The new house that I am moving into next month has something that I have always wanted in my own home - a fireplace! Living in the South there is really only one season in which to use it - but all the same it has its uses and advantages throughout the whole year. Depending on where your fireplace is located and how it was built will depend on how well you can use it to complete the look of your home.

I always wondered what a fireplace mantel was for and why someone thought to make it. After all it serves no purpose to the fireplace itself and does not make it work any better. I have seen many fireplaces without one and they seemed to work without any problems. But then I sat down to look at my new one and thought about all the possibilities to it.

The fireplace mantel is another way for you to decorate without having to buy anything new. For example you could display family pictures on top of it or maybe your favorite collection of something. If your fireplace is in the middle of your living room than you could purchase a flat screen television and mount it onto the wall right above the mantel.

Use this mantel to your advantage and discover the endless possibilities that you could have with it. Displaying pictures or other collections could save you time from nailing holes in the wall or by buying a special case for anything.