The wall above the fireplace is where many people hang a favourite family photograph, painting or poster, because it is the natural focal point of the room. Before you put anything up there, here is what to think about.
Plan it with the room
Start with the size of the fireplace and the style you want. Over a wide mantel, a group of smaller pieces hung close together can fill the space better than one picture and gives the eye more to explore. For something simpler, hang a single painting or poster.
Whatever you choose will be the centre of attention, so choose with care. Then use it as a starting point for the rest of the room: pick a colour from the picture and echo it in cushions, a vase or a lamp. How far you take that is up to you.
Don't be afraid to be bold
Be bold with colour. Black and white photos with touches of red or green look great above a fireplace, as do family photos in simple black frames. One colour throughout can work too: navy blue is a classic.
Think about the feel of the room. If your furniture is modern, choose contemporary pieces rather than traditional ones. In an older house, something more rustic will look at home.
Get the size right
With a big empty wall the urge is to fill it with a huge picture, but that can make the room feel cold. Something smaller, well mounted and framed, often sits better.
The guideline designers use is that the picture, or the group, should be about two-thirds the width of the mantel. Plenty of people have broken the rule with brilliant results. Hang it fairly low, with a hand's width or so between the mantel and the frame, so that the two read as one arrangement.
Think about the backdrop
A plain white wall is a strong backdrop for a colourful painting. Black and metallic frames are eye-catching here too. If neither is right for you, keep looking until you find something that suits what is already in the room.
Mix and match
Don't be afraid to mix styles. One or two pieces that differ from everything else in the room can pull a scheme together. Small details add up to the overall feeling a visitor gets.
Light it well
To make the picture stand out, light it properly. It does not need to be bright. A picture light or a couple of well-placed lamps will do.
Mind the heat
If the fire is used, remember that heat, smoke and soot are hard on pictures. A deep mantel shields the wall above, but keep anything valuable or irreplaceable somewhere cooler, and have pictures above a working fire framed behind glass.
Don't forget the other walls
The fireplace should not be the only decorated wall in the room. Think about what people see first as they walk in, and choose pictures for those walls to suit.
Need a frame made to fit? Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@EasyFrame.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.