Our mantel is the focal point in our home. For me, that is not by choice, but it is what it is. When we first moved in, I really struggled with what looked “just right.” Often, we get so overwhelmed with decorating focal points, that we just give up for lack of inspiration. We buy into the mentality that dressing it up is going to take a big wallet. Now, honestly, having unlimited funds definitely does help in the immediate decorating department, but I’ve had lots of fun changing things up inexpensively based on the the season, holiday or latest yard sale find. It truly is possible decorate on a dime.
Now, I am in no way a decorating diva. In fact, I have great ambitions for what I want my mantel to look like, but I just haven’t been able to find the perfect treasures. Yet considering that I put this ensemble together last year for only $10, I love it.
But I was ready for a quick change.
I decided to straighten out the hanging art, instead of having it angled. The problem? I did this two hours before a house full of people were arriving. Things are never as easy as they seem. After rehanging the wall art, I had this nagging suspicion deep, deep down, that I didn’t have it affixed strong enough. (That’s what happens when you’re rushing.) Sure enough, all of a sudden a large crash occurred, a small gasp/scream let loose from me and my accessories had a Humpty Dumpty moment. The wall art had cracked. The candlestick was chipped. The decorative wording that said “Laugh” instead of “Believe” was broken in two (yes, huge irony there), and all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put it back together again…in a few minutes. 🙂 So, I had to put my creative juices to work, and figure out what to do.
If it hadn’t been raining, and I had a bit more time, I would have definitely shopped my house with a little spray paint. That’s my favorite way to add more accent pieces for pennies on the dollar. This favorite thrifty, decorating redo revelation came from this post- check it out.
Last yard sale season, I found some iron work pieces for $5. This white one had been leaning against my upstairs closet wall for far too long, so I quickly had my son hang it. I didn’t want more nails holes from a temporary fix, so I used what we had. Immediately, I realized it needed to be higher, but it worked for a quick fix. The detail in the iron work is a bit much for the more relaxed feel I am going for, but until I find something different, I am enjoying the change.
When people walk into our home, they have no doubt about our world and life view. Just glancing around, they’ll see quotes and words sprinkled through out our home sharing what we value most. I found this “Believe” piece for $2 at a yard sale, so I quickly grabbed it off the top of my fridge and replaced the broken “Laugh” piece. I wasn’t really laughing then, but now I am. 🙂
I swapped out the smaller vase for a large one that I bought for $1. Fresh flowers are a luxury and I typically don’t recommend fakes foliage, but I do think these are pretty good fakes. At yard sales, I pick up pitchers whenever I find them. Glass pitchers don our dinner time when ever we sit down together, but they are also wonderful for flowers, greenery, twigs or even delivering some cut flowers to a friend.
You can see from the above mantel shot that I added back one of the candlesticks. The mantel was a little lonely on that side.
Even though it doesn’t feel like spring has sprung quite yet, Easter is right around the corner. I will be adding some easy Easter accessories like like nest with twigs and Easter eggs. Last year, I even spray painted some plastic eggs for additional dress up fun. They didn’t look like the cheap Dollar Store designs after a few minutes of that magic.
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Here’s a long angle shot from the kitchen. Yes, it needs a lot of work. Our traditional great room feel brings all eyes down our long, open floor format right to the fire place and mantel. I hope to really attack this room over the summer. (And nope, I am not cleaning the counter for you all…just make yourself at home and help yourself to a vitamin.)
What I’ve been really been wanting to add to my mantel are some white shutters like my IRL friend, the Nester, did down below.
The difference? She has a normal ceiling height. I have 9’6″ ceilings which make it tricky for me to determine how high is too high. I sure would love something to give the “all green” effect a little more depth. Right now, the back wall has too much green.
I am open for any suggestions. 🙂 It’s a really large room and I have the furniture in pretty much the same position for a decade. We’ve just swapped pieces in and out. If you take your eye to the TV and then go to the left…there is probably about four more feet before our french doors take you into a sitting room. Yes, it’s tricky for furniture, I tell you, especially with french doors on both walls.
If you desire to personalize your mantle a bit like I did with the “going to GoodWill” plate above, check out how I redid this and turned it from trash to treasure (sorry, Lori).
As the weather gets nicer, have some fun sprucing up your mantel. Get our that spray paint and shop your house. You won’t believe how much fun it is to decorate on a dime.
As I add some spring foliage, I’ll check back in and we can celebrate our new “do’s” together. Have a blast!
I made my own shutters out of cabinet doors to help fill in some of that space, it worked out pretty well! I used three of them, painted two white and one green in a very distressed kind of way. I just did my spring mantel but don’t have a photo yet because I decided to paint. Yes, I have company over tomorrow too. That is how I live my life. One moment of chaos to the next.
Your room looks so pretty!
@melissa @ the inspired room, Ok, my friend…since you ARE the decorating diva, I may just copy you. 🙂 I remember you repurposing them but do you have a pic of the full view. I only remember a tiny peak. Off to go search your site. I LOVE high ceilings, but I don’t want mine additions to look dorky. I’ve been looking for doors, but the only ones I have found are solid wood and WAY too heavy, so maybe this hard sale season I will be able to score some. Can’t wait for your spring mantle. 🙂
Jen, it looks GREAT!! I love the “Believe” with the metal piece above. Good job!! 🙂
I’ve got a Giveaway going on today from The Tattered Flower. 🙂 I hope you’ll stop by to check it out if you have a chance.
