Crafty Pieces for your Home- "The Fireplace Mantel" -Quick & Easy Crafts Series

Are you itching for a new look for your fireplace? Perhaps you've grown weary of the same old design and are seeking a fresh, invigorating aesthetic to breathe new life into your living space. A fireplace often serves as the focal point of a room, drawing the eye and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. With this in mind, have you considered the power to transform with simply changing the mantel?

The mantel is not only a practical feature that can hold decorative items and family photographs, but it also plays a crucial role in defining the overall style. By opting for a new mantel, you can dramatically alter the character completely, shifting it from traditional to modern, rustic to elegant, or even minimalist to ornate, depending on your preferences.

Imagine replacing a plain wooden mantle....

That's precisely what we did! This fireplace featured a solid wooden piece above the stone however, this wood was prone to giving splinters as it was entirely unfinished.

So we uninstalled the mantel and started sanding! We used an electric sander to simplify the process, smoothing the wood. Then, hammered and sanded the edges to achieve a distressed and imperfect look. Imperfect edges give a softer appearance and was fun to create.

I then grabbed the tried and true craft paints to create a stained appearance.

Check out my Blog on staining with paint for techniques.

Get Crafty , 3 Ideas to Creating the Best Decorative Pieces for Your Home

I wanted a rich look and decided on a brown/black finish. I began painting/staining this beautiful handcrafted piece of wood, continuing until creating the look I envisioned. Once it was dry, we reinstalled the mantel piece above the stone. It was stunning! This truly turned out better than imagined.

These are just a few ideas for you to get started

decorating & organizing your own space.

Let's be creative!

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