Styling stone fireplace mantel with low ceilings

last year

last modified: last year

I need help styling this fireplace mantel!

I've read lots of articles about how to style a mantel - find an anchor piece, layering, create balance and asymmetry, include things with some height.

We have low ceilings 8' or a little less, and the whole fireplace/mantel is very wide but not very tall. We moved in about a year ago, but haven't done much decorating because we've been working on other parts of the house. Reading some other posts on here I'm now also questioning our color choice on the wall surrounding the fireplace (it is an accent wall painted in SW Peppercorn, and the rest of the room is SW Passive - a much lighter gray. Maybe we should have just painted everything white!). But I'm wondering if the dark color is too much of a contrast with the ceilings - drawing attention to them and making them feel lower. But I'm not sure I can take on repainting this wall right now, I am about to have our 3rd baby in less than 1 month! (Also have thought about whitewashing/over-grouting the fireplace at some point, but can't take that on right now either)

So my main question is - should I go with something wide and horizontal as my anchor piece - a mirror, a very wide horizontal piece of art, etc (we don't want the TV above the fireplace!) Or layer with a few different heights of pieces to functionally fill the same space? Or any ideas of what I can do with this mantel space to not make this wide and squatty space feel weirder? I want to avoid making the ceilings feel even lower with what I fill this space with if possible!

Pillows are set on the hearth for reference to some decor we already have and would like to keep - I love the geometric/tribal patterns but I'm afraid that doesn't really go with the style of the house/room, so I'm not sure if I should carry it over into the fireplace. But also want to tie things together.

This room is north- facing but it does get a good amount of natural light as there is a large bank of windows opposite the fireplace and it is connected to a sunroom via french doors (currently being used as a playroom for our kids) that has a ton of windows facing north and west. This picture was taken as the sun was going down so maybe not the best lighting conditions.

I am going to attach some pictures of things in the comments that I have found online and am considering as possibilities.

Comments (24)

Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
It is actually also a double-sided fireplace and the other side is the dining room.

The width of the mantel is 79 in and the height from mantel to ceiling is 31.5 in.
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
A few "anchor" art prints I am considering:

1. from Target, Project 62. Definitely the most affordable option.

2. from Minted. Not as wide as the target one, comes in 30" x 24" or 40" x 30".

3. From Juniper prints; could get 55" x 22" (maybe a bit too wide?), 36" x 24", or 40" x 30".

4. Also from Juniper Prints. could get 55" x 22" (maybe a bit too wide?), 36" x 24", or 40" x 30".
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Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
I also love some of these geometric options as anchor pieces but am a little more concerned with the traditional style of the fireplace and mantel it would look weird. Which direction should I go - geometric or abstract art print like above?

1. could I have a set of 3 like this on the mantel? These are not prints, they are wood cutouts so the fireplace stone would show through.

2. another geometric set of three that I like

3. This one I think is really cool and its all one piece but it is kind of pricey for us....
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
Or, I could throw out all the ideas about art prints and instead do this rounded mirror from ikea as the anchor. Maybe reflecting light would help lighten the room a bit? Any thoughts?
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
I also need ideas of what I could put on the floor/hearth around the fireplace! There is a plug and a cold air return to the left of it that look unsightly....
User
last year
I like the wood cutouts and would in fact take down the mantle and just use the cutouts. That mass of stone is organic and earthy to say the least, so keep at it with organic elements. Does it really matter that the geomatric tribal patterns are unique to the room? Seems to me that unless the rest of your house is Versailles high pomp classicism, you can transition from your use of tribals and geometrics in this room to modern elements elsewhere.

How about ribbed ceramic (or resin) planter pots on the hearth?

https://www.wayfair.com/Red-Barrel-Studio®--Classic-Ceramic-Pot-Planter-X114372645-L349-K~W003261534.html?refid=GX602165564616-W003261534_1509151027&device=c&ptid=1643001594173&network=g&targetid=aud-976909297908:pla-1643001594173&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=188124110&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=1509151027&gclid=CjwKCAjw5NqVBhAjEiwAeCa97Y6UeHXoRtfa6GbW8kAz4BRTp6LIaDt6fC1PVhOv61VMJU1yS4qnARoCAogQAvD_BwE

How about a tree to the left of the fireplace?
User
last year
If you take my suggeston of putting a tree to the left of the fireplace, try a tall wood carving on the skinny wall to the right of the fireplace. You can sometimes fine really wonderful long African shields that might be perfect. If I find a picture, I’ll show you.
User
last year
Here’s one for under $300 that is 11” wide and 45” high

There are lots others on this site, some with colors.

https://www.chairish.com/product/3517273/african-bamileke-tribe-shield-cameroon

Something else you could do is paint the mantle the same color as the wall and then put a couple of these round shields on it or over it (also from Chairish - just do a search on the site for African shields

Or again, one without color
User
last year
PS: If you use the wood cutouts you might decide to just back them with white paper, or butcher paper or a color if that looks better than see-through. would be simple.
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
thanks for your thoughts @User! Thanks for the vote of confidence about the geometric cutouts. It's not so much that the decor in the rest of the house is completely different (although we do have white shaker style cabinets in the kitchen and a farmhouse-y style dining table, so a few different things going on) - its more that some of the unchangeable things about the house seem very traditional - like the stone and the white mantel itself (don't think we can completely take the whole mantel out right now - trying to work with it as is).

