Our Art above a Fireplace Recommendations
In this guide, we'll go over basic rules for artwork above a fireplace and share 5 of our suggestions.
We group these suggestions by style, color, and size to show you various choices for artwork above the fireplace.
You can purchase them directly from our website or contact us with any questions.
But first, why have an art piece above a fireplace to begin with? Because art above a fireplace has a perfect focal point in the room. It will look great in that spot!
1. Typically, a room has a nice, clean white background above a fireplace, with even, aesthetically pleasing rectangular proportions. This creates an elegant frame-within-a-frame visual border around your artwork, which draws the eye's attention to it.
2. Note also a nice white pedestal that the fireplace itself creates for the artwork. Similarly to the way art galleries exhibit works of art on a pedestal, your artwork is emphasized.
3. Plus, clean vertical column support usually surrounds fireplaces. These visual "columns" add additional framing and negative white space so that the artwork stands out even more.
Anatomy of a fireplace
Let's first start with some terminology. A typical fireplace has several key parts:
How wide is a typical fireplace mantel?
The fireplace's dimension is one of the most important considerations for the artwork above a fireplace. Specifically, the dimensions to consider are the width of the mantel shelf, the width of the wall behind it and the vertical distance above the mantel.
The typical mantel shelf width above a fireplace is 60 to 72 inches (5 or 6 feet). Most fireplace mantel shelves in Home Depot or Lowes, for example, are of that size.
Your size might vary, of course, but you can use the same rules to apply to fireplaces of different sizes.
The key measurement is artwork width. As a rule, your artwork should be the width of the mantel shelf minus 6–8 inches of breathing room on each side. That empty “negative space” frames the piece and lets it stand out. The table below gives the ideal artwork width and clearance for every common mantel size.
| Mantel width | Ideal artwork width | Clearance above mantel | Pieces that fit at Art House SF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48″ | 30–36″ wide | 6–8″ | 80+ pieces |
| 54″ | 34–40″ wide | 6–8″ | — |
| 60″ (most common) | 40–48″ wide | 8–10″ | 40+ pieces |
| 66″ | 44–52″ wide | 8–10″ | — |
| 72″ | 48–58″ wide | 10–12″ | 15+ pieces |
For a standard 60-inch mantel — the most common size — that means art roughly 40 to 48 inches wide, leaving about 10 inches of wall on each side.
How high above the mantel should art hang?
Leave 6–12 inches of clearance between the top of the mantel shelf and the bottom of the artwork. Use the lower end (6–8 inches) for standard 8-foot ceilings, and the higher end (10–12 inches) for taller rooms.
With 9-foot or higher ceilings, a vertical (portrait) format also works well above a fireplace — the extra height fills the wall and draws the eye upward, which is why tall pieces suit rooms with high ceilings.
Our Recommendations
In the next section, we'll present 5 of our recommendations. These art recommendations will help you to visualize different artwork styles and what will work best in your home.
Buy art from our website or ask us for help. We'll assist you with any inquiries and help you with the purchasing process.
Tavalina
Abstract Landscapes
Israeli artist Tavalina completed her architecture degree at the Israel Institute of Technology in 1992. After a personal crisis in her 30th year, she began to paint.
“I felt an overwhelming need for color. I went to my room and found a discarded box of crayons, and began to draw… as if I was in a trance, the paintings were flowing out of me… and until this very day, I haven’t stopped.”
Her art above a fireplace creates a new window in your home. As if through a window in a wall, a fresh green landscape, or an ancient Italian plaza, or a country home reveal themselves above your fireplace.
Iris Kristmunds
Midcentury Modern
Our next recommendation is the minimalistic abstract artwork by Iris Kristmunds from Reykjavik, Iceland. Iris uses a more moderate color palette with fewer dominant colors in it.
Her artworks feel less busy compared to Lobsang's, for example. They are naturally calming, with simpler colors, lines, and subjects. Yet, you can mix them well with other items in your room of similar colors.
Her art is perfect for mid-century modern interiors with clean lines and minimal decorations.
