Modern Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas

Dress up your mantel for fall with these modern fall mantel decorating ideas. Easy tips that you can do in your own home!

Fall Seasonal Simplicity Series

Welcome back to week three of the Fall Seasonal Simplicity series! Each week my blogging friends and I have been sharing some of our best fall ideas to help you celebrate the season in style. Today, we’re showing you our fall mantels all dressed up a cozy fall night. You can find all of the links at the end of the post, so don’t forget to check them out! If you missed the previous weeks of the series, you can find them here…

Week 1 – Fall Crafts and DIY Projects

Week 2 – Free Fall Printables

Modern Fall Mantel

I find our mantel is one of the more awkward places to decorate in our house. It’s very long {over 11 feet!}, so it can be hard to fill it up without it becoming cluttered-looking – especially with the open shelving below it. This year I went a little more simple and I’m kind of liking the change.

Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas

The mantel is often the main focal point in the room, so it’s the perfect place to add a seasonal touch. Just a couple of simple swaps can make a big difference and change the whole feel of the room.

Focal Piece

I always start with the central focal piece and then move outwards as I decorate our mantel. For most of the year, we usually have a large clock hanging here, and last year I made a large DIY fall sign.

This year, I opted for a simple arched mirror that I found on Amazon. I was originally going to hang it, but I actually like the reflection from it better when it’s slightly angled. Leaning it also meant that I didn’t have to drill any extra holes in the shiplap so that was a bonus too!

Fall Stems

Using fall branches or faux stems is an easy way to add height and interest to your mantel. There are so many different styles and color options – especially in the fall! For our mantel I used these yellow and brown pampas grass stems in a tall vase to flank the edge of the mantel on either side. They were a little messy going up, but once they were all settled in the vase, they didn’t shed any more.

Taper Candles

I love adding lighting to our decor, and these candles add the perfect warm glow! I got the candle holders last year for Christmas and added these battery-operated taper candles. The candles turn on and off from a remote and can be put on a timer from 2-8 hours. You can also choose from a solid glow or more of a candle flicker light.

Fall Garland

I’ve always used quite a full fall garland across our mantel but, again, went a little simpler this year. Instead of using a garland, I stacked a couple of fall stems horizontally on either side of the mirror. I then layered on some twinkle lights and a string of gold leaves for a little extra texture and glow.

When in doubt, always add twinkle lights! 😉

Fall Mantel Shelves

I usually love styling shelves, but I find these ones tricky to decorate – especially because they’re so deep. I’ve found that keeping it simpler works best. Less items that are larger in size tend to work better than smaller groups of items.

The other thing that makes these shelving units difficult to decorate is that they’re actually different sizes. The builder must have made a mistake when measuring, so there’s actually a difference of a few inches between sides. I ended up building my own DIY wood crates for the bottom so I could custom fit them for the different measurements. They hold photo albums as well as extra blankets and throw pillows.

I hope you found this helpful and it’s given you some ideas for your own fall mantel! I’ll be sharing the rest of our family room next week, so come on back for the full room tour. If you have any questions, just let me know! You can also see some of our previous fall mantel decor here…

Shop the Post

You can find all of the links to the pieces used in our mantel below. If you have any questions, just let me know!

battery-operated taper candles – Amazon {they come in white or ivory – mine are white}
black metal taper candle holders – Amazon
black arched mirror – Amazon
pampas grass – Michaels
vases – West Coast Gardens {local garden shop}
rolling wood crates – DIY tutorial HERE
colored eucalyptus stems – Pier 1 {from a couple of years ago}
twinkle lights – Amazon