Fireplace Mantel is Focus of Warm Room

I am not ready for winter. I hate being cold. I don't like driving in icy conditions. And I'm not all that fond of shoveling, either.

There is one aspect of winter, however, which I really enjoy. I am not bothered by the snow as long as I am curled up in front of a roaring fire.

My decorating partner, Matt Fox, and I believe that a fireplace is an asset in any room. A roaring fire adds atmosphere and warmth to a room, both figuratively and literally. And if, like me, you plan to spend many hours curled in front of your fireplace this winter, you may want to pay special attention to your fireplace and mantel decor.

There are a variety of ways to decorate your mantel. Regardless of the design, it's important to remember basic design principles when you are decorating a mantel, including color, texture and symmetry. It's also important to consider the size of the wall space above the mantel.

Perhaps the most common and easiest to create mantel design is a symmetrical arrangement. Symmetrical designs are often associated with formal rooms. With careful planning, however, a symmetrical design can work well with any style room.

To begin a symmetrical display, start with a focal accessory. This accessory is normally the largest and is placed in the center. Working outwards from the focal accessory, a series of items are placed on each side.

If you were to draw an imaginary line through the center of a symmetrical arrangement, each side would be a mirror image of the other. It's not essential that the items are exact duplicates of each other, however. Instead, similar items in terms of color and pattern can be used to create an interesting symmetrical arrangement.

Asymmetrical designs tend to be more casual than symmetrical arrangements. In an asymmetrical design, the items on each side of the mantle, while different, have equal visual weight. This can be achieved by grouping several smaller items on one side balanced with a single larger item on the other.

Whether you decide on a symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangement, determining the best layout for a wall grouping can be a challenge. To avoid mistakes (and lots of unnecessary nail holes in the wall), it's a great idea to try out different arrangements.

First, make a template out of brown craft paper for each piece of artwork you are planning to use.

Cut the templates out, being sure to mark the placement of the sawtooth hanger or the center of the picture wire. Tape the templates to the wall using painter's blue tape that will not mar the wall's surface.

Move the templates around until you are happy with the arrangement. Using a pencil, punch a small hole through the brown paper to mark the placement of the picture hanger.

If you'd like to use your mantel for displaying a collection, you might consider the layering technique. Layering is another interesting option for mantel design. To achieve a successful layered design, it's important to begin with items that are in some way related - either through function, design or color.

When creating a layered arrangement, place taller objects towards the back of the mantel. Vary the height of the objects for visual interest. I frequently include some greenery to add texture and soften the look.

If you're like me and hate the cold winter weather, why not try one of these designs to create a beautiful mantel arrangement. A beautifully decorated mantel will be the perfect complement to a warm fire.

Matt Fox and Shari Hiller, authors of Matt and Shari's Great Weekend Projects (DRG Publishers), also appear together frequently on HGTV. See www.hgtv.com or www.mattandshari.com.

(c) 2006 Augusta Chronicle, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.