How often have you seen a beautiful fireplace that really caught your eye and seemed to be the breathtaking focal point of the room?  How often have you seen a fireplace that elicited virtually no reaction from you at all?   Chances are ... the difference is not the fireplace itself, but the lovely mantel surround that is coordinated with the fireplace that enhances the overall design and style!

Why do designers love wood mantels matched with fireplaces? Why are mantels often used in other areas of the home as well in order to give a room some grandeur and style? There are some quick reasons to consider as to why they're a favorite choice of designers and decorators, and why you might consider adding them to your rooms whenever and wherever possible.

If you have a 'raised hearth' that is the same width (or close to the same) dimension as the facing on the wall, you may be in a quandry about what to do to update this look.  We can suggest a few options for you!  (The first photo below illustrates this installation - the Facing on the wall is the same width as the raised hearth.)

Option 1) If your facing and hearth are wide enough (usually at least 70" or more) you can select nearly any of our mantels to fit entirely on top of the hearth as illustrated below.  Most designers will suggest that the mantel shelf not be any wider than the facing on the wall (although in some instances this cannot be avoided).

 In the above photo, the mantel rests on top of raised hearth ... and the mantel shelf is not wider than the facing on the wall.   An update (not featured in the above photo) that you might consider is prepping and painting the brick facing a fresh, light color.  Painting old red or brown bricks can take off 20 years from 'dated brick surfaces.' (A painted brick option is shown below, with our Option #2, below.)

Option 2)  A frequently favored option requiring a little more room on the wall beside the facing than the option #1 shown above ... is to design the fireplace mantel "body width" so the mantel legs are just slightly wider (approximately 2") than the facing on the wall and utilize mantel leg "extended returns."  "Extended Returns" extend down to the floor beside the raised hearth.  The 'front' of the mantel leg rests on top of the hearth and the Leg Returns of the mantel extend further down to the floor beside the raised heath.  Extended Returns keep the design from looking like the mantel wasn't sized for a correct fit, since without the extended returns, the mantel leg would appear to "float in the air." 

 Option #2, Extended Returns (also showing old brick painted a contemporary color.)

       (The photo above with painted brick also represents styling of our Option 3#, when facing goes up to the ceiling.)

 "Extended Return" Illustrations - above

3) Another potential design illustrated in our option 3 photos shows what you can do if the facing on the wall goes up to the ceiling (see the small 'before' image in the upper left corner of the photo with beige painted bricks above, as well as the photo below.)  If your facing goes to the ceiling you will need to cut a rectangular 'notch' in the back of the mantel shelf so it can fit around the protruding bricks.  See the photos below:

 Option 3

4) A fourth option requiring the most space on the wall is to make the mantel shelf and 'body width' wide enough so that the mantel legs rest on the floor beside the hearth, all but the scribe molding.  The scribe molding needs to be cut short, to the height of the raised hearth.  When the scribe molding is installed its bottom edge rests on top of the hearth while the rest of the mantel leg goes further down to the floor, "straddling" the raised hearth.

The mantel was sized wide enough to 'straddle' the hearth, all but the Scribe Molding (difficult to see in this image).  The Scribe Molding in this installation was cut about 3" short so that it rests on top of the hearth while the major portion of the mantel leg rests on the floor, 'straddling' the hearth.

Wood Mantels Anchor a Focal Point

One reason that wood mantels are such a favorite addition for designers and one reason they make a fireplace or other focal point stand out is that they provide an anchor for that element. Without a mantel a fireplace can seem as if it's just floating in the room without something to really pull the eye toward it. An anchor is what makes that focal point so eye-catching.

Using a mantel over a fireplace is not the only area in the home where this is done. A headboard for a bed anchors it and gives it attention. Building a cabinet around a television or using a proper television shelving unit can anchor the entertainment center as well.

And wood mantels over a fireplace also mean that a bit of art or other accessories can be added, which in turn makes the fireplace even more of a focal point. It's not alone on the wall but becomes part of an entire bit of art and grandeur which stand out in the room.

Wood Mantels Add Warmth

Another reason why so many designers insist on adding this feature to different rooms in various points is that they add warmth and comfort to a room. Wood itself is a very warm element and it's also very neutral. Additionally, art and other accessories can be added to the mantel for a more personal and finished effect.

Often wood mantels are used in rooms that otherwise may seem empty and cold, especially if they're very spacious. The room seems warmer and all that open space doesn't seem so imposing. Artwork can be changed on a regular basis so that the homeowner's personality is expressed as well.

There are many reasons why fireplaces and other areas of the home have mantels added to them, and why designers often include them in their overall scheme. If you see a wall or area of your home that seems cold and uninviting, why not look at wood mantels and consider what they can add to the space? You can incorporate art, photos, live plants, flowers, candles, and anything else that may give the room depth and warmth and really draw the eye to an otherwise overlooked focal point.