When trying to find that perfect mantel for a rustic-style look in the living room of your new home, there are many things to consider. Wood types, mantel types, and many other elements need to be chosen before you buy. However, you don’t need the help of an expensive interior designer. Instead, this article will explain different features and how they can fit into the look you may want. Additionally, we’ll talk all about where to find fireplace mantels for sale, and how to choose a quality mantel.
In This Post, You’ll Discover:
- What Are The Different Rustic Features of an Aesthetically-Pleasing and Functional Fireplace Mantel? – To begin, this article will cover specific features that are available for rustic-style mantels so you can get a perfect home aesthetic.
- What Are The Advantages of a Floating Shelf Over a Fireplace Mantel Surround? – A floating shelf works a little differently than a standard surround. Here, we explain some of the different mantel shelf options and their benefits.
- Instead of Solid Wood, Can a Rustic Fireplace Mantel Be Made of Engineered Wood Like MDF? – Here we talk about the pros and cons of engineered wood when it comes to the use of rustic-style mantels.
- What Are The Different Stone Mantel Options That Work With Rustic-Style Home Decor? – Wood isn’t the only material that can work with a rustic style. Here we explore stone mantel options like cast stone and more.
- Can a High Quality Marble Mantel Work With Rustic Decorating Aesthetics or Is It Too Luxurious? – While people tend to think of marble as a more luxurious material, this section talks about scenarios and rustic-style aesthetics that marble will complement.
- Should You Buy a Fireplace Mantel Shelf From Trusted Brands or Is a Generic Brand Fireplace Mantel a Good Deal? – Here we compare buying generic mantels vs. brand name mantels for your fireplace.
- Do Manufacturers Like Pearl Mantels Offer a Wide Variety of Rustic-Style Fireplace Mantels For Sale? – Pearl mantels will be discussed and their different fireplace mantels for sale.
- Is a Fireplace Insert Only For Converting Wood Fireplaces or Can They Be Used With a Wood Fireplace Mantel From Pearl Mantels? – Inserts are discussed when using third-party mantels.
- Is Installing an Insert With a Third-Party Fireplace Mantel an Easy DIY Home Improvement Project? – If you are interested in doing the installation of your fireplace and mantel yourself, you should read this part carefully.
- Which Brand of Electric Insert Looks Best With a Rustic-Style Fireplace Mantel? – We highlight all the great features of the best fireplace brand to choose for your insert.
What Are The Different Rustic Features of an Aesthetically-Pleasing and Functional Fireplace Mantel?
When it comes to a wood mantel shelf for the family room or any room of your house, there are some defining interior design characteristics to pay attention to. Wood choice, wood grain, the craftsmanship of the woodworks, and more all play a part.
For rustic-style fireplace mantels, there are many different wood choices you can select from. You can go with a softer wood like poplar. Or, for another softwood like poplar, you can go with an alder wood fireplace mantel. Pine wood is also another natural wood that is on the more affordable end. Moving up, you can begin selecting more expensive pieces of wood like walnut, hickory, or oak.
Another feature to consider is if you want your fireplace mantel to be cut perfectly or you want a hand hewn look. Rustic-style mantels with a hand hewn wood mantel look are a fantastic choice. The hand-cut lines and subtle imperfections give off a much more rustic feel than more commercially produced mantels.
For a more antique fireplace mantel look, you can try barn wood. Old repurposed barn wood has a beautifully aged quality to it that exudes a rustic aesthetic. You can even repurpose an old fence post or other antique wood with a similar dark tone and rich grain texture to the mantel wood. Even when purchasing fireplace mantels, you can look for rustic-like qualities of the wood that you choose. You can choose something more subtle, or go for an authentic rural farmhouse feel. See what matches with the decorating choices within your home.
What Are The Advantages of a Floating Shelf Over a Fireplace Mantel Surround?
Your rustic-style fireplace doesn’t need to be a standard mantel with side posts holding it off of the wall. Some options that don’t involve side posts at all.
for an excellent look to be paired with darker farmhouse woods, try cast iron corbels. Some cast iron corbels holding up a fireplace mantel shelf will give your home a look like it was handcrafted. It will give the room a dignified aged rural appearance.
Of course, you don’t need to use corbels at all to hold up your shelf. Instead, you can install a floating shelf using a cleat. Cleats attached to the wall and connect the floating mantel shelf so that it is completely free on the bottom.
