Mantle styling is one of my favorite things to do, and if you have been following me for any length of time, you know that I love to style mine for the seasons and holidays.
I have kind of a styling "recipe" that I follow that looks good on any mantle and can be adapted to any style. I am excited to share this mantle styling formula with you today.
Start with a Mirror
The first "ingredient" is a large round mirror, ideally it would be 1/2 to 2/3rds the width of the mantle. I love a mirror over a fireplace for a few reasons..
1. It's an easy piece of decor to source and use...no pressure trying to find the perfect piece of art. There are so many gorgeous mirror options out there, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. I am going to link some of my favorites at the end of this post.
2.Mirrors are relatively inexpensive, as a matter of fact one of my favorite ones is from Ikea and is less than $100.
3. Another reason I love having a mirror above my mantle is that it is super neutral. As you can see from my collage above, a mirror doesn't interfere with my seasonal decor and it goes with everything!
Add a Vase or Two
Once you have selected a mirror, the next ingredient you want to add is a vase, or two like I did, in different heights. I recently bought these two from Urban Barn and I am in love with them. They are neutral in color but have some texture to give warmth and interest. If you click on the link you will see my mantle featured below!
Depending on your style and preference, you can either leave your vases empty or add some stems like I have done with mine. I have used faux stems, also from Urban Barn, and the pop of greenery makes me happy!
Candle holders on the other side
The last main ingredient of my mantle styling formula is a set of candle holders, a grouping of 2 or 3 candle holders in varying sizes works best.
While I was shopping for my vases, I ended up buying this set of candle holders from Urban Barn and I think the size and scale is perfect for my large, wide mantle.
Bonus Items
My basic formula of mirror + set of vases + set of candle holders works really well on any mantle. You can see how I used this exact formula for a client project and the result is simple, elegant and beautiful.
I have used the same basic "recipe" on my own Living Room mantle but have also added in a few bonus items to fill out my large and wide mantle.
Because my fireplace is the focal point in the room and I don't have anything else on that wall, I really wanted to make sure my mantle really shines. So in addition to the basics, I added a fun planter on a stack of books on one side ...
and then this wicker votive holder (a Target score from a few summers ago) on the other side with the vases...
Mantle Styling Inspiration & Sources
Here are some of my favorite Mirrors/vase/candle combinations.
If you are looking for some more mantle styling inspiration, you can click on this post: One Mantle styled 3 Ways.
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I hope you found my styling recipe helpful, thanks so much for reading, if you like this post, Pin it for later!
xo, Kerri