Alright folks. I’m interrupting the normal decor and food posts because I need your help. Yup, I’m coming to YOU for advice.
I’ve been thinking about painting our mantel. The way it looks now with a clean dark stain is the way it looked when we moved it. We didn’t have the chance to pick any of the finishes when we bought it and while I really do love (almost) everything I’ve been wanting to make a few changes so it fits my style a little more.
I’ve decided to use our fall mantel as my guinea pig picture. While there is nothing wrong with the mantel the way it is now, the stain is really dark and I tend to like a more rustic look. I also want to brighten up this corner because it can get a little dark at times.
So… I decided to play around and mock up a few images with a few different finish options. Don’t judge my editing skills :)
Option 1 would be to keep it the same as above. I haven’t ruled that out yet.
So the option two is to paint it white. While it wouldn’t be more rustic necessarily, it would brighten everything up and make it pop a little more.
Option three is to create a distressed white mantel. It would definitely brighten up the mantel and keep it rustic.
And the fourth option would be to sand down the mantel and stain it gray (option shown in Sherwin Williams Rustic Gray)
Ok so what are your thoughts?
- Keep the same?
- Paint White?
- Distressed White?
- Gray Stain?
About Taryn Whiteaker
Hi! I’m Taryn! The voice behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. I launched this brand over 11 years ago when I became a stay-at-home mom. What started as a small craft and mom blog eventually grew into a full time design and DIY site. My goal has always been to inspire others (especially women!) with design ideas, DIY tutorials, entertaining ideas and give you the tools you need to complete them yourself!
I really like the white.
Gray is my vote. I really like how it makes your accessories pop (blanket, home sweet home pillow, gather sign, etc.) Good luck!
Agree on the white. That being said, it compliments the white objects that are on it in this picture to help tie it in, would there always be something white placed on it?
2nd place is gray- slight pop to stand out, but doesn’t draw attention to it like the white does.
I really love the gray!!!
Leave it. It’s beautiful!!
Oh I have the same issue except my fireplace is old fashion brick with the rail-road tie type mantle. I’ve debated over and over paint or not to paint…. I like the gray but I also like it the way it is. I think you need to look at your furniture and your décor style to see what color would go best. Maybe you could create a template of the mantle out of brown craft paper and paint it gray or distress it… you know make a faux mantle then wrap it around your current one. Then live with it for a few weeks, see what you like! This way you could also try out each style… then paint/stain etc. That is what I’m currently doing to mine. In the end once you really commit to something remember – if you don’t like it you can always change it !!
My fave it the gray!
My preference is Option 1, with Option 4 a second choice.
I have an idea – get some fabric in possible color choices and put the cloth over the mantle like a very short tablecloth. That would allow you to live with a possible color choice or two before drastically changing the color of the wood itself.
I love the gray one, but I would maybe choose a lighter shade to match the shelf below
I think the white is too much of a contrast….the gray is nice and so is the existing one. Try white or gray washing the one on there now. It may just tone it down enought. Good luck….
ohh I like the gray !(of course) But I think it would look good if you did a lightly distressed gray, like paint gray over the dark and sand just the sides and corners!
I like the gray or leaving it as it is :-)
I LUV that gray!!!!! But it looks super as it is too
White!
I like choice 3. It is contrast but not a big contrast.
My fireplace is extremely similar to yours, and I painted my mantel white a few months ago. I love it!! It brightens up the whole area, and really makes all of my accessories pop. I say go with the WHITE! ?
I like the white, it pops…
I like all the options, but have you considered just sanding it down, maybe even leaveing a bit of the dark stain. I think raw wood can look awesome and would definitely be rustic! Good luck, can’t wait to see what you do!
I love the gray for the mantel and how it would totally tie in with the hearth. You have a beautiful corner there to play with!!!
Out of the four options, I like the grey best, but I think it would look even better if you could match the wood color of the crate on the hearth. Pretty!
That was my next thought! I’m glad you think so too :)
Gray, definitely.
I also like the gray, but would do a whitewash treatment over it which would soften it a bit.
I like Option #4. Not too dark, not too white, just right.
Gray looks the most like your palette to me. Distressing is kind of over and the white is too stark.
I love the white or as is ? Btw. Where did you get the gather sign. Thank you!
What type natural wood is the mantel? I’m having a new home built and thinking about using the Sherwin Williams rustic gray stain on our kitchen cabinets they are Birch and then our hardwood flooring that are a light oak. I’m debating because there are not many examples out there of how the rustic gray stain will turn out with these different wood types. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!