STYLE A FALL MANTEL TO GET NOTICED
Decorate a fall mantel to get noticed this year. Bring in the bounty the season along with tried and true decorating techniques to create a beautiful fall mantel. Celebrate fall with the best mantel you have ever created! Here’s how…
You don’t need a mantel to put these ideas into use in your home. Any horizontal surface will work.
CREATE A BACKDROP
Every mantel should have a backdrop. Something on the wall behind the mantel. Far too often the wall is left blank or a large mirror is hung there. I know, I made the mirror mistake! For years I had a beautiful gilded mirror hanging high on my mantel until one day it dawned on me that all the mirror reflected was the ceiling. Not very becoming!
A backdrop lifts our eyes up and fills in the space between the mantel and the ceiling.
I’ve had several backdrops over my mantels. A clock (I loved it) and big pictures and now a GATHER sign and a white tobacco basket.
The idea is to lift the eyes up and lightly layer our mantels!
Here are a few things you might think about using as a background…
- clock
- architectural piece
- burlap stretched on a canvas
- large wreath
- large old window
- chalkboard
- tobacco basket
- framed saying
- shutters
- large empty picture frames (painted the same color or close to the wall color)
Many of you have a tv over your mantel. If you have high enough ceilings you might want to raise your tv a little bit further above the mantel so you have room to decorate it.
Don’t let having a tv deter you from decorating your mantel. Decorate around your tv if you have to! And if you can’t decorate your mantel decorate the mantel hearth.
USE SOME NATURAL FALL ELEMENTS
This is a fall mantel so make sure you add some great fall elements. There are so many fabulous fall inspired items that would look amazing on a mantel. And if they are can fool the eye or are fabulous use faux!
Right now I am using faux white pumpkins on our mantel. I’ve been seeing lots of real white mantels at local farm stands so I’ll be replacing the faux ones with real! Either way let’s see a big nod to fall on your mantel!
Here are a few things to put on a fall mantel…
- pumpkins
- cotton bolls
- leaves
- wheat sheaves
- bottles of twigs
- acorns
- pinecones
- dried hydrangeas
- bittersweet
VARY HEIGHT ON A FALL MANTEL
One of the most basic elements of decor is to vary the heights of an arrangement. And decorating a mantel is really creating along arrangement.
Your eye will travel up and down over the objects differing in height and your mind will perceive this as attractive. Give your eye lots of peaks and valleys to travel along.
One of my favorite ways to make something taller is to put a riser under it! On this fall mantel I called on my favorite risers… books! Because these books are covered with burlap they add lots of texture to the mantel too!
You can see MY FAVORITE DECOR RISERS HERE.
LIGHT UP YOUR FALL MANTEL
As the days get shorter light becomes a very important element in fall decorating. Don’t forget to add candles or other things that bring light and a glow to your mantel
Here are a few ideas…
- tall, slender lamps
- lanterns
- candles on chunky candlesticks
- votives
I like to use battery operated candles on timers so they light up by themselves and I don’t have to worry about blowing them out before I go to bed.
USE TEXTURE
Texture is fall’s best friend! Nubby, rough, bumpy, corrugated and knobby! Texture is really the secret weapon of great decor!
You can read all about how to USE TEXTURE IN DECORATING HERE.
Here are some wonderful things you can use to add texture to a fall mantel…
- anything burlap
- baskets
- anything jute
- bittersweet
- twigs and branches
- pinecones
- fall leaves
- acorns
- birdhouse gourds
- pumpkins
- raw wood
- pallets
- grapevine wreaths
The baskets and leaves above are from a local shop.
ADD SOMETHING UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT
It’s fun to have a little bit of something unique or whimsical on a fall mantel. I love to add garlands to drape across the front to the mantel or find interesting pumpkins or florals.
I’ve had this big glass jar forever and have been using it on the mantel with larger branches in it. One designer tip is to hide the ends of the branches in something interesting. I used faux white pumpkins I painted white.
Isn’t that a fun fall look! Have you ever painted your faux orange pumpkins white? If not, you should because they are so pretty! See HOW TO PAINT PUMPKINS WHITE here.
I’ve carried the fall theme down off the mantel and on to the hearth below! It’s such a nice look! Make sure you add a nod to the season on your hearth.
Now, I bet you can create a fall mantel that will get noticed this year!
HERE ARE A FEW MORE POST TO HELP YOU DECORATE FOR FALL
100 INSPIRING FALL DECORATING IDEAS
5 MINUTE WHITE PUMPKIN FALL DECOR
ESSENTIAL FALL DECOR FOR YOU HOME
EASY PEASY LEAF CANDLEHOLDER DIY
Yvonne, your jute pumpkins are fantastic! I have some too, and I’m getting everything put up today. I can’t wait, fall is my favorite??
Love the look! But what do you do when you have a full window above the mantle?
