Mantel and Fireplace Wall Decor Ideas
The simplest mantel decor is one print about two thirds the width of the mantel, either hung with the bottom of the frame 15 to 25 cm above the shelf or leaned against the wall on the mantel itself. Add one or two objects in front, such as a candle or a small vase, and stop there.
Below: what to hang over a fireplace, how high and how big to go, how to layer leaning prints on a mantelpiece, and what to do when the TV is there too.
Prints for this look
What to hang over a fireplace
The fireplace is already the focal point of the room, so the art above it should support it rather than compete. A few options that always work:
- One large print. A1 prints suit most chimney breasts; A0 prints suit a wide fireplace in a room with high ceilings.
- A pair. Two A2 prints side by side, from the same series, suit a wide mantel and a symmetrical room.
- A set of three. Three A3 prints in a row suit a long, low mantel.
Size the art to the mantel shelf, aiming for about two thirds of its width, and keep clear wall either side so the chimney breast does not look crowded. Calm abstracts, landscapes and botanicals suit most fireplaces. Browse our living room wall art for pieces that work at A1 and A0.
How high to hang art above a mantel
Leave 15 to 25 cm between the mantel shelf and the bottom of the frame. That keeps the art and fireplace together as one group. The usual eye-level rule of 145 to 150 cm to the centre of the art often ends up higher above a fireplace, and that is fine: stay close to the mantel rather than chasing a number.
Above a working fireplace, think about heat and soot. Prints are paper, so keep a good gap above the opening, choose a frame with glazing to protect the surface, and check the wall above does not get hot when the fire is lit. A deeper mantel shelf helps by pushing heat away from the wall.
Leaning and layering prints on a mantelpiece
Leaning art is relaxed, needs no drilling, and lets you change the look with the seasons. To layer it well:
- Start at the back with one larger print, A2 or A1 size, leaned against the wall and set slightly off-centre.
- Overlap a smaller print in front, A3 or A4 size, so it covers a corner of the larger one.
- Add one or two objects of different heights, such as a candlestick, a vase or a trailing plant.
- Stick to odd numbers. Three or five items look more natural than two or four, and a loose triangle shape keeps the eye moving.
Keep the colours linked. Repeat one tone across the prints and the objects, and the mantel looks planned rather than cluttered. Swap in seasonal prints for autumn or the holidays.
When the TV is above the fireplace
If the screen takes the space above the mantel, put the art either side of the chimney breast instead: a matching pair of A2 or A3 prints, hung at the same height, frames the fireplace and the TV together. A small print or two leaned on the mantel shelf below the screen softens the black rectangle above.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
