Having a party? Remember to embellish your mantel, as the fireplace is invariably the true focal point of any room!
Recently, a darling millennial bride asked for my advice on how to decorate her Living Room mantel for an upcoming cocktail party. Here are her questions… and my classic design secrets.
🌸 How do I decorate a mantel in a classical style?
Symmetry is key! Symmetry plays a pivotal role in classical design, creating immediate harmony and balance.
I always like to start with a centerpiece. Choose an object that is meaningful to you and complements the room’s theme. Then work outward in pairs, flanking the centerpiece on either side. Continue working outward in pairs, introducing varying heights to add rhythm and visual interest. The overall length of your mantel will naturally dictate how many pairs can be gracefully displayed.
🌸 What are the two key elements that adorn the Living Room mantel at Fox Hall?
🌸 A pair of vases for flowers. Flowers are like earrings to a dress on a mantelpiece! They instantly lend a quiet sense of occasion for your guests. Freshly cut flowers, whether gathered from the garden, a local farmstand, or a florist, gracefully enhance your mantel with just the right touch of color. As the seasons change, you can easily transition from late-summer garden blooms to rich autumn foliage, and eventually to evergreen roping, sprigs of holly, and pink poinsettias for the holidays!
🌸 A pair of candlesticks. In the evening, candlelight on the mantel adds sheer magic. The flickering flames are the “fairy dust” that sets an enchanting scene for your guests.
🌸 What kind of candlesticks should I use?
This depends on the formality of the room. I love to choose from sterling silver, brass, pewter, fine porcelain, or crystal.
🌸 My Old-School Candle Secret:
Traditionally, classic white wax candles are the candles of choice. Always blacken the wicks before guests arrive! The unwritten rule is that candles are meant to be used, never kept merely for show.
🌸 Please take care that your candle flames are not positioned too close to paintings or gilt frames on the wall above, as the heat could be rawwwther damaging!
🌸 What should I hang on the wall over my mantel?
Conventionally, a handsome mirror or an oil painting hangs over the mantelpiece. Remember that the decorative elements displayed on your shelf, specifically the height of your centerpiece, will dictate how high or low your artwork should hang. Always plan your mantel display before putting a nail into the wall!
🌸 What is the difference between a mantelpiece and a chimneypiece?
While both terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the shelf and decorative surroundings, in classical British architecture, a chimneypiece refers to the entire grand architectural structure enclosing the fireplace (often including an overmantel), while the mantel refers specifically to the shelf.
So, here is a question for you! Do you hang a mirror or painting above your mantel, or something else to create a classic look?
Here is an Instagram video of our mantel back in 2023!
If you have a friend who loves classic design or is preparing their home for autumn entertaining, please pass this newsletter along. Inviting them into our lovely circle is the grandest compliment ever… and please keep the questions coming!
Xx Holly
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