A hearth is the symbol of one’s home. A thoughtful fireplace mantel will transform the look of your fireplace and truly your entire room. Since fireplaces are an increasingly popular selling point for homeowners and homebuyers, it’s become increasingly important to dress them up with a gorgeous mantel. Aside from adding an economical source of heat to your home, fireplaces are often a key element in creating a cozy or romantic atmosphere. Additionally, the fireplace and mantle tend to become a focal point of the living room or family room, as well as a wonderful opportunity for decorating and design. Fireplace mantels can be made of many different materials and can be customized in plenty of different styles. Fireplaces have changed over the years and an out-of-style mantel can really have an impact on the overall look of your living space. Because of this, refacing your fireplace is an excellent way to give your living room or study a facelift without a major renovation project. Here are some contemporary fireplace mantel design ideas to dress up any room!

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Contemporary Fireplace Mantel Design Ideas

contemporary fireplace ideas

Clean Line Mantels

When many people think of “modern” they immediately think of simple, clean lines. However, a simple, clean living room does not have to be sterile, and a fireplace is a great way to add warmth. Custom carpentry in white, wood detail, and clean edge square corners are all designer ways to bring your fireplace mantel into a modern and clean look, while still adding a level of comfort and warmth to a room where family and guests gather.

marble fireplace

Dress Your Mantel Black

Black is very often a color that comes to mind when talking about modern and contemporary. Black is unlikely to ever go out of style and can be incorporated into your fireplace. From black-painted woodwork to black stone or marble inlays, black is a way to make an old boring fireplace look new. Including durable black elements in your hearth will add sophistication to a contemporary living space.

paint

Go Bold With Modern Colors

Using an accent color on your mantel is a great way to give your living room a fun upgrade. Especially if you’re otherwise keeping the colors in your room subdued, a painted mantel is a great way to add a pop of your favorite color to your decor. Maybe you’ve always wanted a bright room, but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge! A painted mantel is also fairly easy to change if you’re ready to move on. Gray or blue tones can warm up an all white room without changing the overall look too drastically. In a brightly colored room, consider choosing a different shade from the same family as the walls. Or make it stand out by keeping it a basic white! Be aware that DIY efforts can leave brushstrokes, and paint can peel over time, so it’s always wise to consult a professional carpenter.

Sophisticated Carvings and Designs

As you know, the fireplace will quite frequently be the main focal point of your living or family room. Why not make it truly a work of art by including some sophisticated woodwork? A custom wood fireplace mantel and jamb (vertical pieces on each side of the fireplace opening) can include such decorative touches as crown molding or carvings and done in many different styles to suit your taste, such as shaker and craftsmen styles.

Go Rustic

A classic wood and brick fireplace may be all you need to increase the level of comfort and beauty in your house. Rustic and farmhouse style are all the rage these days and wood hearths come in all shapes and sizes. Incorporating multiple textures like woodwork with stone adds depth and visual interest and helps achieve a homespun feeling. Reclaimed wood can bring next-level coziness to your family room and is easily dressed up if you’re one to change the decor for every holiday! 

Refinished Built-ins

Built in Bookshelves

Possibly the only thing cozier than a fireplace, is a fireplace surrounded by bookshelves. A fireplace with bookshelves on either end can completely change the look of a room. Built in bookshelves blend seamlessly with your fireplace and have plenty of room for personalization.

Whatever your fireplace mantel needs are, consider putting your trust in The Hartley Group. Our passionate team has years of experience in carpentry, which gives us a unique ability to give our customers exactly what they want. Rather than be limited to box solutions, we can create custom wood fireplace mantels exactly to our customers’ specifications. Contact us today so we can come up with the perfect way to upgrade your living room or family room with your own contemporary fireplace mantel design!