I do like your idea of a tall plant/ tree to the left of the hearth. I always have trouble making decisions with plants and what type to get.
User
last year
One last advice — if you decide to remove the mantle, then make sure that anything flammable you put up there is far enough away from the firebox if you use the fireplace!
User
last year
If you’re up for painting the mantle peppercorn, that might make it stand out less and look less traditional. Find out how the mantle is fixed to the fireplace. It’s possible you could swap it out for a rough-hewn beam or a natural wood box beam that you’d like better.
Yvonne Martin
last year
I agree that at a minimum paint the mantle a darker color--either that of the wall or a darker and muted version of the stone.
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
Thanks for your input but honestly I think I'd rather go lighter and brighter on the walls at some point (not right now, don't have the capacity) rather than paint the mantel dark. I just don't want things to feel too dark and heavy in here. We also just put in some LVP flooring that is medium/on the darker side so I want to keep most everything else lighter. At the time we painted this accent wall the Peppercorn I thought it was a good idea, but now I'm not so sure. Not going to do anything about it in the immediate future, but it wouldn't be too hard to change down the road. Also would consider over-grouting the fireplace at some point to soften it a bit
User
last year
last modified: last year
Ok, then if you’re not going to change the mantel, then I vote for the No 4 ”Jupiter” artwork to unify the wall and the stone and the mantel.

I would get a big white/gray rope basket and the tallest most impressive tree you can afford and put it to the left of the fireplace. This is from Amazon

I would be very tempted to put some kind of mirror behind the tree — actually, if I could find interesting not too vulgar mirror shards, rather than one solid mirror, I’d see I could make that work
User
last year
last modified: last year
PS: I’d also like to add a chunky rustic African stool on the floor at the right corner of the hearth

https://www.chairish.com/product/2667671/white-tribal-naga-stool?gclid=CjwKCAjwh-CVBhB8EiwAjFEPGTMGpxoeTVMxTsKc7qC8Z7se2sOpwN4ctyBzNBlusBJ-6b3abFjYihoCZ-sQAvD_BwE
decoenthusiaste
last year
Not sure of the conditions you'd find if you removed the mantel, but that heavy horizontal line it creates is only helping to lower the feeling of the ceiling. It is also too classic a style for the fireplace. Either paint it darker to try and disappear it, or remove it entirely. If you can get rid of it, then hang a vertical metal sculpture there. If it leaves ugly stuff behind, then plan on a rustic mantel to replace it. Use vertical items like beefy candlesticks to give a feeling of height where there isn't any.
chloebud
last year
I have to agree with the mantel not working well in both color and style. The stone itself is busy, so I think some art that's simpler than some of the geometric patterns might be bst. We have brick on one of our fireplaces. We love the brick but it does have pattern that makes me want "calmer" art. That #3 print from Juniper looks like it could work with the stone. I've been looking at Juniper myself and see several things I like.
User
last year
People might have missed the post that stated that since you are just about to have a baby and are not looking to change fundamentals but decorate what you have for now.
chloebud
last year
last modified: last year
^Good point from ital mover! You can always deal with the mantel issues later. I'm still drawn to that #3 print from Juniper in your case. You'd just need the art and nothing else and could also lean it on the mantel. Regarding art size, how wide is the black surround area?

One more thought...mantels always look best when kept simple, at least IMO.
Yayagal
last year
Okay, here is a site that will show and describe how to upgrade your fireplace with little money. Keep strolling up on the site and you'll find lots of ideas that are easy. Good Luck! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-update-your-fireplace-5-easy-ideas/
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
@chloebud The black surround is about 42" wide. We actually ordered both the juniper prints (#3 and #4) last night, one for each side of our fireplace (its double sided - the other side the mantel is smaller and the ceilings are actually even lower! Funky old house...) For this side I ordered the 55"x22" - which is QUITE wide but i felt like the other sizes they had maybe werent going to be wide enough, or they were too tall for the space and would come to close to the ceiling. I think ill get a few things with some height to flank the art print but try to keep it simple.
Amanda Meier
Original Author
last year
@Yayagal thanks for that link - ive visited her blog before and its super helpful! I mentioned before the possibility of doing something with actual stone of the fireplace (not right now, but someday)- like whitewashing or over-grouting.....these are some links that show fireplaces similar to ours that they changed. It feels like a big project and a permanent change so im a bit scared to take it on (plus the fact that we would have two fireplaces to do, since its double-sided). But i like how these turned out and it softened the look and neutralized the yellow-ness of the stone:

http://lovelivinghereco.com/fireplace/

https://westhousephotography.squarespace.com/blog/our-fireplace-makeover?epik=dj0yJnU9cW5ySGRYTl9USC1Kcm9lUTFkT1RvS0lINV84X2h0dmUmcD0wJm49aGJSdUNSNUJZajJyMFJtbzRUWkJXUSZ0PUFBQUFBR0s3UkNj

Not sure if others have done this before? Or what thoughts are about overgrouting. It seems like a big change that if we screw it up it could be really bad and some could see it as "changing the character of the home" but I at least like the idea of it and how it turned out in these examples!
chloebud
last year
Amanda, one guideline is for the art to be about the same width as the firebox opening. In your case, I would keep the art no wider than the width of the black surround.