With the columns and frieze as your base, you can now dress up the mantle in any number of ways. Even an informal style looks good with solid blocks at the tops and bottoms of each column. You can then fill in the spaces with strips of molding. Screen bead, cove and half-round molding can all be used, separately or together, to create a unique mantle.

Add the Shelf

If you want to include a shelf on your mantle, give some thought to how it will be attached. There are several possibilities. The simplest approach is to buy and install wood brackets. A more formal look can be achieved by using small metal brackets to fasten the shelf to the frieze, and then covering the brackets with a piece of cove molding. A strip of dentil or base-cap molding along the bottom edge of the cove would add even more substance. Or you can dispense with brackets all together and instead add a few layers of boards and trim to build out a strong ledge for the shelf to sit on. Make the shelf long enough to overlap each side of the mantle.

Finishing Up

Countersink all screw and nail heads. For a paint job, use regular wood putty to fill the holes. For a natural wood finish, use a wood putty formulated to mimic the color of the wood you use. Sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper. For a painted finish, apply a coat of primer first, then sand, then add two coats of paint. Apply a clear or tinted wood finish as directed on the label.