How to Style A Mantel Area with At Home

This post is sponsored by At Home Stores. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Making Home Base.

Hi friends! This week I finally gave my mantel area a much needed refresh and I’m excited to share it with you. Since we built this fireplace surround and mantel last year, I’ve had a great time styling this space seasonally and just in general. It’s been awhile since this whole area has had a refresh and it’s time. Today I wanted to share how to style a mantel step by step. I’m sharing how I select decorative pieces and where I find affordable items. So if you’re ready, let’s dive right in and I’ll show you to how to style a mantel!

How to style a mantel + more decorating ideas

Here’s a before image of the space. I wanted to update this space in a budget-friendly way, bring in some global-inspired pieces, while also keeping true to my home’s casual coastal style. I kept all the furniture and larger items with the exception of the rug that should have been tossed months ago, it was filthy. This area can be a bit awkward since it’s on the far end of our extra long living room. Since it’s a good distance away from the tv and sofa, we are able to use it as a completely separate space, which I love. I enjoy using this as a separate sitting area.

Here’s my strategy when styling a mantel:

When styling a mantel, I always begin with a large focal piece. In this case, I used the same print I’ve had hanging here. I love the blues that carry throughout the entire room.

Next, I style the two opposite sides of the mantel with decorative pieces. I pick items that are larger in scale since this is a large mantel and small items would just disappear in the mix. I also follow the rule of thirds here. I traditionally like to have a grouping of three objects at three points which you can see in the image above. This creates a more balanced look. I also like to have layers on the mantel. So, if decorative objects aren’t your thing, you could layer picture frames, mirrors, even bud vases on the mantel as well.

Decorating tip: Select decorative pieces that will work throughout the entire home not just in one space. I love pieces with texture and natural elements. I love the colors and texture of this globally inspired vase. In fact, all of these affordable vases I found at At Home are perfect finds for my mantel. The wooden bowl and tray I found have a coastal element that I love and ties nicely into the rest of the room.

To complete this space I replaced the rug with this sisal one from At Home. I was shocked that it was less than $80 for a 5×8! The tribal looking pattern is a happy pop of unexpected beauty in this coastal inspired space.

I finished off this seating area with some pillows of course. I love these striped ones with tassels. They’re only $20 each and I can see them making their way throughout my house. The stripes remind me of the mudcloth or grain sack. I also found this ottoman pouf that is perfect for resting your feet and every seating area needs something for that. I regret only getting one because it’s just so perfect.

Lastly, I couldn’t pass up this wooden tray. One thing I loved about visiting my At Home store is that they had collections of different styles to inspire you. I found this wooden bowl in the neutral natures section and found a bunch of pretty global trend options in that section.

Overall, decorating a mantel is much more about your personal taste than rules to follow but if you’ve been wondering how to style a mantel, I hope these times were helpful! I hope you’ll also take a peek around At Home and see what globally inspired goodies you can find that fit your home’s style.