Give Your Fireplace Mantel A Stunning Fall Makeover Without Overspending

One of the best things about decorating in fall is taking advantage of all the rich colors and natural textures of the changing leaves. One excellent decor trick uses materials from your yard for a quick makeover that doesn't require much spending. This stunning mantel decor idea takes your space to the next level by drawing the eye to your fireplace. Using branches cut from trees in your yard and inexpensive or repurposed faux leaves, you can transform your fireplace mantel into a bold display fit for all your autumn festivities. 

To recreate this elegant design, you will need to select one or two branches from a tree or large shrub in your yard. When trimming your trees, avoid pruning the main branches, a popular gardening technique that could accidentally kill your tree. Choose branches that will also help improve the tree's shape. Depending on the size of your fireplace, you might need one or two for a full look. Depending on your style, the branches can swoop up to meet a big centerpiece — like a mirror — or gracefully fall down and over the mantel. 

If trimmed later in the season, your branches may still have natural leaves to display. Otherwise, plan to reuse autumn leaf garlands and leaf picks to attach to the branches for a full effect. You can also purchase faux leaves from craft or discount stores. Keep Command Strips and floral wire on hand to attach branches and leaves to the mantel.

Start by taking your branches and positioning them against your fireplace mantel. If you have a large mantel and multiple branches, overlap the pieces for a fuller look. Attach with Command Strips in a way that hides the hooks, but holds it securely in place. You could also try a clever trick for a fuller-looking garland, which utilizes cord bundlers to hold large and heavy decor materials in place. It might be necessary to play around with the branches to achieve an effortless design. Once you have the branches in place, you can begin attaching your leaf garlands and other decor pieces, using the floral wire. Extra accents, such as artificial hydrangeas or foraged dried flowers, can help create a more polished result.

@hauz.and.co

Here's a closer look at how I put together my Fall fireplace mantel décor this year 🤗 Supplies Used 🍂 • 2 trimmed branches from our tree • 4 garlands • 5 dried preserved Hydrangea stems • 5 plum stems • 7 cranberry stems • A few willow branches • 6 pumpkin stems • Command strips • Floral wiring [To get the look, the garland and plum stems are in linked on my LTK, the hydrangeas I bought are from a local florist, and the remaining floral is from Hobby Lobby.] #fallhomedecor #falldecor #fallgarland #holidaydecor #fallmantle #fireplacedecor

♬ Autumn Leaves – Timothy Cole

Let what you have on hand guide your mantel decor. Perhaps instead of the dark, amber-toned leaf look, you want something a little brighter. You can select yellow, orange, or brighter red leaf garlands and leaves for a less moody fall display. Flameless candles add a warm glow, but twinkling lights wrapped around the branches can make the display feel even more magical. If you do not have branches to trim, consider recreating the look with faux ones, like these Artificial Tree Branches available from Amazon. Branches help guide leaf placement and create a natural, cohesive scene across the mantel. With a little creativity and a few affordable materials, your mantel can become the perfect backdrop for celebrating everything you love about fall.