Cozy Mantels: Safe Fireplace Decorating Ideas for Christmas

The glow of the fireplace becomes the heart of the home at Christmas time. Decorating the mantel is a cherished tradition, but safety should always be included when decorating. A fireplace and its surrounding mantel represent your personality in your home. Whether you enjoy a traditional look or a contemporary theme, the mantel tells the story of who you are. 

A mantel creates the ambience that you may be searching for. A focal point of a room that usually gets most of the family traffic. Whenever decorating, we must always think of safety first. Before we discuss the materials to create those cozy mantel styles, let’s discuss safety first.

Safety When Decorating:

• Keep decorations away from heat. 
  • When decorating the mantel, keep decorations 6-12 inches away from the firebox opening. 
  • Do not let decor hang down into the fireplace opening. 
  • Wood-burning fireplaces are much hotter than other fuel types; be extra cautious.
• Use only flameless candles. There are many other options. LED flameless candles are replicas of real flames without the risk.
• Avoid flammable materials. 
  • Limit or avoid these materials.
    • Dried flower wreaths, paper, pinecones, or untreated wood.
    • Fabric garland or stockings directly above the fire. Take them down when you are having a fire.
    • Plastics or Resin. These can melt and release toxic fumes. 
    • Choose flame-retardant decor whenever possible. 
• Watch for heat damage. Heat can warp items in your decor. 
• Don’t block vents or airflow. Blocked airflow can cause overheating and poor efficiency. 
• Child and Pet awareness. 
  • Give full instructions to your children regarding fire safety.
  • Use safety screens or glass doors to help keep kids and pets away from fire.

Materials to Use When Decorating Your Cozy Mantel.

When decorating your mantle for any season, use these tips to keep your family safe.

• Metal – This is the best choice for safety. 
  • When decorating, choose items that are made of brass, aluminum, iron, or steel. 
  • Items that you can find may be frames, candleholders, lanterns, or sculptures.
  • These items are resistant to heat and won’t melt or burn. 
• Natural materials and stone. These are heat-resistant.
  • Granite, slate, and marble. You can find wonderful decor items made of these materials. 
  • Solid stone sculptures and bookends.
  • Ceramic stone items.
• Porcelain and Ceramic. Excellent for mantels.
  • Planters, figurines, vases.
  • Ceramics that are fired will resist heat and will not catch fire.
  • Avoid items that have been glued with attached embellishments. 
• Concrete and Cement. Items are modern and fire-safe. 
  • Trays, planters, and decorative objects. 
  • Heat-resistant and stable.
  • Excellent when contemporary or rustic is your theme.

Our showroom is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Stop in and say hello. Our experts are here to speak to you about your chimney and fireplace safety.

Chimney Solutions of Indiana strives to bring the highest level of professional and technical expertise to our service area. The rewards of protecting property and life, as well as ensuring health and safety, along with educating ourselves, our customers, and others, fuel our quest for excellence.