Fall Mantel Decor Ideas Beyond The Usual Orange
Today’s post is all about fall mantel decor ideas!
Fall is truly one of my favorite seasons of the year! October for us (Phoenicians) means that we are officially done with the hot summer months and we are ready to enjoy the beautiful and mild fall/winter temperatures for the next few months. November feels so heavenly!
Living in Scottsdale simply means that we do not get to experience the seasonal vibrant color change. If we want to see the leaves changing colors, we must drive to the northern part of AZ (like Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott, etc.…) or bring the “Fall vibes” at home through decorations! We usually drive to Sedona one or two weekends during the Fall season to enjoy the beauty of Fall! I also start decorating our home with Fall colors and Fall candles.
Why I Love Decorating Our Mantel
While I love and enjoy outdoor fall decorations, my favorite part of our fall home decor (or any other season) is decorating our “fireplace mantel”. Since our fireplace is in our living room, we can get to see the decorations while watching the TV or when eating dinner in the dining room or the kitchen!
Find Your Own Decor Style
As you know there are hundreds of thousands of Fall decor ideas for living rooms on Pinterest, Instagram, or any other home styling magazines! But the best way to decorate your house is by figuring out your OWN taste and style!
Is your style modern? contemporary? traditional? minimalist? French country? rustic? Decide on your favorite style and look for proper decorations! I personally used to be ALL about modern and contemporary styles.
While I still LOVE modern decorations, I feel like I am getting a little “tired” of that look since modern and contemporary decors have been around for over a decade now! Therefore, I have been more and more into the “transitional” decorations! That simply means not “too modern” and not “too traditional” decor!
11 Fall Mantel Decor Ideas
One of my favorite places to change up the seasonal decor in our house is our fireplace mantel. I will share some of my favorite Fall fireplace decor ideas with you here and give you some tips for decorating your home for Fall.
1. Pick Deep Colors Instead Of Orange
Burgundy, wine, plum and deep red still feel like fall, they just look a little more grown up than bright orange. This year I went with burgundy, white and gold on our mantel, and the red candles did most of the work. If you love your orange pumpkins, keep one or two and let the deeper colors take over the rest.
2. Swap Orange Pumpkins For White Or Cream
White and cream pumpkins are my go to when I want fall without the orange. I like ceramic ones because they last for years and I can reuse them every season. Mix two or three sizes so the mantel doesn’t look flat.
3. Mix Candle Heights
I always put tall taper candles next to shorter ones. Different heights make the mantel look layered even when you’re only using a few pieces. Taper candle holders in two sizes make this so easy, I used two large and two small ones on ours.
4. Let A Garland Hang Over The Edge
A garland that drapes down one side softens all the straight lines of a mantel. I used a white berry garland this year, but eucalyptus, faux oak leaves or a silver dollar garland all look pretty too. Let it hang a little lower on one side so it looks natural.
5. Add Faux Florals In Deep Red And White
Real flowers don’t last long next to candles and a warm fireplace. Faux hydrangeas and roses in burgundy and white look so real these days, and you can use them again next year. I like tucking a few stems between the candles so there are no empty gaps.
6. Keep It Symmetrical For A Classic Look
I love symmetry, so I usually match both sides of the mantel with the same candle holders or vases. It looks calm and put together, and it’s the easiest look to copy if you’re new to decorating. If symmetry feels too formal for you, group things in odd numbers on one side instead.
7. Bring In Marble, Brass And Glass
Mixing a few materials keeps the mantel from looking flat. A marble tray, brass candlesticks and a glass vase give you texture without adding more color. I used a white marble tray this year and it made the whole display look more finished.
8. Anchor It With A Mirror Or Art
Every mantel needs one bigger piece in the center, like a mirror, a wreath or a painting. Everything else gets layered around it. If you don’t have one, a framed fall landscape print leaned against the wall works just as well.
9. Work Around A TV
Lots of us have a TV over the fireplace, and that’s fine. Keep the decor low and spread out so it doesn’t block the screen, and skip anything tall in the center. A low garland with a few candles on each side is usually all you need.
10. Carry The Colors Into The Living Room
The mantel looks even better when the rest of the room matches. A white throw on the sofa, a few pumpkins by the hearth and a candle on the coffee table carry the fall colors through the whole living room.
11. Mix Fresh And Faux Stems
I like mixing a few fresh flowers or branches in with my faux stems. The faux ones do most of the work and last all season, and the fresh ones make the whole mantel look more real. When the fresh flowers are done, I just pull them out and the mantel still looks full.
Our Fall Mantel Decor Colors
While I absolutely love orange for Fall home decor, I like to change up the colors of my pumpkins, candles, fall flowers, and the leaves around our house each year. They are still “fall colors”; they just don’t have to be the same traditional orange every year!
