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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you to help me decorate my mantelpiece?

50 replies

CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 11:46

Can you give me any useful tips? What would you put on it if you were me? I am planning to paint all walls in the room a muted, olivey greenish colour sometime soon.

Budget... around a 100 quid, but of course preferably less.

Please help and excuse the dreadful clutter. I hope to be rid of it soon.

To ask you to help me decorate my mantelpiece?
OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 11:48

Also, do excuse the clutter. My house isn't pretty, and I used to try my hardest to at least keep it clean and reasonably tidy, but became discouraged because 1. I have no taste, 2. it still looks shit.

But then I had that thought that perhaps prettying-up one little bit at a time might help. Argh. I am so frustrated.

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Maudlinmaud · 12/12/2017 11:53

Hi. Are you painting the fireplace itself?
I thought maybe painting it white with a white wall behind and the other walls olive would look nice.
Have you had a peep at pinterest?

Maudlinmaud · 12/12/2017 11:58

Have a look at this. Quite simple to create

To ask you to help me decorate my mantelpiece?
Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 12:05

I considered painting it white but I wasn't sure how it'd look with the black tiles, silver 'hardware' and pine furniture and all... and I've never painted a fireplace before :D The picture looks gorgeous, I'd love something like that. Just wow!

I'm not too good at Pinterest/Instagram and such - I see something I like and then I've no idea how to actually go about recreating what I see. I know some people are just born with good taste, and they know what looks good and what doesn't - I don't have that skill at all. No wonder everything around me looks like shite :O

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Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 12:07

Aaand another problem is that I have a television above the fireplace. I hate it, hate it, hate it, think it looks terrible and unsightly at best, but DH insisted and won that particular battle - since our son nearly killed himself by knocking a telly over once. I don't think anything can look good with that big ugly screen on the same wall :/

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CheapSausagesAndSpam · 12/12/2017 12:16

I was also going to suggest painting it. Definitely looks better paler imo.

My DH tried to suggest the TV went over the fireplace...NOT happening. But since your DH won that one, I'd go for pale colours on your mantle to balance the big dark TV>

And simple...uncluttered. You've got the TV there so I'd just look for something nice and pretty like a couple of low, natural candle holders for tealights and one "thing" in the middle.

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 12/12/2017 12:17

Just looked back at your pic...can you make DH sort those dangling wires out?

trixymalixy · 12/12/2017 12:19

Have you seen the Samsung "the frame" TVs. We're hoping to get one in the sales after christmas. They look just like a picture frame when they are off.

I would paint the fireplace. You could paint it grey rather then white which might go with the tiles better.

Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 12:19

The dangling wires drive me insane :D I am going to order some covers for them. I need a kick up the arse, I do. I am looking through Laura Ashley right now to see what I can find, something similar to that pinterest picture, and I'll have a look in charity shops as well, loads of nice things in there, I'm sure.

Ok, I'll definitely consider painting the fireplace. Maybe not right now when the fire is going all day long, but definitely in spring!

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Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 12:21

That Samsung telly is GORGEOUS!!! But currently out of my financial reach, and the telly we have isn't that old yet. Definitely something to consider when it's time to change the tv :)))

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alphajuliet123 · 12/12/2017 12:26

I painted our pine fireplace recently, I went for a slightly off-white and it looks SO much better, I'm annoyed I Ieft it so long. The walls are a light grey-green and all the woodwork and cornicing/ceiling is white.

I used knot sealant first (but you might not need it) did about 3 layers of bog standard white emulsion then a couple of layers of Valspar eggshell / soft sheen or some such wipeable thing. Cost about £25 in total. Go for it!

Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 12:30

alphajuliet123 - sounds beautiful! Umm... would you show me a photo? It's ok if not, it just sounds like exactly what I'd like to have but I am struggling to visualise it

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Maudlinmaud · 12/12/2017 12:32

Ah Coffee the TV has to stay. Keep the decor simple on the mantle then.
I would definitely still paint it. White with black tiles will balance the TV on the wall though. Doesn't matter that the other furniture doesn't match.
What have you got to the side of the TV is that a big dresser or something?

Giggorata · 12/12/2017 12:32

Re the Samsung framed TV - I saw something on Pinterest in the recent past about creating a frame for an existing wall-hung TV, and also creating a panel to hide dangling wires.

Viviennemary · 12/12/2017 12:37

Take all clutter off. Then buy a nice clock. Then add a couple of things either side of clock. Agree with painting it white like in the photo. And maybe a painting either side of fireplace. Or even two paintings each side can look quite nice on a plain wall.

Maudlinmaud · 12/12/2017 12:42

Look how beautiful and simplistic this is. TV over the mantle can work. Never thought I'd hear myself say that.

To ask you to help me decorate my mantelpiece?
AlessandroVasectomi · 12/12/2017 12:51

Definitely de-clutter the mantelpiece - it looks like a dumping ground at the moment. You already have a carriage clock, so make that the centre piece with an item either side - for example a small statue or other ornament and a family photo . Maybe a candle stick at either end, but keep it at that. Less is more!

Not sure about painting that lovely dark wood white, but the photo with the white painted jobbie shows that it can work.

alphajuliet123 · 12/12/2017 13:15

Tried to PM them but can't send photos, so I'll add them here briefly!

alphajuliet123 · 12/12/2017 13:19

PS the mirror was also pine so I painted that too. We still have wooden furniture in there but it looks a lot more balanced. You can see on the before pic how much darker the new paint is but overall without the wooden fireplace the room looks so much lighter and cleaner.

meredintofpandiculation · 12/12/2017 13:21

Don't set out to decorate it. Clear it, and then put one or two items on it that have meaning for you. Don't let anything else be put on there - it's the "special place" for those few items. It's easy to keep a "special place" clean and uncluttered than one which is merely decorated.

Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 13:37

Wow, Juliet, that looks lovely! :)) You've done an amazing job.

Maudlinmaud - the thing at the side is a pine bookcase

Ok, I've found some bits and pieces online that I like, I shall post links in a bit and see what the wise women of Mumsnet say! :)

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Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 12/12/2017 13:43

These for either side of the mantel?

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alphajuliet123 · 12/12/2017 13:45

Thanks, took a couple of days but was well worth it I think. Have asked mods to delete the pics as a bit identiying!

GingerKitCat · 12/12/2017 14:21

Any chance of re-siting the tv on a different wall? I've never had a wall hung tv so not sure how awkward they are to move. My neighbour has their wall tv on the wall opposite the fireplace and sofas on the two free walls - depends where your doors and windows are.

If that's not an option there are some good ideas on here Smile

What's at floor level, do you have a hearth that you could display some larger items on, in a tasteful group? Grin Are there small children to consider (breakage)? I often have a decent sized leafy houseplant on mine or a vase of flowers. Maybe not if you have a working fire Wink

I've seen big statement-y lanterns, picture frames, church candles and so on used to good effect. As per previous poster it's probably a good idea to keep the mantel completely clear bar something at either end.

I've seen nice homewares in Wilko, Sainsburys, Matalan and Dunelm recently.

The Home Decoration forum on here is a good place for advice. It's sometimes a little quiet but threads with pics usually get a good response Flowers