The fireplace is a great feature to have in any home because it helps to add warmth and ambience to the room. Some homes are able to get away with using a fireplace that has no surround or a place to for you to sit on. However, none look good without a fireplace mantel.
The fireplace mantel is an essential part to any wood burning, gas, or corner fireplace. When you compare those with a mantel to those without you will see how drastic they are. Without the mantel the fireplace will look cold and pointless. You will immediately lose the ambience and have no desire to use it.
Function Of Fireplace Mantels
In order to know what design to use for your fireplace mantel you have to consider what you will be using it for. Most take advantage of the extra space in the living room and will use it to hold their heirlooms, knick knacks, candles, and pictures.
Others will design the mantel to be connected to cabinets and shelves that surround the whole fireplace. This provides it with storage for books, decorations, and movies. Still some people might make the mantel so large that it is able to hold their television or at least will sit directly beneath the television to hold the cable box and DVD player.
Size
The size of the fireplace mantel is entirely up to you. In most cases people will always make it slightly longer than the opening of the fireplace. However, the width of the mantel will vary depending on how much room you have to work with and what you want to place on top of it. If you are designing a smaller fireplace try not to make it too thick or it will hang too far out.
Fireplace Mantel Materials
The fireplace mantel can be designed and produced using wood, iron, rock slabs, marble, and stone. The type of wood or any other material that you choose will be dependent upon how much you have to spend, how it will match the room, and how easy it will be to maintain them. Obviously the marble and stone are going to be the most expensive and are well suited in homes with a Victorian style. The most common, affordable, and versatile choice is to use wood.
There are many varieties of both light and dark colors woods that you might be able to use. You will want it to match the color scheme of the room and also the style you have used. This is your chance to add to the décor instead of taking away from it.