Post some photos -- and let us help! :)

Here's my fireplace (and Billy bookcases) around Halloween -- the mantel and the portrait get switched around for the summer season.

Hope this helps -- I change the decor on the mantel often -- just depends on the day! LOL!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

This isn't a great pic, but I'm too hot and lazy to take a new one. LOL Obviously this is was taken in the middle of Christmas decorating.

{{!gwi}}

We have a mismatched group of do-hickeys on top of the mantel: four or five framed pics, a clock, a bible on a stand, my porcelain doll, and our large B&W wedding photo. I think I need to choose a collection and it doesn't necessarily need to be any of these things.

We like traditional, post-Victorian, craftsman, country and cottage looks.

Also, I'm very aware of a problem with electrical cords in our living room. I don't know how to hide them.

Oh what a lovely wedding photo! That's certainly something I'd keep there. If you could find a model car similar to the one in the photo to place on the mantel along with other things from your wedding or life together, I think that would work out great. Love the Bible too.
As for the cords, if you can still find those shower curtain rod covers get one close to the color of your carpet and slip all the cords inside it. The "tube" will fade into the background.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shower curtain rod cover incase you find them locally.

Thanks for the curtain rod tip! That should be an easy fix.

Trying to find a horse carriage like the one we rode in for our wedding could be fun. That certainly was a happy memory. Cold, but happy.

In the meantime, I've removed all the junk from our mantel. I'll post pics of a few different existing collections soon.

...Pam

You're welcome. Wal Mart used to carry the rod covers. Not sure they do anymore, I've not looked. If you can't find the color you need you might be able to find a spray paint for plastic in the right color.
I'll keep an eye on this thread to see your photos.

Here are two similar combos. I'm not thrilled with either, but they're a start for some feedback. I have lots of "stuff", so I can play with other combos.

{{!gwi}}
The wedding pic is resting on some fabric for now. If it stays we'll hang it on the wall.

{{!gwi}}

In my humble opinion I'm thinking the wedding photo needs to be hung like you mention. Otherwise everything is just sitting in a row. Can you maybe prop it up higher?
Do you have any books you can use as lifts for some of your other items too? If you look as Jan's lovely pictures of her bookshelves you'll see she has some items set on books that are laying on their sides.

The photo will be hung. How high up or how far down from the ceiling?

Yes, I can add some books. Good tip. Thanks.

I've taken more pics of more combinations of "stuff". Any preferences for objects? Comments?

Thank you, everyone. I'm really struggling with this.

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Measure the area between the top of your mantel and the ceiling, then measure the height of the framed photo.
If you can get a picture from back further and as straight on as possible with the photo as flat against the wall as possible I'll do a couple virtuals for you.
As for what items I like the idea of keeping the Bible on the stand. Is it open to First Corinthians Thirteen by any chance?

Hi there,

Here is my opinion...from another FP struggler at times. I like photo 2 best of all...the 3 hurricane/candles on left..photo in middle (I know you will hang it) and the doll to the right. In my humble opinion the other options have too much stuff on the mantle and it looks a bit cluttered. Also the size of the objects is wrong I think.
Just to share, here is a photo of my mantle. It has 3 vintage silver trophies on the left...(one needs polishing terribly and is on my "to do" list). There is a single candle lantern on the right. It is stacked on books to give is more of a presences against the heavier items on the left. The crab painting is the cherry on top in my opinion. I realize everything is subjective and what looks good to me may not to others. But I think a lot of FP decorating comes down to balance and size of objects. Too many items on a mantle look "busy" to me and there is nowhere for your eye to focus. Hope that makes sense. I think you are coming along just fine. Just keep working on different ideas and you'll hit upon the one you love.

Justgota - Thank you. I'll take more pics soon. As for the bible, I open it to random pages and read them almost like a horoscope. Its amazing how often something very meaningful for the moment comes up for me. Last night I turned it to Isaiah 53 and 54 but I haven't read the pages yet.

Storklady - I like your mantel and the fresh nautical look. Can you help me understand what you mean by this? "Also the size of the objects is wrong I think." When I see your mantel I think you mean that I need larger objects.

I really like picture No. 2 the best except for the calendar.

Love the doll! That gives me an idea, I have an antique cloth doll which belonged to my grandmother and I think I'll get it out and see what it looks like on the mantel.

Mantels are so hard to decorate, aren't they?

My only complaint about fireplaces is I never see FP tools sitting on the hearth, which to me makes it look complete. We burn wood and have a lot of necessities so we put them in a nice bronzed decorative bucket, along with a large stand for the tools.

I'm wondering though if most people use gas these days for burning and that's why I never see FP tools on the hearth anymore?

