Jonathan Scott's Favorite Way To Style A Mantel For An Elevated Look

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When it comes to styling a mantel, the options can often feel endless — and more than a little overwhelming. This is particularly true if you have specific goals you need to accomplish with your styling, such as hiding outlets or livening up a boring wall. Thankfully, Jonathan Scott — one half of the hit home renovation team, The Property Brothers — has taken to Instagram to share a quick and seamless suggestion for styling your mantel to create an elegant, upscale look with ease.

While styling the ultra-modern mantel in a client's home, Scott found that hanging a piece of framed art above it felt odd and disjointed, with the width of the matte clashing with the dimensions of the mantel below it. So, instead, he opted to take the art down and simply set it on the mantel, where it could lean directly against the wall. This accomplished a few things. First, it reduced the space between the art piece and the mantel itself, helping to make them feel more like they were working together, rather than separately. In addition, by bringing the art onto the mantel, it prevented him from filling the space with too many additional elements and overdecorating it. 

Want to know how you could go about implementing this mantel decor idea that will add instant style to your space? Let's take a closer look at the key design principles in this styling example and how they can be translated into different mantel situations.

Thinking about how to decorate a mantel may not immediately lead you to using frames. However, Jonathan Scott shows in his video how utilizing frames containing art, florals, or other items can help make your mantel feel elevated and stylish. One key tip from Scott's design is layering frames of different heights. This creates visual appeal, breaking up the flat line of the mantel by introducing asymmetry. In addition, Scott opts to rotate the larger piece of art so that it is positioned vertically rather than horizontally. This is a great tip for designing your own mantel — think outside the box. If a frame is too long, consider changing the orientation. Or, if you have another decorative element, such as a figurine, candle holder, or vase that doesn't look quite right, think about raising it up on books or widening it by wrapping some foliage around it to change its dimensions.

Another key mantel decor idea that will take your space to the next level from Jonathan Scott's design is actually what is around the frames as well as what is in them. The smaller frame contains a pressed eucalyptus stem, which is reflected in the vase containing extra greenery on the other side of the mantel. These green elements add life and movement to the area, which may otherwise feel flat and uninviting. You can replicate this yourself by echoing the themes found in your frames — whether they're landscapes, pet portraits, or family photos — with accessories such as animal figurines, handwritten notes from family members, or this xin's convey natural dried flower set. This will create a sense of cohesion that feels suited to your own interests and memories.