Top Species and Styles: Wood Fireplace Mantels
Nothing ties a living space together like a fireplace mantel.
Using a real wood surround adds a unique focal point to your living room, but those handcrafted floating shelves can be showstoppers, too! (Live edge slabs are popular right now, but a box mantel – even with some corbel accents – is sure to stay on-trend for decades to come).
No matter what style you want, it all starts with picking the right wood and getting to work.
Is Mantel Installation an Easy DIY Project?
Not sure you can handle creating and installing a mantel on your own? You might be surprised.
It doesn’t take a master craftsman to get the job done. We recently walked through the project with FOX8 Cleveland to show just how easy it is to put in your own fireplace mantel!
Top Trends: Contemporary vs. Traditional vs. Rustic Focal Points!
1. Box Mantels Take Living Rooms By Storm
Feel like keeping it simple? Hoping to achieve a minimalist look? Instead of a complex design with mouldings and extra details, use a box mantel.
This type of floating mantel (which often resembles a box beam, but attached to the wall instead of the ceiling) can be customized by species, stain, paint and modifications to the design.
Square box mantels lean toward contemporary, coastal and even modern farmhouse. While those beautifully unique (and sometimes intricate) mantel shelf designs blend seamlessly with traditional, Tuscan and colonial styles.
When it comes to more rustic designs, you can use hand hewn or rough sawn lumber or make a reclaimed wood mantel.
2. Hardwood Fireplace Surrounds with a Pop of Color
If you want to make sure your mantel is a focal point, a beautiful fireplace surround takes things to the next level.
The extra mouldings really make it pop. There are no rules when it comes to surrounds. Let your imagination run wild with custom accents, size, shape, mouldings and even corbels to give it an elegant touch. Go big or go home with something French provincial or opt for that American craftsman look that never goes out of style.
Moulding profiles are endless, so this is a great way to make a unique mantel that matches your personal style. Custom ordered mouldings can be created from basically any type of sketch – and if you need to see it before you buy, you can even request 3D printed samples!
3. Live Edge, Rustic Designs that Wow
Live edge mantels are a charming addition to your fireplace. Great for rustic cabins, live edge options create outdoorsy beauty that can’t be replicated.
Rather than being cut and polished, live edge mantels keep the natural appearance and shape of the tree that they come from. Many species of wood can be used for live edge slabs, however there are some species that are more popular than others:
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- Oak
- Cherry
- Walnut
- Hickory
Popular Wood Species for Mantels
Picking the right mantel for your home means picking the right species of wood. You have to consider color, grain pattern, durability. In fact, the type of wood used is crucial to your mantel design.
Walnut
With its rich, deep brown color, walnut is a species that sets itself apart from the rest.
A forgiving wood to work with, walnut is easy to handle and finish. Also noted for its unique texture, walnut is the perfect species if you want your mantel to be the focus of the room. Darker looks – like the ones that can be achieved with walnut – are extremely popular and will continue to trend for the foreseeable future.
Oak
Red oak or white oak…both are great choices and always will be.
Overall, oak is a popular species for woodworking. It’s durable, warp-resistant and it has an attractive wood grain. Not to mention it stains well!
An oak mantel can blend with a lot of design styles and color schemes. White oak is popular for certain looks, but it comes with a higher price tag than red oak. If you’re planning to stain, red oak can resemble white oak at a much more affordable price.
Hickory
This one is a durable option, too!
Hickory is another strong wood species that’s also sourced right here in the USA. It’s reasonably priced, and its warm tones coupled with its unique grain pattern makes it a popular choice for rustic, farmhouse or bohemian interiors.
Cherry
Speaking of rich color – cherry has a beautiful, unique red tone that’s PERFECT for high-end design.
You can deepen the tone with a simple stain, but interestingly, cherry is a photosensitive wood species that has the innate ability to darken over time when exposed to light and air!
Cherry is a dense yet workable option that blends perfectly with both modern and intricate designs thanks to its simple and clean grain pattern.
Poplar
Always a popular choice, poplar is easy to use and extremely versatile.
While it can certainly be stained, it’s more of a go-to for painted applications. You can always opt for the traditional route of glossy white or black paint. But, natural and vibrant colors are everywhere you look – don’t be afraid of blues and greens!
Choose a Mantel Style for Your Space
Before you do anything, consider the design of your home and how a new wooden fireplace mantel or surround will blend with that look. While all mantel designs are beautiful, choosing the wrong style will stand out for all the wrong reasons.
For example, a rustic home would look a little strange with a formal, fluted mantel done up in corbels and all the trimmings. On the flip side, if you’re shooting for an elegant living room, you probably don’t want a floating mantel shelf made of reclaimed barn wood.
Get the Perfect Mantel for Your Home
Rustic mantels, fireplace surrounds, box beams and all those other options…it can be a lot to think about, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When it comes to designing the perfect wood mantel shelf or surround for your home, we’re here to help.
Installation (and even DIY creation) can be an easy process! Now that you’ve got a handle on how to find the right wood and style for your home, gear up with our FREE step-by-step guide to building and installing a mantel. OR, just give us a call to see how our craftsmen can bring your vision to life!