Fireplace Mantels are More Than Mere Works of Art

Without a fireplace mantel, a fireplace insert is just a glowing hole in the wall that throws hot air out into your home. Luckily, most modern homes are constructed with a built-in fireplace mantel.

Unluckily, most modern homes are constructed with very cheap, ugly, and ineffectual fireplace mantels.

But why, you might ask, are fireplace mantels such a big deal? Simply put, if your home has a fireplace, you are going to want a dependable and beautiful fireplace mantel. The most apparent reason for this is that fireplace surrounds add significant amounts of depth and character to the interior design of a room. Whether they are constructed from hardy hardwoods, sturdy marble, or sleek steel, fireplace mantels can do wonders for your home’s appearance. Wood mantels often feature elaborately carved designs that have a sort of old-fashioned ornamental feel to them, while marble looks majestic and powerful. For the modern home, nothing beats a steel fireplace surround for that sheer streamlined “cool” factor.

But fireplace mantels are so much more than just pretty installations. The mantel itself adds as an extra shelf for displaying your family photos, your candles, your antique clock, or anything else. The shape of many fireplace surrounds also serves to direct heat more efficiently into your home; the curves of the mantel make it so the warmth blows a more outward, and less upward. Fireplace surrounds even help to sturdy the very wall that surrounds the fireplace. To that end, if you are thinking about investing in a fireplace mantel, make sure you get a sturdy one: if you’re going to be anchoring it into a wall or around a portable fireplace, it would be best to insure it makes for a sturdy anchor.

Finally, fireplace mantels actually add value to your home. If you plan on selling or renting out your house, know that a permanent installation like a fireplace mantel enhances your property value. Even if you don’t plan on leaving anytime soon, you can surely appreciate the increased value your mantel brings to your abode.

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