What I meant was I think the clock, calendar, votives and blue & white items are too small. I think the mantle looks too busy in those photos in which you have lots of items on it because there is nowhere for your eye to focus or rest. I'm NO expert by any means so don't pay a bit of attention to anything I say if you don't agree. :-) I was just giving my opinion because you asked. For myself...I like fewer items when decorating a focal point. So I think the photo with the 3 hurricane candles on the left, the photo in the middle and the doll on the right looks best to me. There are fewer items and they are larger.

I wasn't really trying for a nautical look on my mantle because I don't have a beachy theme going on in my house. I added the starfish to the lantern just because it's summer, I love shells & I'm from the LA/MISS gulf coast. I don't currently live near the water because I am landlocked in south Texas. The crab is just a favorite painting of mine and I liked the size and the jolt of color it provides in a mostly black, brown, silver and white scape.

I took the photo up close so things look bigger than in reality. If I had stepped back a bit you'd see the items are not over-sized. I didn't want you to see the MESS on the hearth as I'm sorting thru old books and using the heart as my workspace. NOW the truth comes out as to why you don't see the photo from farther back. haha

Here are some links I just found on mantle and fireplace decorating. They are from BHG. Be sure to let us know what you decide.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mantle Tips BHG

This link is from the blog Young House Love. It's titled "One Mantle Eight Ways."

Here is a link that might be useful: One Mantle Eight Ways from Young House Love

Yes, I did get out of 3rd grade...just noticed I've spelled mantel wrong all day. OOPS. I feel silly. I'll read this thread with interest from here on out...can't imagine I can think of another thing to say. lol.

I decided I'd try a bit of a virtual with what you have shown to see how you liked it. Though larger things can make it easier I think what you have can work too. Here's one idea before I head to bed....

Thank you so much ladies for the links and for the awesome moch-up. All the visuals are very helpful.

Justgota - I really like the arrangement you've made. I think I'm still going to look for a decoration that echos the carriage theme in our photo, like a lamp of some sort, but that would definitely work for me in the meantime.

I'm going to keep going through our "stuff" and I'll post more arrangements with new things.

I'm pretty sure the wedding pic will stay, though. I simply don't know where else to put it except over our bed or maybe in the front entryway.

Here's another question. Does it matter that a photo has a winter theme -- it was minus 17F on our wedding day and there was snow at our feet -- if other pictures in the room are clearly summer, such as florals?

...Pam

I have an idea...

What if I used the arangement in the virtual pic above but instead of the blue willow pieces (which are from my kitchen where I have a picture they go really well with) I put a crystal bowl and a matching crystal vase. In the vase I could keep roses and peacock feathers; both were in my wedding bouquet. Thoughts? I'll try the arrangement soon, minus the roses and feathers since I don't have either, and take pics to show you.

...Pam

I'm glad it helped you. I love the idea of adding other items that were part of your wedding. They might help the crystal work. It's often hard to use clear items since they can easily blend into the background. Having something in them, like I added the blue candle to your hurricane, can make them work though. I'm looking forward to seeing your next photos.

Your mention of a lantern gave me a thought. How about adding an antique brass lantern (the type with a handle that would have been carried or waved) or old oil lamp that would echo the era of the carriage? LOVE that picture, btw!

What do you think of Victorian lace mantel scarves?

Here is a link that might be useful:

That's very pretty prairiedawnpam.
I added it to your mantel but made it longer to fit better.

Oakley - Our fireplace is gas, so we don't need tools. I could add a bucket or basket of pine cones at the hearth, maybe even scented potpourri ones.

Thoughts?

Just -- I like it! Thank you! I think a scarf would add a nice touch until we can add some wood appliques on that plain, horizontal face.

OK... I've taken the previous advice and mock-up as inspiration. I did add a blue candle to the red-based clear urn, moved "Emily" and our bible, and instead of using either the blue willow or the crystal items, I've added larger blue vase and another doll. The tea cups were wedding gifts. I could add peacock feathers or another taller natural item to the vase.

Thoughts?

{{!gwi}}

Is it "out" to paint quotes on walls? Hubby and I were married eight years ago. The Victorian house we had our reception in was decorated in Victorian and fantasy themes -- its very "us" -- and the walls in the entry, living room and dining room had scripture painted in gold at the top of the walls. It really spoke to us. I am thinking about painting favourite words on the plain, front face of our mantel. Thoughts?

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These are the only pics I have of the B&B that show wall words.
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Honestly there is much inspiration we could take from the local, Victorian B&B for the decoration of our own home since we love it so much.

...Pam

As far as I know wall words are still popular. It wouldn't make one bit of difference to me if they weren't anyway. If I like something I do it. It's OUR house. Kind of like our nation. If you don't like it? Leave. Simple as that. Don't expect me to change.
Just one thing. You'd want to capitalize the H in "...His house..."

Oops! Yes. Definitely a capital "H". Thanks.

I thought you'd probably knew that, but just making sure. Forgot to mention I like your current set up too.

A couple more...
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I don't like the fake rose. Bad idea.