Fireplace Mantel Ideas Guide

Fireplace Mantel Ideas
The Fireplace Mantels 123 Buying Guide

Welcome to the wonderful world of fireplace mantels and fireplace mantel ideas. A mantel shelf is more than just a piece of wood mounted above your hearth. It's the perfect accent you place on your home. The mantel is where you place your most prized possessions, pictures of loved ones, and even where you hang your stockings at Christmas time. That's why you need to select a fireplace mantel that reflects the design of your home, fits well with your fireplace, and has enough space to accommodate the possessions you want to place on it.

However, selecting the perfect mantel piece is not an easy job, especially if you're fresh out of fireplace mantel ideas or have no clue what your options are. Use this fireplace mantel buying guide to help you find and select the best mantel shelf for your home.

Types of Fireplace Mantels

When it comes to selecting a fireplace mantel, you definitely have choices. Today, mantels come in many different types of material, shapes, sizes, and construction. Modern design has pushed the boundaries of fireplace mantel design farther than ever before.

Common makes of fireplace mantels include:

• Wood
• Marble
• Stone
• Antique-styled
• Fireplace Surrounds

Each type offers its own innate style. Wood mantel pieces are often stained or painted. Marble mantel shelves provide a unique elegance that's completely different from any other material. The goal is to select one the matches your existing home and fireplace décor.