Enjoying the crisp spring air and the enchanting scents of green grass and budding flowers, your fireplace is probably the last thing on your mind. He has finished cleaning out his fireplace and is ready to put away all the firewood he hasn’t used all year. But remember that your fireplace should not be forgotten during this warm time of the year. It can still be the focal point of your home and home decor.
How can you use your fireplace without the heat of a fire? A fireplace sconce is a quick and easy way to bring some warmth and style to your fireplace without the heat. You can simply buy one and place it on your fireplace as is. But did you know there are ways to make mantel sconces even more unique and styled specifically for your home? Here are ten great hacks for decorating your fireplace sconces.
1. Use Fabric to Decorate Your Fireplace Sconces: Having lit sconces on your fireplace can create a warm glow and cozy flicker, but you won’t always have burning candles. So during times when you don’t, you can add some color by using fabric. Find a color and pattern that matches the rest of your home decor and purchase a small quantity; about a yard should suffice. Simply wrap the fabric around and in and out of the chandelier shafts. Let some of the fabric bunch up and puff out at random intervals. Tuck in the ends and edges and you’ll quickly have a beautiful centerpiece. Replace the candles, but remember to remove the cloth before lighting.
2. Use Different Colors of Candles for Different Occasions – Decorating for a specific occasion or holiday? Don’t forget to change the color of your candles in your fireplace sconces! This is such an easy trick, but it is very effective. Think about colors normally associated with the season, such as light greens and pinks for spring, or red, white, and blue for the 4th of July.
3. Use Different Sizes of Candles for a Designer Look – You can give your mantel sconces a professional designer look simply by changing the size and shape of your candles. Consider using several sizes of column candles at the same time. Or you can use some globe candles in the front and some pillar candles in the back. Tea lights work well with mantel candle holders that do not have center pins. Experiment with them and see what works for you.
4. Take Your Fireplace Sconces Outside: Sconces made for your fireplace are usually quite sturdy. They are usually made of wrought iron or some other highly durable material. This makes them ideal for outdoor use. Try using your fireplace sconces as a centerpiece on your patio table. If you have a long picnic table, you can use a sconce designed for a smaller fireplace. How about using a pair of candle holders to decorate either side of your front door or back door? If you’re worried about your candles blowing out in gusts of wind, you can use glass-enclosed votives, but your chandelier can’t have center pins for this to work.
5. Place Your Fireplace Sconces On Your Mantel – For those of us who have gas or electric fireplaces and don’t want to remove the faux logs during the warm season, consider placing a sconce or two on your mantel . This is actually a very classic way to decorate your fireplace. Use fireplace sconces that are made for smaller fireplaces or fireplaces with no clearance.
6. Place Your Fireplace Sconces In Your Home: If you don’t have a mantel, you can just as easily place your fireplace sconces in your home. Be sure to add some greenery in the spring, perhaps a bite of fall leaves in the fall, and some pine needles and cones in the winter for a special touch.
7. Use your fireplace sconce as a centerpiece for your dining room table. What if you don’t have a fireplace? You can still find great uses for these versatile home decor items. They work great as a centerpiece on the dining room table. Just place some fancy taper candles on them and add a few sprigs of greenery and you’ll have a gorgeous centerpiece in minutes that looks like it took hours to create. This is also a great way to use your fireplace sconces during the winter months when you are actually using your fireplace for a warm fire.
8. Set Ambience With Scented Candles – To create a calm and relaxing atmosphere in your home, you can add lavender or vanilla scented candles to your mantel holders. If you want a romantic setting, try some sandalwood or jasmine scent. For a warm and homey feeling, you can use apple and cinnamon. Just about any mood can be improved with a little aromatherapy. Be creative and have fun.
9. Put a mirror in your firebox to reflect the light – This hack is one of my favorites and it’s so easy. Find a mirror the same size as the back of your firebox. This can be framed or unframed, your choice. Just lean the mirror against the back of your firebox and light the candles in your fireplace sconces. The mirror will reflect the candlelight and give the illusion of twice as many candles. It’s a really beautiful effect.
10. Place glass beads under your fireplace sconces: This trick is simple, too, but it packs a dramatic effect. Find some glass beads at your local craft store that are the same color as your home decor. You can also use clear glass beads for a versatile option. Fill a tray with the beads and place them under the sconces on your fireplace. Scatter some beads around the tray to hide the edges of the tray. The beads will reflect your candlelight into millions of twinkling points of interest. Be creative with this. Use colored beads for a special holiday or use red beads for a romantic evening. The possibilities are limitless.
These ideas are meant to give you an idea of the creativity you can use to decorate your fireplace. Have fun brainstorming and thinking of new ways to use your fireplace sconces. Remember to be safe and remove any flammable decorations before lighting the candles.
Cheer up today! Let your creative juices flow. Find your favorite chandelier fireplace and a few decorative additions and you’ll be ready to make your fireplace uniquely your own!