This year, I chose burgundy/wine, gold, and white for our fireplace mantel fall decor and our living room fall decorations.
Fall Mantel Color Ideas Beyond Orange
Fall colors don’t have to mean orange. These are a few color combinations I like for a fall mantel, and every one of them still feels cozy:
- Burgundy, White And Gold: This is what I used this year. The deep red candles and white florals look rich, and the gold adds a little shine.
- Cream, Beige And Natural Wood: Soft and calm, and it goes with almost any living room. Add white pumpkins, wood beads and dried grasses.
- Sage Green, Cream And Brass: Green still feels like fall, especially with eucalyptus or olive branches.
- Plum, Blush And Taupe: A little softer and more feminine. I love this one with velvet pumpkins.
- Black, White And Linen: More modern, and it works right into Halloween with a few black candlesticks.
- Rust Or Terracotta With Neutrals: If you still want a hint of orange, a muted rust or terracotta looks softer than bright pumpkin orange.
Pick one color combination and use it on the mantel, the sofa pillows and the coffee table so the whole room feels connected.
Three Easy Steps To Style Your Mantel
These are three easy steps to style your fireplace mantel:
- Anchor: Add a large object like a mirror, beautiful wreath in the center, or any other kind of artwork as the focal point.
- Layering: Layering creates depth and that is important in every kind of display. Simply layer items in front of each other.
- Work on both sides of the mantel: I personally love symmetry! If you are like me and like symmetry, look for matching candelabra, matching vases, or any other decoration pieces that you like and prefer! If you do not like symmetry, then you can use various but cohesive pieces like floral arrangements, candlesticks, or your favorite decorative items.
A Few More Mantel Styling Tips
These are the little things I do every time I style our mantel:
- Group in odd numbers: Three candles or five pumpkins look more natural than two or four.
- Think in a triangle: Put your tallest piece in the middle or on one end and step down in height from there.
- Leave some space: It’s tempting to fill every inch, but a little empty space helps each piece stand out.
- Repeat a material: Use gold or brass two or three times across the mantel so it looks planned.
- Check it from the couch: Step back and look at your mantel from where you sit most, since that’s how you’ll see it every day.
What Looks Good On A Fireplace Mantel?
Great Items For Fireplace Mantel Decorating
- Candlesticks
- Picture frames
- Vases
- mirrors
- Statues
- Clocks
- Framed paintings
- Decorative plates (on stands)
You can use your own decorative pieces for top of your fireplace mantel while decorating for Fall or you can purchase a few new pieces every year to change up the look of your decorations!
When decorating our fireplace mantel, I like to add some faux leaves or faux flowers in between placing the candlesticks, vases, or picture frames! You can either order some beautiful faux leaves on Amazon, or any other craft stores near to your house (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabric….), or Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, etc.…
How Can I Decorate My Living Room For Fall?
- Bring fall colors into your house: As I mentioned above, it does NOT have to be ALL orange! Pick your favorite Fall colors (orange, red, burgundy, brown, gold, yellow, olive green, taupe, beige). Once you decide on your favorite colors, then create a “theme” throughout your living room or your entire house!
- Choose your colors wisely: Make sure to choose colors that complement each other!
- Mix up fresh flowers with faux flowers or leaves: There are so many gorgeous faux flowers and leaves in the market these days that they make your decorations much easier and they are so elegant!
- Layer up your sofa and chairs with a cozy throw and blankets: Once you choose your favorite fall colors, add some pillows, and throws on your sofa/couch.
Pumpkins, Candles And Wreaths
- Add some pumpkins: Add real or faux pumpkins around the fireplace, kitchen counter, coffee table or any other areas in your house and living room that you prefer! I also love stack pumpkin topiaries for the front door!
- Candles, candles, candles: Make sure to get some awesome “fall scent” candles to bring the smell of Fall into your home! You can also add some bigger size decorative candles and place them next to the pumpkins by fireplace or your favorite area around the living room and kitchen.
- Buy or arrange some elegant autumn wreaths: Autumn wreaths can be used for indoor decor or outdoor decor or both! I love how wreaths are such a wonderful, warm touch to the house for any season! I love to add fall wreaths to our front door, living room windows and sometimes to our kitchen!
Best Stores To Buy Fall Decor
Local Craft Stores
1- You can always find cute faux flowers, leaves or faux pumpkins from your local craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnn Fabric or any other craft stores in your area.
Higher End Home Stores
2- If you want a higher-quality Fall wreath and Fall home decors, you can always check Balsam Hill, Grandinroad, Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie, West elm, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, etc.
