Your DIY Guide For Building A Beautiful Wooden Mantel On A Budget

A wooden mantel adds value to almost any fireplace setup, whether your wall is bare or there's an existing mantel in place. A natural wood installation brings life, depth, and contrast, drawing the eye and helping the surrounding features stand out even more. No matter your fireplace layout, it takes little effort, skill, or time to craft an attractive piece. Materials can also be delightfully cheap to come across, especially if you repurpose old decking and other lumber. Depending on the size and where you get the lumber, you can often keep this project under $50. With all it can do for your home, there's no reason you shouldn't make this your next DIY.

The only lumber you need to build your wood mantel is a set of 1x6 or 1x8 boards and, if you don't already have a mount on the fireplace wall, some 2x4s to build the floating support. Measure the fireplace width to plan your wood mantel's dimensions. It's easy if you already have a fireplace frame and shelf, as the wooden mantel will essentially act as a cover. For a new floating shelf installation without an existing mantel, you should plan for it to be about 3–4 inches wider than the fireplace on both sides. If you have a TV mounted over it, the mantel should also be wider than the TV. With your dimensions planned, you can finish this build with a few straight 90-degree cuts, some glue, and an attractive stain to make your DIY shine.

Start your DIY wooden mantel by cutting a board to the mantel's length for the front face. Cut two more boards for the top and bottom pieces, cutting them to the mantel's length minus an inch on both sides. The two short boards will be the mantel's top and bottom. Attach the long side edges to the face board with wood glue, which should be plenty strong to keep the mantel together long-term. The mantel should now have a horseshoe shape when looking down the board's length. If this mantel is fitting over an existing mantel, you only have to install one board for the top. Finish by cutting short 1x6 pieces to cap the ends and attaching them with wood glue so they sit against the edges of the top and bottom boards but hide behind the front face.

If you're making a new floating mantel, you'll need a concealed wall-mounted support, created using 2x4s in a way similar to how you would make a floating shelf. Level it and fix it to the wall with appropriate screws or bolts, making the necessary considerations when drilling into brick. Sand and stain your mantel before fitting it over the mount. Use a brad nailer to secure it to the mount, and you're all set to fill your new floating wooden mantel with decor and accessories to complete your fireplace design.