Eclectic Avenue Styling's space. Sculptural decor (again, arranged in groups of three) is one smart way to do so. Vases filled with branches are another go to solution.

Sarah Lyon / Kyle Caldwell

Shop your home when considering what to display on the mantel. A vessel that you may currently have styled on the floor might be the perfect scale to display on your mantel top, where it can be fully seen and appreciated, as illustrated in Sarah Lyon's home.

Claire Champion

Weave a vine over your mantel top like Claire Champion did for a jungle-inspired look that will make you feel like you're kicking back somewhere tropical and relaxing, no matter where it is you live.

Burlap and Book Pages

Bring boho style to your mantel like Burlap and Book Pages by displaying geometric art, pampas grass, terra cotta-colored accents, and the like. A wicker stool, pulled up close to the hearth, makes for a fitting finishing touch.

Rare Corners

If you have a collection of items you've been longing to display, consider placing them on the mantel top in a thoughtful manner. Here, various urns in a range of sizes add an artful touch to this space in Rare Corners' home.

Sixty Seven Belmont

The more candles, the merrier. Have fun with a collection of candlesticks like Sixty Seven Belmont did and display a range of styles all together in a row. Weave in some colorful taper candles to make the end result even more fun.

Ariel Okin / Read McKendree / JBSA

Topiaries are a traditionalist's favorite and require little maintenance over time. Paired with botanical wallpaper in this room that Ariel Okin designed, they look right at home on this simple mantel top.

Erin Myers / Laura Visioni

Get creative like Erin Myers and make use of all of the surface space on your mantel—even the tippity top part of it—if you're so inclined. If you're worried about keeping fragile objects out of kids' and pets' reach, styling things as high up as possible is also a practical idea.