Target, Amazon And More
3- If you do not want to shop for your Fall decorations from your local craft stores, and do not find what you want from the stores that I listed above, you can always check other stores like Kirkland, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair and of course the EASIEST and my number one choice, AMAZON!!! There’s so much choice when you are shopping for fall mantel decor!
Fall Mantel Decor On A Budget
You don’t need a brand new mantel every fall. I reuse my candle holders, trays and vases and just change up the pumpkins, candles and flowers each year. A few ideas to keep it simple:
- Shop your house first: Books, vases, a mirror or a tray from another room can look so good on the mantel.
- Go faux for florals and pumpkins: They last for years, so you only buy them once.
- Bring in branches from outside: A few branches or dried grasses in a tall vase cost nothing.
- Change the candles: New candle colors alone can make the mantel feel different.
- Check craft stores early: Michaels and Hobby Lobby often have fall stems and pumpkins on sale.
What I Used On Our Fall Mantel
These are the items that I used this year to decorate our fireplace mantel and our living room:
Shagreen Taper Candle Holders
Shagreen Ivory Taper Candle Holder: I got two large and two small sizes of these beautiful candle holders for our fireplace mantel.
Overlook Throw
Overlook Throw: This cozy throw is such a beautiful addition to your house for fall/winter season.
Marbleized Planter
Palazzo Medium Marbleized Planter: Make sure to get the medium size of this gorgeous planter. It is SO beautiful in person. I could not believe it was only $29!!! You can also buy the large size of this planter for indoor or outdoor plants! They are SOOO pretty!
White Marble Tray
Active Large White Marble Tray: I am all into “marble looking” trays these days! Hahaha! I love this tray because not only you can use it as a beautiful seasonal decor piece, you can also use it as a bathroom vanity tray! Love this simple and elegant tray.
White Berry Garland
Artificial White Berry Garland: The one that I purchased earlier in the season (on these pictures) are all sold out. But this “artificial white berry garland” from Crate and Barrel is a great choice or you can also choose a less expensive option which is this beautiful “white silver dollar garland” from Michaels.
Dripless Taper Candles
Dripless Taper Candles: These candles are dripless and so beautiful! You can order the color of your choice!
My Favorite Fall Decor Accessories
Fall Mantel Decor FAQs
When Should I Decorate My Mantel For Fall?
Most people start in September. Here in Scottsdale I usually wait until October, when the heat is finally gone and it starts to feel like fall.
How Do I Decorate A Fall Mantel Without Orange?
Pick deeper or softer fall colors like burgundy, plum, cream, sage green or gold. White and cream pumpkins, red candles and faux florals still say fall, they just skip the bright orange.
What Do You Put On A Fall Mantel?
Start with one bigger piece in the center like a mirror, a wreath or art. Then add candles in different heights, a garland, a few pumpkins and some faux leaves or flowers to fill the gaps.
How Do I Decorate A Mantel With A TV Above It?
Keep everything low and spread it out to the sides. A garland across the front with a few candles and small pumpkins on each end looks pretty and won’t block the screen.
Is It Safe To Put Decor On A Mantel If I Use My Fireplace?
Keep garlands, faux flowers and anything that can burn away from the fireplace opening. If you use your fireplace a lot, flameless candles are a good option, and never leave real candles burning when you walk away.
How Do I Keep My Mantel From Looking Cluttered?
Use fewer, bigger pieces instead of lots of small ones, and stick to one color combination. A little empty space between groups makes the whole mantel look calmer.
Can I Keep My Fall Mantel Up Until Thanksgiving?
Yes! If you skip Halloween pieces and stick with pumpkins, candles, florals and garland, your mantel will work all the way through Thanksgiving. Then it’s time to switch to Christmas.
What Colors Go With Burgundy For Fall?
White, cream, gold and brass all look pretty with burgundy. I went with burgundy, white and gold on our mantel this year, and a little greenery keeps it from looking too dark.
How Many Things Should I Put On My Mantel?
There’s no exact number, but I usually stick to one big anchor piece and then two or three groups on each side. If it starts to feel busy, take one thing away.
Have Fun With It
No matter if you like modern fall decor, classic, rustic, minimalist, traditional or any other styles, I think decorating your home each season is so good for your mind and soul! And Yes… decorating your home for each season can be a little bit of a “work”, however, you do not need to go all elaborate while decorating! Of course, you can if you want to, but you can simply add a few seasonal scented candles, flowers and just bring the season colors into your house in your own style! However you do it, I hope having fun trying out your own fall mantel decor ideas! And PS if you want to really get into the Fall spirit, try these amazing Halloween themed recipes!
Happy decorating!
Love,
Sherry, xoxo
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