Love the little jute pumpkins. Can’t locate any like that but picked up some faux at Hobby Lobby that I am covering with burlap, twine for the divider and am culling my shrubs for a top that is similar. Always love your economical little touches for all seasons.
Love the nubby pumpkins and wood rounds! Could you reveal your source? I am also in Lancaster County!
Of course! I love Cocalico Designs for great accessories! It’s located on rt 30 next to Target. Hope this helps.
Thanks so much…Happy Fall!
I absolutely love bittersweet ! Where do I find some faux that doesn’t break the budget? PB didn’t have any at the NOLA shop.
I love your decorating style !!
Thanks Linda! Try looking for bittersweet at Etsy.
I love your fall mantel! Where should I put the backdrop if I have a 90 degree corner mantel behind a free-standing wood stove instead of a straight fireplace mantel?
absolutely beautiful! thanks for all the inspiration!
Good Afternoon!
I sent a picture of your lovely mantle to my Dear Daughter who just bought a beautiful large home in Texas. She thought it was great! She works out of her home and she works hard so whether or not she has the time to put all of this together is unknown. However, if she’s able to get it done, it will because of you! You’re a terrific teacher!!
THANKS! Congrats to your daughter on her new home!
I always have fun looking for “Mickey Mantle!”
Great tips and ideas, as usual ?
Great tips. Your mantel always looks great!
Thank you for reminding me of these simple reminders. My mantle is atypical. It is about an inch and a half wide but you’d be surprised how much fits!! I’m going to think about heights and textures as I plan. I like the basket grass woven pumpkins. They’re so unusual!!!
I always learn so much from you. I enjoy looking at the details and how you mix the textures. The little jute pumpkins are especially nice.
Your mantel looks great Yvonne!
Wonderful ideas perfect for my style.
HI! Luv your mantel display transitioning into Fall.
Although we do not have a mantel above our beautiful wood burning stove I do use other areas in that rm to display seasonal decor. And my home has an airy open concept and the seasonal decor flows easily from rm to rm.
Enjoy the rest of this season?
Sounds so pretty, Su!
Love reading all your posts. Your home is lovely. Thanks for sharing your home and knowledge with all of us.
Thanks, Jhana! Happy Fall!
I’m going to stand out here but I find there are too many small things all lined up like soldiers. A few bigger items staggered would make a more modern statement. Less is More & Bigger is Better!
Yes that is usually my adage too! But I just love the little pumpkins
Love all your mantle ideas…Some I have used in my own home…. So my problem is not the mantle but the walls on each side of my fireplace… I cannot add shelving or have anything built into the wall because the fireplace and my closet is behind that wall. The wall on each side of the fireplace is early 5 foot each side and my ceilings are 12 and my fireplace goes from floor to ceiling and it is stacked stone.The wall on each side of the fireplace is 5 foot each side and my ceilings are 12 feet and my fireplace goes from floor to ceiling and it is stacked stone ….I had a decorator come in and she hung some contemporary metal plaques By Uttermost…..But I am really not that fond of them…..that was my big decorating mistake! Expensive too! I am not going to use a decorator again …I now have you!!! I thought about putting some decorative molding to frame the wall out… Any idea would be appreciated. God bless
Beautiful mantel, Yvonne!! Any suggestions for decorating a mantel for the seasons with a tv mounted six inches above the mantel? Thank you!! I’m sure I’m not the only one with this dilemma!???
Hi Beth, It’s hard to give you specific decorating advice since I don’t know how long your mantel is, how big your TV is, etc. Can you send me a few pictures? And then I will be able to help you better. My email is: stonegable333@gmail.com
Where did you get the gather sign- love it
Hi Sherry, I found it on Etsy. It’s really good quality. We love it! You can see it here:https://rstyle.me/+nY0UH6MfQIWKfyLVn58Kmw
What a beautiful arrangement–love the bittersweet especially–it looks so real!
PS Thank you for correctly spelling mantel!
Hi Sindy, I’m so happy you like the mantel. As for the spelling… I missed the spelling gene and am a horrid speller. Thank goodness for my grammar and spelling corrector plugin! Yay!!! Technology at it’s best.
Must get more.white.mini.pumpkins!
All the white shows up so beautiful on your white fireplace…I would not have thought of that…
Hello. Your posts are so inspiring. I am reworking a mantel in my den from Christmas to winter and would love to include a large lantern on the hearth. I wonder if you have a link to locate one similar to your beautiful lantern shown. Thank you!
I don’t Rita! Check Wayfair.
I have stopped receiving my daily email. I would like to remain on your email list.
Thx, Sharon
Hi Sharon, it must have gone to your spam or trash. I’ll add your name to the list again. If you don’t find it tomorrow, check your spam folder. If you find the newsletter there, put it into your inbox and then the newsletter will start coming there. Hope this helps.