40 Tips for Decorating Your Fireplace Mantel Year 'Round

Although humans harnessed the power of fire over a million years ago, fireplaces with an attached mantel are a more modern invention with known examples as early as the Middle Ages. Also referred to as a mantelpiece or chimneypiece, this decorative framework can be as simple as a rough-hewn wood shelf or as elaborate as carved stone that stretches to the ceiling. Whether your mantel falls into the simple or elaborate category (or somewhere in between), keep reading for our tips for making the most of your fireplace's focal point year-round. Plus, get our best mantel decorating ideas for Christmas.