Fire Up the Ultimate Wellness Retreat

Celebrate National Wellness Month this August with a plan to LIVE WELL! This year especially, it is important to evaluate your overall physical and mental health with extra attention to stress management. Take time to fine-tune your self care plan with healthy habits and daily routines that promote personal wellness into Autumn 2020 and beyond.

Create a beautiful space at home for relaxation central -- the ultimate LIVE WELL retreat -- an inspiring fireplace and mantel! According to a 2014 study from The University of Alabama, watching a fire can actually lower our blood pressure. Researchers hypothesized that when we’re sitting fireside, all of our senses become absorbed in the experience. The U of A study found an average of a five percent decrease in arterial blood pressure among participants when gazing at a fire. The longer study participants focused on the fire, the more relaxed they became. 

Speaking of focus, the fireplace is the focal point of your home and the mantel sets the style. For balance, a mantel should fit the home’s overall design. There are endless options as mantel materials, sizes, heights, etc. vary. Check out The Brace Blog (September 2018) for Function + Aesthetic for hearth materials, DIY inspiration, and National Fire Code Guideline information.

When selecting and sizing your fireplace mantel consider:

• Mantel Length and Depth: These are the most contentious parts of sizing a mantel. In regards to mantel length, some folks like the mantel to go from one end of the wall to the other. Some make it just larger than the firebox. A safe route is to make it 12” longer than the fireplace box. For instance, if your fireplace box is 42” then consider selecting a 56” long mantel. In regards to mantel depth, the most common recommendation is to install the mantel 4.5’ from the floor. This allows for your mantel material choice to be noticed as well as appropriate space for stockings during the holidays. 

• Mantel Depth and Face Height: Consider the amount of traffic that happens around your fireplace. In regards to mantel depth, will it be a narrow squeeze between your fireplace and another piece of furniture? Will it open up to a really large, 2-story space? The typical depth for most mantels is anywhere between 10-12”. Will yours need to be slimmer? Wider? Be sure to plan accordingly! Likewise, in regards to mantel face height - is your fireplace in a large or small room? A mantel with a 6” face height can stand its ground in a large home, but it will overpower a smaller space. As a basic guideline for smaller spaces, consider a mantel that has a 4-5” face height.

Keep the home fires burning this fall and beyond with wellness as a year round goal with support from Federal Brace. Our NEW Floating Mantel Support Rods are Made in the USA, ready to ship, and are designed for optimal heavy-duty support plus complete invisibility behind your mantel to create the perfect look. Check out www.FederalBrace.com or call toll-free (877) 353-8899, 8:30 AM - 5 PM EST for additional ideas and design assistance.