For anyone with a fireplace, the holidays may be the only time to devote much thought to decorating the mantel. But ignoring the mantel is a missed opportunity to add drama to a room year-round. 

Think of the mantel and the space above it as a blank canvas awaiting an artist’s touch to create a masterpiece. We’ll call it your mantelpiece.

During the holidays, the mantel is the place to celebrate the season.

David Herchik of JDS Designs dressed up a plain mantel in the Washington design house with Kmart garland, drug store ornaments and Martha Stewart organza ribbon.

Pulled together, these bargain items create a luxurious scene. Herchik arranged the ornaments in a container on the mantel and complimented the look with gift boxes and ornaments throughout the room. The reflective qualities on the ornaments sparkle, as if dancing on the mantle.  

Rita St. Clair, of Baltimore-based Rita St. Clair Associates, designed a family room mantel with a bounty of colorful fruits and leaves.

"Adding berries and small fruits can add color and interest. I like to frame the entire mantel in this way," St. Clair said. "With this rope treatment, I like to include candles -- odorless, please -- in various sizes and various candleholders."

St. Clair’s autumn look works from the beginning of fall and into the holidays. It can be updated throughout the year with more seasonal fruit or accessories.

In January, update your holiday-themed mantel with blue and white ornaments to usher in the new year or place "2012" in dramatic, large wooden black numbers in the center. 

For Valentine’s Day, arrange three small vases, each with baby red roses in the center on the mantel. Tulips and lilies also look beautiful. Repeat this throughout the year with orchids and even mums.

Not up to updating your mantel often? Create timeless vignettes with accessories. The less-is-more attitude works best when you have a collection of simple pieces or one large dramatic piece. One mistake I see constantly in homes is people trying to use the mantel for too many things -- a family photo display, candle collection or a catch-all for unwanted gifts. This just creates a cluttered look and guests see nothing among the arrangement of everything.

Instead, highlight a family treasure by isolating it on the mantel. One well-lit piece of art over a fireplace is better than hosts of knickknacks.

Mirrors over mantels are lovely. Washington-based designer Frank Babb Randolph selected a beautiful round mirror to go over a large fireplace with ornate millwork. A simple rule: The more ornate the millwork around the fireplace and mantel, the simpler the art. If a fireplace has decorative tile or paint, keep the mantel sparse.

Remember, the idea is to highlight beauty, not to hide it.