I’m still working on my fall decor. Yep. I was struggling a bit with my fall mantel, and procrastinating on making some bunting (the little string of flags above), when my friend sent me a picture of her gorgeous mantel. And I thought, I need to collect some fall mantel pics. It was so fun seeing all the different and beautiful ideas so I had to share…
I will start with Christy’s. She is my dear art teacher friend and fellow crafter. It’s sad we’re not in the same state anymore, but we can still chat and share ideas via email at least. I loved her tall glass pillars with the corn and white candles, and that there are three of them (anything done in threes is great). I also liked the wreath and all the fall sprigs.
My favorite part was the “thanks” letters, and I love how they are elevated a little on that ledge.
I thought these were wooden letters, but she used the regular cardboard ones. She painted them with brown and a little bit of black acrylic paint, sanded them (she says she sands everything, great idea) and then did a matte mod podge finish. Just love that rustic look. And don’t they look like wooden letters?!
This mantel is Tiffany’s, my incredibly creative and talented former student. This was her first fall with a mantel to decorate so she said she was excited to start as soon as the pumpkins hit the stores.
I love the clean, balanced and organic look. She hollowed out the pumpkin to put in the fresh flowers and sprigs, and then she used one of her vases for the rest of the fresh flowers. She accidentally bought a spaghetti squash at first, so she used that as decor until she found a spaghetti squash recipe. Yum! The little pumpkins and candles are great under the mirror.
Tiffany is also the owner of Grace Interior Organizing and she writes a great blog about organizational tips, something we all need from time to time (and for me, all the time!). She has some great ideas!
On to Kari’s mantel…
I’ve known Kari since I was four and we’ve recently reconnected on Facebook. I was excited to see her mantel because it’s also her first year with this mantel since they just finished building their new house this year. She’s blogged about that process (and what a process!) at Once Upon Our House. She’s done some really creative DIY projects.
She shared that there are a lot of good memories tied to her mantel decor because everything on it came from her mother-in-law. She owned a colonial home decor/gift shop before she passed, and Kari worked there. It’s beautiful (just love that pottery), and I love it when decor is also sentimental.
I love the stonework on her fireplace and her decor matches it perfectly. That basket is really cute with the little pumpkins inside.
She switches out her decor on the mantel for each season, and then takes a picture so she can copy it over again the following season. She also plans to pack everything away in boxes labeled by room. So organized!
I love the color in Francheska’s mantel decor. She is one of my crafter idols…she does all the things I wish I could do: decorates cakes with fondant, knits, crochets…you name it, she’s created it!
I love the wreath that gives some color on the mirror. She refreshes it with newer foliage or fruit and ribbon each year, to make it slightly different. I thought she had made those blocks (because she could), but she found them at the dollar section at Target last year (nice!).
Her amber cross is beautiful, and it’s only out for the fall. I love the pedestals to create the different heights. And the black and white photo of her and Mike (surrounded by all the color) as the centerpiece.
My mantel has gone through some revisions. It started like this…
But then I decided to create and throw in some fall bunting, so I pulled the leaves because I thought it would be too much.
But then I missed the leaves, so I added them back in.
This is how it looks currently, but I may change it again. Who knows.
I’m a big fan of candles, so some variety of candles is always on my mantel. However, I’ve had some issues with candle wax this year…Hobby Lobby and Michael’s candles have caused some major dripping issues. Even though they are more expensive, I think I need to go back to Pottery Barn’s.
Hope you enjoy the last few days of fall decorating! And special thanks to Christy, Tiffany, Kari and Francheska for sharing their great mantel ideas!
Thanks for stopping by Time to DIY!
These are all gorgeous! Love your "happy fall" chalkboard.
Thank you! That chalkboard has been used for many occasions. Ha!
Love your mantel, Debby – that bunting is so cute and everything ties in so well together. Thanks so much for posting all the mantel inspiration!
Thank YOU for your inspiration!
Love the bunting! It turned out great! What a pretty mantle!
Thanks, Kelly! It was so easy – I wish I hadn't put it off for so long! Haha.