Fall Mantle Decorating Ideas

With the fall decorating season in full swing, I restyled the mantle over our fireplace with a mixture of decor I’ve had for a long time and some new. Using a mirror as the anchor piece, I layered decor different textures and finishes in a variety of heights to complete the look. Most of these pieces can easily be incorporated into a lot of different home decor styles so you can use them with some things you already own to get a similar look. Hopefully, these fall mantle decorating ideas inspire you to update your fireplace for the cozy season!

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This post is all about fall mantle decorating ideas.

Fall Mantle Decorating Ideas

Gold Circle Mirror

This gold circle mirror has been a staple in my home for years. Mirrors are such a great piece to invest in because they add additional light and the illusion of more space in rooms. They also create a nice, neutral backdrop for mantles in lieu of a piece of art. My mirror was found at Hobby Lobby years ago, but here is a similar one available currently at Target.

Layered Framed Art

Framed art that is layered and leaning against the wall is one of my favorite mantle styling tricks. The key is to use a portrait and a landscape so there is variety in height. But then I also try to mix up the frame material and art medium. In this case, I used an arch matted sketch in a black frame, and an oil painting in a wood frame (both of which are different than the gold framed mirror). To bring in a touch of fall, the painting subjects are a subtle nod to the season.

Taper Candles

Taper candles go a long way in helping to create that visual triangle. I love these black metal taper candle holders. They actually came as a set of three, but I opted to use just two. Then, the taper candles I picked up recently are such a pretty green with a unique modern angular cut. To mix up the look seasonally, taper candles are a quick and simple change.

Decorative Objects

To fill in gaps on my mantle, I like to use decorative objects. If you like a more minimalist approach, you can definitely skip this. But I must be in my maximalist era because I really love the cozy mood all of these pieces bring as a collection. On one end of the mantle, I used an oval wood bowl. This is an oldie but goodie – the label is still on the bottom and it’s circa 2015 from Target! Here is a similar option available now with a darling scalloped edge. Then, on the other end of the mantle, I used a travertine sphere. I picked up this one at Home Goods, but here is another similar option.

Tall Vase and Stems

Lastly, the star of the fall mantle decorating show: a tall vase and stems. I prefer to use a ceramic vase to hide the stems. This one is about 14″ tall and is sadly sold out. But here is a similar vase. The fall leaf stems are new in, however, and are a great value. They do need some shaping when first out of the packaging, but well worth a few minutes to get a high-end look on a budget. One tip to get a more full look is to bend some of the stems at the bottom so they are not all the same length. I used this hack and also bent them along the top to get an asymmetrical effect.