In every living room, there is a place where the eyes will first look. It's typically the fireplace. It's the lead singer of the room, and the art over it is the spotlight. Do things right and visitors will come in and exclaim, "This is SO put together!" Mess it up and they will just look politely at the ceiling.
The good news is that choosing art for your fireplace does not call for a special eye for art. It's a matter of a few simple rules and some courage. Let's go through them.
Why the Space Above Your Fireplace Matters
The wall above a mantel is a great location. It is the one place in the room that tells people where to look. That makes it the ideal home for something you really love, and the worst place for something you picked up in a rush because the wall looked "kind of empty."
It can be the "hero" of your living room. Everything else, the sofa, the rug, the throw pillows you can't stop buying, plays a supporting role.
Rule One: Size Up
The error people make over and over is picking artwork that's too small. A little frame on a big wall looks too shy to come out!
Here's the simple formula. Try to get the artwork to be approximately 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the mantel. For a 60-inch-wide mantel, find art pieces 40 to 48 inches wide. Once you've measured, the math is done, and you're ahead of most people!
Not sure whether to go a little bigger or a little smaller? Go a little bigger. No one ever said, "Ugh, if it were smaller it would look more beautiful over the fireplace."
Rule Two: Mind the Height
The second most common error is hanging art too high. It's similar to sitting in the front row of a movie theater with your neck strained for two hours.
Leave about 6 to 12 inches between the top of the mantel and the bottom of the frame. That makes the art and the fireplace seem like one team, rather than two strangers at a bus stop. Generally, it should sit slightly above eye level, so you aren't squinting or craning your neck.
Got tall ceilings? Then a vertical piece can be great, as it fills the height and draws the viewer's eye up. For wide, low fireplaces, try landscape-shaped artwork.
Rule Three: Match the Mood of the Room
A beautiful painting can be the wrong fit for the space! Allow your room to set the tone.
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Modern spaces: Large abstracts, black and white photos, or simple graphic prints.
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Rustic or cozy farmhouse spaces: Check out landscapes, framed textiles, or a mirror with an old wooden frame.
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Coastal rooms: Soothing seascapes and calm blue and green hues are perfect.
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Classic and traditional rooms: Oil paintings, botanical prints, and gilded mirrors are always perfect choices.
Consider your fireplace material, too. Whether it is wood, stone, or painted plaster, you can match it with other materials in your room, such as the walls or furniture.
The golden rule of all the rules: pick the thing you love! You will be seeing it every day, possibly while eating dinner on the sofa when you had intended to sit at the table.
One Big Piece, a Group, or a Casual Lean?
Not all fireplaces are the same. There are some good choices to pick from.
One statement piece. This is the simplest method to appear knowledgeable. A large artwork centered above the mantel takes instant control of the room.
A small collection of artworks. Personal touches can be added to a plain wall with a couple of prints or paintings displayed in a row. The spacing should be even. The mantel is a strong straight line, and an uneven layout would clash with it.
The relaxed lean. Rest a large piece on the mantel and lean it against the wall. It looks good, is easy to switch out, and isn't fussy if you're afraid of making holes. Place a candlestick, a little vase, or a pile of books next to it and you have a look worth paying a stylist for.
A mirror. You can apply the same size ideas to mirrors as you would to art. They reflect light around the space, making it feel bigger and brighter. In short, they're art that also does chores.
The TV Question
Ah, the TV. It's not surprising to see one installed over the fireplace, as it seems like the logical place. If yours is already up there, treat it as the focal point of the wall and use smaller pieces on the sides or on the mantel to add warmth around it.
If you can, however, reserve the best position for art. A painting never freezes mid-scene or asks for an update.
Avoid Damaging Your Art with Heat
Fireplaces are beautiful, but they're hot, smoky, and a bit dusty. Over time, paint can become brittle and lose its tone because of dryness and soot, and frames can turn dull, especially on oil paintings and antiques.
Here are some tricks of the trade that make a tremendous difference:
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Allow 12 inches of clearance above the mantel for works of art that are meaningful to you.
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Choose prints with protective glass or acrylic glazing, or acrylic-mounted prints.
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If you have a fire almost every night, make sure you don't hang anything treasured directly over it.
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keep clean and proper ventilation.
Wood burning fireplaces produce more soot than gas and electric models, but all of them give off heat, so be careful. Your great-grandmother's portrait shouldn't have to go through all that a marshmallow goes through!
Final Thoughts
There are only a handful of key things to consider when choosing art for your fireplace. Go big, keep the width at about 2/3 to 3/4 of the mantel width, hang it at the appropriate height, match the atmosphere of your room, and keep it away from the heat. Once you add a piece you really love, you're done.
But if you're still not happy, here's a important tip before you grab the hammer. Cut a big piece of cardboard to the size of the artwork you are interested in and tape it to the wall for several days. If you keep smiling at the blank shape, you're on the right track. If you tilt your head like a confused puppy, adjust it first. Your walls will thank you.
Now grab your measuring tape, find something that makes you happy, and put your fireplace in the spotlight! After all, it has been the room's lead singer since the beginning. All it requires is a fantastic backup band.
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