I love your mantle re-do! It’s so pretty!! Great job with shopping your house :). Have you considered adding painted molding above the fireplace? Layla @ The Lettered Cottage just did a post on mantles & had several examples of this.
Blessings,
Stacey
Hi Jens-
You could mount a solid door or two right on top of the mantel. If they are not long enough to reach the ceiling you could have sheets of plywood cut into squares(18x 18″) laqrger or smaller depending on the width of your mantel. Mount the squares on the wall from the mantel to the ceiling. Use trim molding 1/2 round or something a bit more beefy to cover all the seams. This will look like a paneled door. To make it really pop add decorative crown molding, along the top. Paint it all white. My home is set up like yours and I did this with beadboard and crown molding. It was not expensive and I did it myself with the help of some free cuts at the Home Depot. Your room looks very pretty and ready to welcome Spring.
Oh I’m no help, but I do like the idea of making your own shutters. I’ve been looking forward to Layla’s series at the Lettered Cottage, too. My mantle needs some serious help, but I feel like I probably won’t be happy until we attack all the wood built-ins with a big ol’ can of white paint.
You could put the shutters up and then put that metal piece across the top of the shutters!
Love this, Jen! And those walls match your blog background- talk about planning! 🙂 I think all my “Laugh”s get broken when prepping for a big group of people, so that is a good one to remember. GREAT yard sale finds! I’m coming with you this summer!
I think you mantle looks great! That iron work is beautiful.
I’m hoping to buy a house with a fireplace soon so I’m bookmarking this! Love the iron work!
That looks beautiful!!!!
I like it, you did a great job. The iron work looks great too. I really like the color of your room, what is it called? My girls are still deciding if we are going to paint our school room green or blue. Thanks!
I have never thought about my mantle that way. ‘That way’ as in something to changed the decorations on at all, let alone seasonally. I do think about it in the sense of it being a sort of focal point and don’t really want a tv to hang from it. I am going to copy your idea and think of ways to decorate my mantle. Thank you for the inspiration!
~traci 😀
p.s. I AdOrE that iron work piece!
Jen, this is such a great post. Your home is always so beauiful and you are so darn creative!! Im thinking of doing more white, and now I feel inspired!! 😉 xoxo LA
Hey Jen! Why don’t you try an large empty frame above your fireplace. Paint it a pretty white to match your fireplace. Then hang that beautiful metal piece directly above it so close that they appear to be one piece. I use empty frames all the time on my mantles. It’s an easy and affordable backdrop, especially if you can pick one up at a garage sale or thrift store, or with a 40% off coupon. You can even hang smaller frames (filled or empty) inside the larger one. If you can’t find one the right size then just have one made—-a chunky one would look gorgeous!!!
The new Mantle is gorgeous! I like it even better than the previous decor. That “believe” sign is a clear message to everyone that walks in the house, as well as constant inspiration for the fam! We have had a 70’s looking “JESUS” word carving with letters that form an icthus for years on the mantle in both homes. It looks 70’s, but I can’t take it down, despite several breakings and glueings, because I want Jesus to be the center of our home!
Hi Jen,
I like it low. Maybe just add some plates over the top Nester style. And the sofa table would look great white. Just a thought. I can’t do a thing with my house, so I’ll do yours! I like it better. Oh, and I have a dollar store believe I’m going to pull out. How wonderful to use it for Easter and year round. You’re my inspiration.
Take care!
@lisa, you do mine all you want…and we are on the same wave length. That sofa table is screaming to be redone, but because it was my mother in law and she passed away, I couldn’t bring myself to paint it. It’s been a few years and I think she wouldn’t want me to keep the country looking wood if I don’t like it….
Another “to do” project, for sure. 🙂
Your mantel is beautiful.
I used iron work for my spring mantel vignette, this year. I dug around in the basement and found what I needed. I have $2 in the mantel, for the dollar each birds from Michaels. I love shopping the house!:-)
what a gorgeous home! i reall ylove the mantel. wish i had one to display such art!
It turned out beautiful, love the all white theme.
I think the shutter idea would look gorgeous, or maybe even a large old window with the wood painted white.
It would add height, but not be overbearing since some fo the green would show through.
Just perfection!
m ^..^
I really like the white ironwork. It looks great. I cannot believe how inexpensive it was for you to come up with this design. It looks fabulous. I also like your friend’s white shutters. Found you through A Soft place to Land’s linky party.
This is my first visit to your lovely blog via Kimba’s Soft Place to Land, but I will be returning! Your mantel is one of my favorites. I thought those flowers were real. You did a great job treasure hunting!
Deborah
http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/04/03/flowerplace/
I love your mantel, I am partial to green and white, I have it all over my house. Very cute ideas, I will be back to look at more, I am on a mantel mission.
I love it all and no better words could be on your mantel.
Cha Cha
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