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Nancy Mitchell Nancy Mitchell As a former Senior Writer at Apartment Therapy, Nancy split her time among looking at beautiful pictures, writing about design, and photographing stylish apartments in and around NYC.
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While one-of-a-kind, wood-burning fireplaces bring undeniable warmth to a room, fake fireplaces can bring just as much ambiance – just in different ways. Of course, some faux fireplaces are downright drab, but with the proper DIY skills, the mantel can become the stand-out piece of your living room. Whether you’re trying to add a little character to a boring, real fireplace or cover up a faux fireplace whose current look you don’t really love, you’ll find a mantel decorating project here to inspire you.
1. Use geometric tilework
This fireplace update from Jamin and Ashley Mills uses geometric tiles for a crisp and modern look. The matching marble tilework revamps a boring, wood-burning fireplace.
2. Paint the mantel and wall the same color
For an understated renovation on your faux fireplace, try painting it the same color as your walls. The chameleon effect can help your trinkets and coveted coffee table book collections shine as they appear to pop out of the wall on the mantel’s shelf.
3. Try floor-to-ceiling wood
Stacey Cartwright’s mantel redefines what a wood fireplace is. Floor-to-ceiling reclaimed wood transforms the wall into a rustic oasis.
4. Hang an over-the-top mirror
For a lower-lift DIY update, try splurging on an oversized mirror to hang atop your mantel. The classic look expands the room and in some instances even exaggerates your favorite living room spaces. In this room, Alaina Kaczmarksi uses the accent to highlight the absolutely breathtaking chandelier.
5. Try a paneled mantel
This fireplace update from The Home Depot Blog involved adding a paneled, ceiling-height surround to an existing fireplace.
6. Play with different white textures
It’s hard to believe there used to be a blank wall where this beautiful mantel is now a focal point of the room. Blesser House has made some changes to it over the past couple of years, and it’s never looked more real than it does today.
7. Spruce up a cozy bedroom fireplace
Kristi of Making It In the Mountains fashioned this arched fireplace facade for her master bedroom, as part of the One Room Challenge last fall. It adds tons of character to the space.
8. Add modern subway tiles
This DIY faux fireplace mantel from The Home Depot Blog (with a subway tile insert) gets a little extra architectural interest from the tongue and groove panels on the side.
9. Create a dark, moody look
Jared Ashby turned an eye-sore of a fireplace into a moody and bold centerpiece. He paired matte black paint on the actual fireplace with mossy green on the brick above to create one dramatically chic look.
10. Decorate with neutral tones
The folks at The Pear Tree Cottage turned a seriously unsightly brick fireplace into this beauty.
11. Add a shelf above the fireplace
This project from Maison de Pax involved simply adding a shelf above the existing fireplace — but this little change really transformed the look of the room.
12. Go simple with black and white tones
Daniel from Manhattan Nest added a vintage mantel to a room in his home that lacked character. Thanks to his attention to detail, you’d never guess that this fireplace hadn’t been there all along.
13. Decorate with frames and vases
This mantel from A Bowl Full of Lemons appears to just be leaning against the wall, but it’s still a great spot for frames and vases and a beautiful focal point for the room.
14. Install marble tile
Lisa from Shine Your Light transformed her unsightly fireplace with a DIY marble tile surround and hearth.
15. Invest in an electric log warmer
This fireplace (lead image above), from In the Fields, looks like the real thing but is actually an electric log warmer with a surround built around. This is a great way to get the warmth and the beauty of a fireplace with only a small investment — no chimney needed.
