About Decorating a Contemporary Fireplace

There are a lot of different colors, sizes and styles of contemporary fireplaces.  While some of them have a mantel, others do not.  So, whenever it comes to decorating your contemporary fireplace it will be up to you to decide what will work best.

Decorating Your Mantel

There are essentially three different ways in which you can decorate your mantel:

• The Minimalist Style.  This is a popular type of contemporary décor.  Herein you would clear away all of the clutter and simply set a single piece (i.e. a candle or a vase) slightly off center on your mantel.


• The Architectural Style.  This is a great way to establish a theme for your mantel.  Simply remove any ornate elements and replace them with something that is sleeker and less ornamental.


• The Bohemian Style.  This style is meant for those who are the exact opposite of minimalists.  Herein you will want to have a lot of framed and unframed pieces that you can stack, prop or hang in tight groupings.

Decorating the Wall behind Your Fireplace

You should consider painting the wall behind your fireplace in a bold color (i.e. red, aqua) so that it will draw more attention to your fireplace.  It is also a good idea to hang some artwork above it or you could even prop the artwork up against the wall and leave it sitting on the mantel.  Some people also like to hang a sleek mirror or flat-screen TV there.

Decorating the Wall Next To Your Fireplace

Consider creating some built-in shelves around your fireplace where you can display your book collection.  You can also install a shelf that mirrors the fireplace’s design then fill it with chopped wood or set a large vase on it.