Home Improvement Skills & Specialties Carpentry & Woodworking Building Furniture

12 DIY Fireplace Mantel Plans

Written by

Updated 11/13/20

Wooden fireplace mantel with flowers — A Blossoming Life

Learn how to turn your fireplace into a statement piece with one of these free fireplace mantel plans. You'll also get the added bonus of having a place to sit decor, showcase your books, hold a TV, and even hang your stockings for the holidays.

Building a fireplace mantel is a great beginner building project that anyone can handle. You'll need just a few supplies and tools to get the job done. This is also a budget project that you can do for just $50 and in a few hours time.

Store the firewood for your fireplace in one of these DIY firewood racks.

01 of 12

Live Edge Wood Mantel

Remodelaholic

This fireplace mantel plan takes a dull stone fireplace and adds a fresh coat of paint and a live edge wooden mantel for a stunning makeover that would look great in any home. This is an easy project that features a mantel that appears both rustic and polished.

Live Edge Wood Mantel for Remodelaholic
02 of 12

Two-Hour Wood Beam Fireplace Mantle

Designing Vibes

With just two hours, a common board, and a few tools, you can build this fireplace mantel. This tutorial will show you how to make a board look like a wood beam with no seams seen from the front. It will bring some warmth and rustic vibes to whatever room your fireplace is in.

Two-Hour Wood Beam Fireplace Mantle from Designing Vibes
03 of 12

Rustic and Weathered Wood Beam Mantel

Sand & Sisal

This DIY fireplace mantel project shows you how to build a fireplace surround as well as a mantel. Instructions include distressing, so you can learn how to make the oak beam look weathered and rustic.

Rustic and Weathered Wood Beam Mantel from Sand & Sisal
04 of 12

Budget Shiplap Fireplace Surround

Simplicity In the South

This is a complete fireplace mantel that includes a fireplace surround, mantel, and a shiplap feature above. The result is a clean, simple, and bright fireplace that's perfect for a farmhouse home.

Budget Shiplap Fireplace Surround from Simplicity In the South

Continue to 5 of 12 below.
05 of 12

Floating Fireplace Mantel

Frazzled Joy

If you have a fireplace against a boring brick wall, adding a mantel can add a lot of style and texture to the room. This DIY project shows you how to do just that with tips on how to build and hang it.

Floating Fireplace Mantel from Frazzled Joy
06 of 12

Rustic Fireplace Mantel

Lovely Etc.

Make a statement in your living room by adding a large rustic mantel above your fireplace. If your fireplace already has an existing mantel, this tutorial will show you how to cover it with a larger one. You'll also get directions on how to stain and slightly distress your new mantel.

Rustic Fireplace Mantel from Lovely Etc.
07 of 12

Rustic Farmhouse Faux Fireplace and Mantel

Rocky Hedge Farm

Do you still want a fireplace mantel but don't want to mess with the actual fireplace? This free fireplace plan builds a faux fireplace with a surround and a mantel. It has a rustic farmhouse look that you can place anywhere in your home.

Rustic Farmhouse Faux Fireplace and Mantel from Rocky Hedge Farm
08 of 12

DIY Fireplace Mantel

Chatfield Court

This fireplace mantel plan shows you how to replace your smaller mantel with a larger one so you have room for decorations, books, or in this case a TV. This is a great budget project that's cost will be determined by what kind of wood you purchase.

DIY Fireplace Mantel from Chatfield Court

Continue to 9 of 12 below.
09 of 12

Easy Wood Mantel for Brick Fireplace

Remodelaholic

You'll make quite the statement with this extra-long fireplace mantel up against a brick wall. The wooden mantel stretches across the whole length of the brick wall, giving you lots of room for your decor. This plan works great with gas or wood fireplaces but can also be used over a wood-burning stove.

Easy Wood Mantel for Brick Fireplace for Remodelaholic
10 of 12

Complete Guide to Building a Fireplace Mantel

A Blossoming Life

This DIY fireplace mantel plan takes you through each step of picking out the lumber, measuring and cutting the wood, assembling the mantel, adding a stain finish, and then finally hanging it up.

How to Build a Fireplace Mantel from A Blossoming Life
11 of 12

Streamlined Fireplace Mantel

Love & Renovations

This classic wooden fireplace mantel will look great in any home, no matter what the style. You'll love how easy it is to follow this tutorial. It takes you through each step to create a mantel everyone will admire.

Streamlined Fireplace Mantel from Love & Renovations
12 of 12

Easy Faux Railroad Tie Mantel

Scavenger Chic

This DIY fireplace mantel project shows you how to make a mantel that looks just like a railroad tie but without the heavy weight of using a real one. This is a very forgiving project that gives you the freedom to make mistakes that instantly add character to the finished piece.

Easy Faux Railroad Tie Mantel from Scavenger Chic