A burning fireplace on a cold winter night is a comfort, and it is also a decorative part of the house. But come the warmer months, the fireplace hearth sometimes becomes an empty dark shell and the mantel simply becomes a place to store displaced trinkets. However, the mantel can be decorated in honor of any season, and the following ideas will get you started decorating your mantelpiece to help usher in summer and bring the best of the season into the home. These summer fireplace mantel decorating ideas are relatively inexpensive, and will help you add decor flair and curb appeal during the warmer summer months when the fires are put on hold.
Decorate With Bamboo
Plants are perfect for displaying on the mantelpiece during the summer months, when crackling fires are but a memory. Consider growing bamboo in a decorative container of your choice. Bamboo requires a lot of moisture to thrive, and requires occasional feeding, but many varieties don't require a lot of light. The mantelpiece is the ideal place to decorate with live foliage in low light.
Along with the attractive living bamboo containers, start decorating the mantel with items of interest that offset the backdrop. For example, if the wall behind the mantel is white, consider selecting beautiful jade sculptures to go along with the bamboo theme. If the wall behind the mantelpiece is dark and designed with brick or stone, select items of interest that are light in color, such as smaller three-dimensional sculptures or tabletop artwork that is primarily white or another light shade.
Summer candle displays
Many people burn candles exclusively during the colder winter months. The flames give off a warm and inviting glow. However, candle displays are also great for summer decorating, especially when decorating a mantelpiece. Select unique candle holders and long-lasting fragrant candles. Create a row of graduation heights and light the candles on a dark night to enjoy the romantic candlelight or ambiance of a fireplace. Even when the fireplace is the only area lit by the dancing flames, the fireplace will look grand, warm, and exceptionally inviting, especially when the candles are placed in front of a framed mirror, which will double the amount of light.
Decorating With Sunny Outdoor Photos
When decorating your mantelpiece for summer, save the winter or spring holiday décor, and display a few framed photos neatly arranged among your favorite candle displays, foliage, or eye-catching baubles. Select vacation photos, outdoor summer scenes that include friends or family, or display scenic summer beach photos. What better way to bring a touch of summer into your home and mantel than to decorate with memories of summers past? Sunny summer photos will bring your mantel to life while bringing a touch of summer indoors and into an area commonly thought of as a winter decorating spot.
Think about your favorite summer colors and patterns and look for ways to add style to your mantel during the warmer months of the year. With plants, summer table decorations, creative candles, and framed memories of summers past, you can start decorating your mantel for summer and turning it into a place for expression.
Associated content from Yahoo!