Lobsang Durney
Surrealist Worlds
Lobsang Durney is a contemporary Chilean artist from Valparaiso, Chile. In his work, Lobsang focuses on painting surrealist worlds, mixing realistic and imaginary subjects and elaborate storylines.
His works are intricately cinematic, reminiscent of Lucasfilm animations and computer-generated artwork. However, Lobsang's artwork is not digital but done in traditional oil on canvas with vibrant, brilliant colors.
Some of his artworks, such as our HD Metal prints or canvas reproductions, are ideal for a 40-inch display. They would look fantastic when placed above a fireplace. Using framed fine art prints on metal or canvas lets you match the frame and the size perfectly to your fireplace.
Note how well the white frame compliments the artwork and the space above the fireplace.
George Abramidze
Happy Colors
A contemporary Georgian surrealist artist George Abramidze creates fairytale and surrealist worlds.
George’s work exudes the warmth, hospitality, romanticism, and temperament of his native country.
His colors are bright, vibrant and warm. He often uses red, orange, yellow color palette in both of his figurative and abstract work.
George's work adds warmth to any room both in terms of its subjects and colors.
Tsholo Motong
African Art
South African Tsholo "Splash" Motong collects fabric from different tribes and cultures in Africa. He then cuts them out in a unique mosaic fashion and glues them to canvas. Each portrait is created from hundreds of oddly shaped pieces of patterned fabric.
"My work is only inspired by local scenes from Soweto, South Africa, which has a rich history of migrant labour. I use a lot of colour because I believe colour is like a spice of life."
Tsholo's vertical paintings are a great fit above a fireplace, especially if your house has high ceilings.
These are just a few ideas to help you find the best art piece for your fireplace. To find a great match, we recommend deciding on the 3 categories below:
And if you need any help, we'll be happy to send you a few options from our current inventory.
About the author
Max Khusid founded Art House SF in 2021 after leading international data and automation teams at Apple. He travels to meet artists in person — Reykjavík, Tbilisi, Bukhara, Kathmandu, Johannesburg — and personally selects, stretches, frames and ships every piece the gallery sells. Questions about sizing art for your fireplace? Email max@arthousesf.com.
Leave 6–12 inches of clearance between the top of the mantel shelf and the bottom of the frame. Use 6–8 inches for standard 8-foot ceilings and 10–12 inches for taller rooms. The center of the artwork should sit a little above standing eye level, since a fireplace raises the whole arrangement.
Gas and electric fireplaces are generally safe — with a proper mantel shelf, the wall above stays close to room temperature. Wood-burning fireplaces are the real concern, mostly from soot and repeated heating and cooling rather than direct heat. Canvas and metal prints handle these conditions well; works on paper behind glass are the most vulnerable, because trapped moisture and particulates can build up under the glass.
For a standard 60-inch mantel, hang artwork 40–48 inches wide, leaving roughly 8–10 inches of wall on each side. This “breathing room” frames the piece and keeps it from looking crowded. Sixty inches is the most common mantel width, so most sizing advice assumes it.
Yes. A gas fireplace with a mantel shelf keeps the wall above at close to room temperature, so a stretched canvas or canvas print hangs safely there. Canvas also tolerates the minor temperature changes near a fireplace better than works on paper behind glass.
Narrower. Artwork should be about 6–8 inches shorter than the mantel on each side, so the mantel visually “holds” the piece. Art as wide as, or wider than, the mantel looks top-heavy and loses the framing effect that makes a fireplace such a strong focal point.
A single large piece is the simplest and most striking choice above a fireplace, and it reads clearly from across the room. A gallery arrangement of smaller works can also succeed, but treat the whole group as one shape and keep its total width within the same 6–8 inch margin on each side of the mantel.
When a TV occupies the space above the mantel, hang art on the flanking walls or lean a smaller piece on the mantel to one side, rather than crowding the screen. Choosing artwork that complements the black rectangle of the TV — similar tones or a frame that echoes the room — helps the wall feel intentional rather than competing.
No, and above a fireplace it is often better without. Canvas paintings and HD metal prints hang without glass, which avoids glare from the room and any moisture or soot building up under the glass. That makes them a practical, low-maintenance choice for the wall above a fireplace.
Take a look at our currently available original paintings and prints