There are a few benefits of floating shelves instead of standard mantels. The first is that it frees up space below the mantel. If you are limited on space and want fireplace tools or other accessories next to the fireplace, there will now be more room available. Another benefit of floating mantels is that they can bring a rustic appearance to a modern style. This blends the best of both worlds. Lastly, if you were to install something like an electric wall hanging fireplace, you would likely choose to install it flush inside of a recessed wall. This can look great, but normal mantels can’t be used with these fireplaces. Instead, floating mantels can be installed below a wall mount fireplace, rather than above it. Of course, you will want to keep mantel decorations to a minimum to not block the visuals of the flames.
Instead of Solid Wood, Can a Rustic Fireplace Mantel Be Made of Engineered Wood Like MDF?
Engineered wood like MDF or particleboard is a cheaper and lighter option that some people like to go with for their fireplace mantle. The cheaper cost of one of these mantels can leave more of a budget for things like a better fireplace unit or other home accessories. Additionally, the lighter weight can make it easier to install. This is especially true for floating mantels.
However, there are some concerns with engineered wood choices as well. Despite them being cheaper and easier to install due to their weight, they don’t look authentic. If you are choosing wood as the material for your mantel, it is a good idea to use real wood. Engineered wood simply doesn’t have the proper texture and aesthetics in most cases. The laminate commonly used on these also looks artificial. In addition, engineered wood tends to break, scratch, or chip much easier than using real wood. They won’t nearly as long as the real thing. If the mantel uses laminate, then over time the glue will break down, causing bubbles to form or corners to peel.
Because they last longer, the price isn’t significantly higher, and the installation only happens once, you’re going to be better off using real wood over engineered wood for rustic-style fireplaces.
What Are The Different Stone Mantel Options That Work With Rustic-Style Home Decor?
Wood isn’t the only material that can be used for a mantel with a rustic-style aesthetic. You can also build a stone fireplace. A stone mantel can come in a few different varieties while still having a rustic nature to it. The more obvious ones are things like stacked stone, cobblestone, round stone, and more. Having authentic stone instead of faux stone will not only last longer, but it will also look superior.
Another option you can go with is cast stone. Cast stone can come in various shapes and styles, and it can even be cast into a custom shape by certain manufacturers. Of course, the actual shape, lines, and details of the casting will make the biggest difference in whether it will have a rustic-style appearance or fit another style entirely. You’re better off sticking with simple shapes and lines, with a minimal aesthetic. You can do treatments to the stone to give it more of an aged look. Some smaller cracks and other imperfections can elevate the piece when going for a rustic-style appearance.
In the end, how you choose to decorate your mantel will also play a big part in stone fireplaces having a more rustic-style look. Make sure to choose good mantlepiece choices to keep the stone fireplace from slipping into other styles.
Can a High-Quality Marble Mantel Work With Rustic Decorating Aesthetics or Is It Too Luxurious?
When people think of rustic-style mantels, marble usually isn’t the first type of material that comes to mind for them. Usually, you will think of darker, textured woods or natural stone faces. Of course, marble doesn’t have to be the look of high luxury, but can instead have a more down-to-earth aesthetic.
Instead of picturing a grand hall with a large marble mantel, picture a small Victorian cottage. A charming English cottage with a Victorian decorating theme can have a different type of rustic-style aesthetic.
The trick is to use more humble decorating items for the mantel. Don’t start placing expensive-looking brass or silver candle holders. Instead, aim for more subtle things. Try decorating the mantel with handcrafted collectibles or antiques. Choose a beautiful Victorian-era-style clock as a mantelpiece. Don’t be afraid to incorporate aged white wood into the furniture in the room. Anything that will add to the English farmhouse aesthetic will downplay the more luxurious look of the marble fireplace.
Should You Buy a Fireplace Mantel Shelf From Trusted Brands or Is a Generic Brand Fireplace Mantel a Good Deal?
Like most things, when you buy generic items, you are taking a risk. The old saying “what you pay for is what you get” rings true. While you can get lucky with generic brands of mantels for your home, there is really little point in having too low of a budget. Mantels aren’t quite as expensive as many other decor items in a house. Plus, it is such a central focus in a room. You will usually be better off getting a quality mantel from a trusted manufacturer or brand than risking it with a generic item that can break quickly.
