No One Wants a Messy Mantle!

Ahh--the fireplace. It's a wonderful thing during the deep freeze of winter. These days, as the weather turns warm, we have little, if any, use for the fireplace. Behold -- it can still be a functional beauty. It is revelled as a symbol of hearth and home, an obvious focal point in any room -- and major decorating challenge for most of us. It serves as a great display area for treasured objects or collections, but the trick is to edit them carefully. As a rule, an assortment of thoughtfully arranged accessories on the mantle creates more of an impact than a single statement above it. Here are some tricks:

Keep it even: An assortment of lots of small items - flowers, candlesticks, photos, figurines - can look like clutter. Make groups of uneven numbers and you've created instant eye appeal from across the room.

Keep it simple: Simple is in. Stick to simplicity on large items and repetition in color, shape or subject for smaller items. A single beautiful mirror or a grouping of small leaning framed prints or images always looks great and avoids the cluttered look.

Fill in: Alternating larger items with smaller objects bring people in for a closer look.

Avoid the black hole: Stack the grade with fresh firewood and avoid displaying old ashes. In warmer months, conceal the firebox with a decorative screen or an interesting object. Remove the grate and replace it with an assortment of pillar candles of varying heights, a wicker basket or a stack of papery white birch logs.