Build Your Own Rustic Fireplace Mantel

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We recently built our own DIY Rustic Fireplace Mantel!!!  If you missed it we did a major fireplace update recently installing Faux Stone.  So to get the look I was going for we decided to build our own mantel.

I looked at different mantel options when we decided to update our fireplace.  The range of pricing was huge from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.  This mantel cost us under $50!!!

So if you can build it yourself, why not?

You’ll need to adjust the board sizes to fit your mantel size.  You’re creating a hollow box with an open backside.

DIY Fireplace Rustic Mantel Supply List: 

(affiliate links provided for your convenience)

• two 1″x 10″ x 6′ common pine boards
• two 1″ x 6″ x 6′ common pine boards
• two 2″ x 4″ x 8′
• miter saw, my favorite here
• sander, my favorite here
• nailer, my favorite here
• drill, my favorite here
• stud finder
• 2″ wood screws
• 1 1/2″ brad nails
• stainable wood putty
• kona stain
• foam brush

Cut List:

2″ x 4″‘s

• two 28″ long
• four 9″

1″ x 10″‘s

• two 70″

1″ x 6″‘s

• two 9 1/4″
• 71 1/2″

We started by assembling the cleats that would be holding the mantel to the wall.

You’re going to use the 2″ x 4″‘s for this.  Take your 28″ pieces and attach a 9″ piece on either side.  We used the 2″ wood screws to secure them together.

Then using your stud finder, secure the cleats to your wall, using the 2″ wood screws to attach to the studs.

Now it’s time to build your fireplace mantel box.  Use your nailer to attach all the pieces.

Fill in the nail holes with wood putty.  Once the putty is dry give the mantel a really good sanding.

Then I took a couple of wet paper towels and wiped down the wood to get all the sawdust off before staining.

Kona is my go-to stain in my home!  I love it’s deep, rich tones, yet you can still seen the grain.  I used a foam brush to apply the stain and then wiped it off with an old rag a couple minutes later.

Once it was dry it was time to put up the mantel!!!

We just slid the mantel onto the cleats.  We used the 2″ wood screws to attach the mantel to the cleats, placing one screw on either side of the mantel.

Oh how I love how it turned out!!!  Just a couple hours of work and you can build your own mantel too!