Consider that generic brands are more likely to use things like engineered wood. If you recall the section about engineered wood, this material tends to look cheap and not last very long. Additionally, even if a mantel is made of real wood, generic brands may choose cheaper types of wood or bad pieces in the construction. The overall build quality will also be poor. Instead, choose a high-end and reliable brand for your mantel so that you can be happy with it the first time around. The risk of gambling on generic products often ends with too much money being spent on replacements.
Do Manufacturers Like Pearl Mantels Offer a Wide Variety of Rustic-Style Fireplace Mantels For Sale?
Pearl Mantels is a manufacturer that provides a wide variety of types and styles of fireplace mantels for sale. This includes many rustic-style mantels like the Crestwood or the Shenandoah. They have mantels made from engineered wood, real wood, stone, and more. Be sure to check the relevant sections when browsing for a mantel for your fireplace.
On their website, you can also see a lot of great examples of their mantels being used in a fireplace setting. this can help you with inspiration and ideas for your fireplace. When you are browsing mantels, pay attention to rustic-style fireplaces that catch your eye. You can see what type of accessories they might have with their fireplace, decorations on top of the mantel, and more. Also, notice if they have done anything special with the wall behind the fireplace. Often, these wall treatments are what takes a simple fireplace and make it something special.
Is a Fireplace Insert Only For Converting Wood Fireplaces or Can They Be Used With a Wood Fireplace Mantel From Pearl Mantels?
Many electric fireplace types are freestanding units that already come with a mantel. Of course, if you are purchasing your third-party mantel from Pearl Mantels for a custom fireplace, what fireplace do you go with?
Traditional electric inserts are placed into the firebox of an older wood fireplace, therefore transforming that wood fireplace into an electric one. By placing inserts into the firebox, you get the benefits of electric heating while keeping the charm of the fireplace the house came with.
Of course, this isn’t the only use for an insert. Electric inserts can also be used with third-party mantels. While it is important to check the dimensions of the mantel and the insert to make sure they will fit, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Mantels can be cut down to size to fit an insert in many cases.
Is Installing an Insert With a Third-Party Fireplace Mantel an Easy DIY Home Improvement Project?
Luckily, installing a fireplace mantel with a fireplace insert is a pretty easy task in comparison to building wood fireplaces. While an architect will be involved with wood fireplace design in many cases and a home builder will need to construct it, this isn’t the scenario with electric fireplaces and third-party mantels. A DIY remodel of a room using an insert and a third-party mantel is quite easy.
Once the mantel and insert have been matched for fitting, you only need to place the mantel in the area that it will go. Afterward, you can place the insert. This is similar to how you may install an insert into an existing fireplace. But, in this case, it is just a mantel with an opening below it.
Of course, the installation can be a bit different if you are selecting different types of mantels, or you are doing an installation where you want the insert to be flush inside of an embedded wall. If you have a certain idea in mind but aren’t quite sure if you can handle the installation yourself, search YouTube. YouTube will have many demonstrations and tutorials for all sorts of fireplace and mantel installations. By looking for a demonstration of an installation similar to the fireplace and mantel you will be using, you will see all that it entails. Often, the tutorial will demystify the experience and you will realize that the installation is easier than you expected. A bonus to seeing these demonstrations is that they could give you even more ideas for your specific fireplace area.
Which Brand of Electric Insert Looks Best With a Rustic-Style Fireplace Mantel?
When it comes to realistic flames, a quality build, and premium features, MagikFlame is the fireplace company that you will want to select. The MagikFlame Insert is the model of fireplace that gives you all of the advantages of their superior fireplace technology in a package you can customize with your mantel. If you purchase an insert, you get every single feature that is inside of all of their other fireplace models. These features include things like:
- Ultrarealistic Fire Effects – Holographic flame technology makes MagikFlame fire effects look superior to competitors. The movement and flicker of these 3D flames look just as realistic as if you had a real wood fireplace in your home.
- Crackling Log Sounds – Realism of MagikFlame fireplaces is much more than just the flame visuals. The crackling sounds of burning logs can also be heard emitting from them. This increases realism even further.
- 5,200 BTU Heat – The powerful infrared heater within MagikFlame inserts is also incredibly efficient. A minimal amount of electricity will be used to keep your home warm.
- Smartphone App – To control your fireplace, use the premium app built for smartphones and tablet devices. This app controls all of the fire effects, audio effects, temperature, and more.
