If you've got a fireplace, what's above it?

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My house is an end terrace, Victorian. The front room has a lovely open fire, traditional looking, tiled around. There nothing above it and I can't decide what to put there . There is a picture rail above, it's a fairly standard square- ish room about 14ft.

Large mirror/picture/Wall clock?

Any inspiration? Low budget!

Large mirror above mine.

Abstract picture we bought in a pub near Southwold.

Georgian house here. Two main fireplaces. Sodding great (ebay steal) gold mirror over one, picture over another.

A massive great telly.

It's horrible but there's no where else for it to go really. We rent and the fireplace is like one out of Beetlejuice. It's so ugly. And it doesn't work.

Horrible.

It's a 1930s house that was basically turned into a Mrs Hinch palace. I weep when I think of all the features they must have ripped out. But like I say, rented.

Victorian terrace here ( old railway workers).
The print used to be in a big frame but that fell off and I haven't bothered getting another.kind of works though.

Mirror, clock and a bit of clutter!

@Persipan LOVE your Formica samples, fantastic idea.

Mirror to reflect the light. Cottage ceiling is quite low so mirror helps create a feeling of space. In a higher ceiling Victorian house you could get away with some artwork but please, no TV!

Ours are inglenooks, so nothing really. Logs to the sides, a bread oven in one. The fire is the focus, I'm not sure it needs anything more.

Going against the grain, we have a stag's head (not a real one obvs )

There are some lovely pictures on here, wish we had a wood burner but we have a 'fake flame' gas fire ... not very effective and the surround is hideous. Nice painting above it though.

Sorry not the best pic. Ours is a 1887 Victorian mid terrace.

A nail, on which hangs a big clock, apart from three weeks at Christmas when we switch it to a Christmas wreath with red berry lights.
Looks better than the clock.

I’ve battled with this for years. Considered mirrors and pics and vetoed an attempt by DH to wall mount a TV there. Is currently bare (except for Xmas decs) and I’m liking the simplicity

Threw some lights and stuff on the mirror to dress it for Christmas.

Mirror here. Recently done and I love it.

@Persipan
That is a great idea!

Nothing at the moment, I've painted the chimney breast four times this year and still not happy with the colour. I think the whole room need doing but DH won't have it.

Rural Georgian house. Main one in the lounge is a big inglenook, so there isn’t enough space above it for a mirror that would be in proportion. I’ve been mulling over it for years, looking out for something that would look right, but slowly accepting that actually it’s better with nothing.

All the other fireplaces in the other rooms have mirrors over them, except for dd’s, which has a felt creation that she made.

We have a clock on the wall. I'm not keen on the mirrors for some reason. The ones hung on the wall look OK but not what I prefer. Either a clock or a nice painting/print looks much nicer I think.

Not my mirror, but very similar. Big Victorian house, large square room with 13 ft ceilings. The other room with a big fireplace has a huge abstract painting above the mantelpiece.

One has a mirror, other not a mirror because it would reflect the horrifically messy bookshelves & tabletop games collection so we have a beautiful oil painting that we both love & chose together.

Mirror in the lounge, large clock in kitchen.

A couple of pictures, a bit like this. I got coordinating ones, I think from desenio.co.uk/

Houzz has an article on decorating mantles: www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/the-dos-and-donts-of-hanging-art-above-a-fireplace-stsetivw-vs~70773521