Gallery Walls Aren’t Over, but Micro Mantels Are Having a Moment

While we love small-space living here at Apartment Therapy, we also know better than most how many challenges can come along with it. But of course, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a small space feel like home. 

When it comes to styling a smaller space, it’s simply essential to be strategic about which areas you highlight (and which you don’t). Although it may seem like larger spaces would more easily allow for experimentation with design, the truth is that small spaces force us to get creative — and that’s where so many fun trends are born. My current favorite? I’m calling it “the micro-mantel.”

Traditionally, mantels are built-in shelves found above a fireplace. If you’re lucky enough to have one of these features it makes a natural focal point in any room, and serves as the perfect surface for displaying your most beloved trinkets and artwork. Mantels are also perfect spots for seasonal decor. 

For those who are not blessed with a fireplace, though, there’s the option to install faux mantels or fireplace surrounds. This can be easier than you might expect, but still — it’s not a small undertaking. The point of any “mantel,” real or faux, is really just to create a stylistic focal point in the room. So even if you don’t have a fireplace or a spare marble mantel lying around, don’t worry — that’s where the micro-mantel comes in. 

The “micro-mantel” simply consists of a wall shelf — no chimney necessary. It can be installed wherever you want, as long as you have a tall, blank wall to work with!

What really sets a micro-mantel apart from just any old wall shelf, though, is *intentional styling.* The micro-mantel is not about functionality or storage — rather, it serves as both a physical focal point on the wall, and also a kind of spiritual and stylistic focal point, as it can be used to display your most prized and personal possessions. 

I’m not the only one who’s noticed this trend, either. Interior designers believe the rise of the micro-mantel is all about finding quick and easy ways to display personality in a space. “Renters are craving ways to personalize their spaces without committing to large furniture or drilling-heavy installations,” Wayfair interior designer Nicole Cella told me. 

Where traditionally the easiest way to take up wall space and add a punch of personality has been to add a gallery wall (in recent years, at least), Cella explains that the appeal of the micro-mantel is all about creating a calmer and more simple look. “Gallery walls can tend to make walls feel busy and cluttered, while micro-mantels can actually make a space feel calmer and more cohesive,” she says.  

The most important step for nailing the micro-mantel trend, though? Decor, decor, decor. But remember: “The goal is curation, not storage,” says Cella. Styling your micro-mantel with a mix of different-sized candles, framed prints, and floral arrangements will give the mantel a realistic, personalized, homey look. No matter your personal style, you really can’t go wrong — as long as the space feels like you.