Display reflects owner's personality

Fireplace mantels are a great place for attractive arrangements.
By STACY DOWNS
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Most of us are mantel challenged.
Sure, we have fireplace mantels, but we don't know what to put on them. And that's a shame, because the fireplace is a room's focal point, and the hearth is the heart of a home.
The best mantel arrangements reflect the homeowner, says decorator Marilyn Wear, owner of Shoestrings design services in Independence, Mo. "Friends and family notice what's on the mantel," she says. "The fireplace is a cozy place they gather around."
Wear has decked out numerous mantels for the holidays and for year-round display. The main details she keeps in mind:
UScale. Bigger objects make the best statement. "Tiny knickknacks get lost on a mantel," Wear says. "It's difficult to see small objects, especially from across the room."
UColor. Wear typically prefers a monochromatic mantel arrangement because it "peacefully pops" against a background. Using one color also prevents objects from competing with any artwork hung above.
UArrangement. She likes to make a "U" pattern on top of mantels. That means placing taller objects on the left and right sides and shorter pieces in the middle.
The Martha Stewart look of "marching objects in a straight line across the mantel" also can work. "That can be a tranquil, clean style," Wear says.
Seasonal changes
Wear says garden urns and architectural elements are a good background for different seasonal items. What you don't want is to schlep every item off the mantel when the seasons change.
UWinter: Add potted evergreens, pinecones and sticks from the back yard.
USpring: Add paperwhites, tulips or forsythia.
USummer: Place a flower, perhaps gerbera daisies, in each of four or five identical vases. Or use pots of identical orchids.
UFall: Add pumpkins and gourds.
Tips from a florist
Eliene Blundell of Alissa's Flowers & amp; Fine Home Furnishings offers the following tips.
UAmber lights, instead of white ones, add a warm glow.
URibbon should be purchased en masse. Three or four rolls are best, because one will not be enough to wind around a garland. If you use more than one style of ribbon, make sure they have different textures.
UCoordinate some of your mantel decor with your Christmas tree using a similar color scheme, ribbons or ornaments. This makes the eye study the whole room and not just one or the other.
UStraight pins are best for anchoring garlands and lights to the mantel if there are no heavy objects to place atop them. Wind the garland around the pins to prevent the greens from falling on the floor. Two or three pins on the side of the hearth will secure light cords.
UExtension cords should coordinate with the color of the wall as much as possible.
A matter of taste
Many people are comfortable with a mantel arrangement that is symmetrical and formal: sconces on each side, matching accessories and something in the center. And that's OK.
An asymmetrical arrangement can look interesting and more relaxed, say florist Eliene Blundell and interior designer Jo Bonneville of Alissa's Flowers & amp; Fine Home Furnishings. "The curves of asymmetry make you study the mantel more," Blundell says.
Here are their suggestions for creating asymmetry with holiday mantel decor:
UPlace a group of objects on the center of the mantel rather than one item.
UInstead of the traditional center swag of garland, try swagging it to the left or right.
UCluster flowers randomly instead of evenly spacing single flowers on the garland. For added interest, let the stems of the flowers show instead of tucking them into the garland.
Different looks for different mantels:
URed brick hearth with a wooden mantel: Black candlesticks and black frames fit in with the traditional fireplace. Heavy concrete urns that coordinate with the mortar between the brick also provide a good look.
USouthwestern stucco hearth with a matching mantel: Use cactuses of varying height and texture.
UWhite painted brick hearth with white mantel: Use white ceramics and white frames to give fireplace a clean, mod look.
UWooden hearth with wooden mantel: A large vintage mirror will add sparkle. Tip a mirror so it doesn't reflect the ceiling, unless the ceiling is pretty and has an attractive light fixture attached.
UNo mantel: No problem. Use a large artwork or wreath. Or flank a tall sculpture on one side.