20 Gorgeous Fireplace Mantel Decorating Ideas That’ll Keep You Cozy

Luminous black paint transformed this once-dreary fireplace located in Ontario’s cottage country. Capped with a warm wood mantel, the photographers who live in this Scandinavian-inspired space finished the fireplace off with twin watercolours, a wooden deer head and wildflowers that are totally apropos.

Can we talk about the ubiquitous yet never boring gold French mirror? Whether in a foyer or over a fireplace, it is a huge hit. We love it in this colourful Toronto home because it plays off the space’s heritage features. Sort of. The fireplace and millwork are indeed original to the 1909-built home, but the stone facade is actually a DIY project that came together, incredibly enough, with marble adhesive.

Designed by Fixer Upper‘s Joanna Gaines, this ranch living room is instantly inviting. Varying heights of candles draw the eye to the mantel where books bring a warm, comforting feel – a signature Gaines move. See here for more of the Magnolia maven’s living room style.

This bungalow may only be 950 square feet but boy is it ever amazing. The heritage home in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood is filled with glamorous touches. A replica of an original mantel and hearth has architectural gravitas in the living room, where ethereal artwork has contemporary presence, too (head’s up on that tin ceiling!)

Just try to ignore this fireplace. Sarah Richardson outdoes herself juxtaposing stripes on top, squares on the bottom, and adding a cute clump of vases. Here’s a look at more of the designer’s living-room perfection.

In this atypical fireplace that stretches along one wall, Joanna Gaines took the opportunity to casually show off a collection of artwork. Scattered potted plants bring life and dimension to the zone.

Putting a new photograph in an old-world frame lends interest to this chic living room in Guelph, ON, that’s inspired by Paris. Other glamorous touches include a gold sconce to illuminate the artwork and a tall vase to stand up to it. A faceted light fixture is a scene stealer.

Floppy plants are exactly what you should be shopping for if you want to imitate the look of this cottage-y fireplace located in a century Toronto home. (Droopy leaves are eye-catching.) Be sure to layer in large-scale vintage pieces – a tubby green glass bottle, a boat buoy. You get the drift.

After a fuss-free aesthetic? Keep the clutter at bay and select pieces judiciously. A black-and-white photograph and small quirky pieces – the face plant pot, the shell vase – lend serenity to this living room in Ontario’s Prince Edward County. Note the white space over the mantel.

Designer Orsi Panos created this beautiful character-filled home for a Toronto couple. The graphic artwork is a snap the homeowners took of the Spanish steps in Rome – and blowing it up was budget-friendly. The stunning patchwork Spanish tile in the cavity is from Mettro Source and jugs and bowls along the mantel prove that these items should not only live in the kitchen.

Putting the television over the fireplace is polarizing, but we’re leaning towards doing it if it’ll look as good as it does in this glam B.C. home. The mantel is an architectural feature that hides a mess of AV components, while matching artwork has a pleasing symmetry.

A wooden mantel, beachy snapshot and smattering of subdued tiles give this charming living room a serene feel. The vibe is carried throughout the century-old home, because sometimes less really is more.

Design duo Ben and Erin Napier of Home Town knew exactly how to modernize a lacklustre fireplace: clad it with vintage-y tiles. On top, the mantel gets the homespun treatment. Cohesive natural elements, from the greenery to the woodsy mirror, offer a down-to-earth charm.

Toronto stager Romina Tina Fontana’s bachelorette pad is so pretty. The fireplace decor was pulled together with that style staple – a Parisian gold mirror – set against the home’s original brick. An authentic Saarinen Tulip table in front is a nice way to cozy up to the flames.

A quartet of photos is a welcome change from a mirror in this gorgeous Vancouver home beautified by Jillian Harris of Love It Or List It Vancouver. Copy the look with personalized pics of your own. This is the second seating area showing a fireplace. This one has storage galore and plush furniture made for lazing.

Jillian Harris brought coastal-chic flair to this home in Vancouver. A shiplap treatment in the living room is the backdrop to a plethora of penny tiles on the fireplace. Jillian brought drama above it with leaning artwork and sculptural branches.

Talk about instant drama. The Property Brothers gave this homeowner the formal living room of her dreams by framing the fireplace and adding elegant accessories, including brass sconces, splashy artwork and pillar candles. And that herringbone marble!

This amazing Craftsman-style house in Vancouver has a cultured feel to it. Filled with art and books, the homage to refinery continues on this mantel where two mirrors feel magnificently eccentric. Ditto the fern-in-the-head planter.

Queen of craft Tiffany Pratt’s living room is sweet but not saccharine sweet – it’s elegant and edgy. The idiosyncratic space is brought together with pop art, fun stripes, white wicker, a pink velvet sofa and who can overlook that blush fireplace surround?

When decorating a fireplace mantel, a rule of thumb is to create a focal point. Which is the case with this retro set-up that starts with that vintage sunburst mirror. (The blue brick is also eye-catching.) Then build around the focal point – play around with all those fab knickknacks you’ve collected over the years. Tour this maximalist Montreal home here.