Fall Leaves and Pumpkins Please Fall Mantel

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I’m so excited to share my fall mantel decor with you!

Even though the weather may still feel like summer here in Southern California, I was ready to bring a little autumn into the house. So I pulled together a cozy fall mantel filled with pumpkins, autumn leaves, thrifted treasures, warm metallics and a little DIY project.

The focal point of this DIY fall mantel is a large “Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please” sign that I made myself.

And I love that so many of the other pieces came from thrift stores or were things I already had.

That’s one of my favorite ways to decorate for fall: mix a few new seasonal pieces with thrifted finds and things you already own.

Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas

When I start decorating a mantel for a new season, I don’t necessarily go out and buy a whole new collection of decor.

Instead, I like to shop my house first.

Then I’ll add a few seasonal pieces and look for thrift store treasures that can give the mantel a little personality.

For this fall fireplace mantel, I wanted a mix of:

• Autumn leaves and greenery
• White pumpkins
• Thrifted decor
• Pinecones and acorns
• Warm copper and burgundy tones
• Natural wood
• A large DIY fall sign

The combination of colors and textures makes the mantel feel collected rather than overly coordinated.

The DIY Fall Mantel Sign

The focal point of this mantel is my “Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please” sign.

I love having one larger piece above a mantel because it gives the eye somewhere to land and helps tie all of the smaller decorations together.

And this sign was a DIY!

I created the sign specifically for my fall mantel, and you can see the full tutorial for making your own Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please sign.

The great thing about making your own sign is that you can completely customize it.

Change the saying.

Change the size.

Change the font.

Change the stain.

You can make it work with your own decorating style and the size of your mantel.

Add Faux Fall Leaves and Greenery

Since we were still dealing with plenty of summer heat in Southern California, I wasn’t exactly finding an abundance of real fall foliage.

So I used faux leaves and greenery instead.

And honestly, faux foliage is one of my favorite ways to decorate for fall because I can pull it out year after year.

I tucked the greenery around the mantel to soften the display and bring in that beautiful autumn-leaf feeling.

If you’re decorating early in the season, faux leaves are especially helpful because you can get the look of fall even before the trees outside start changing.

Use Thrift Store Finds in Your Fall Decor

One of my favorite things about this fall mantel decor is how many of the pieces were thrift store finds.

You don’t need an entire matching set of fall decorations to create a beautiful mantel.

Look for interesting shapes, textures and colors instead.

One of my favorite finds was this galvanized bucket.

I found it at a thrift store earlier in the year for just $1.

I filled it with oak branches and twigs, and it became the perfect rustic fall accent.

I love when something inexpensive can make such a big impact!

Add Warm Metallic Fall Decor

I also incorporated several mercury glass pieces that I had transformed with copper and burgundy colors.

The pieces were inexpensive thrift store finds, with each glass piece costing only about 50 cents to $1.

I love the way the copper and burgundy colors echo the rich colors of autumn leaves.

For a fall mantel, warm metallics are a great way to add a little sparkle without making the display feel too shiny or formal.

Copper, bronze, brass and warm gold all work beautifully with traditional fall colors.

You can find how I created those pretty mercury glass pieces in copper and burgundy HERE. I just love how they turned out. All those glass pieces were either 50 cents or $1.

I filled the copper bowl with some pinecones, acorns and a little white pumpkin.

A simple white pumpkin graces my burgundy mercury glass.

Decorate With Pinecones and Acorns

Sometimes the simplest fall decorations are the best ones.

I filled a copper bowl with pinecones, acorns and a small white pumpkin.

These natural elements add texture to the mantel and help balance out the more decorative pieces.

You can also collect pinecones from your yard or use faux versions from a craft store.

They’re an easy and inexpensive way to add an autumn touch.

Use White Pumpkins for a Softer Fall Look

I used several white pumpkins throughout the mantel.

White pumpkins are one of my favorite fall decorating tricks because they give you that unmistakable pumpkin look without adding a lot of bright orange.

They’re especially pretty when paired with:

• Copper
• Burgundy
• Brown
• Greenery
• Wood
• Natural branches
• Black accents

If you love neutral fall decor, white pumpkins are an easy place to start.

Add Natural Wood Pieces

Another favorite on this mantel was a little wooden piece I found at a thrift store for just $1.

To me, it looked just like a leaf!

I love adding pieces like this to seasonal displays because they don’t necessarily scream “fall decor.”

Instead, they add natural texture and shape while still fitting into the overall autumn theme.

That’s another reason I love thrift shopping for home decor.

You never know what you’re going to find.

Don’t Forget the Small Details

Once the larger pieces are in place, I like to fill in the empty spots with smaller decorations.

For this mantel, I used:

• Pinecones
• Acorns
• Small pumpkins
• Flowers
• Twigs
• Greenery
• Mercury glass
• Natural wood pieces

A little brown bottle filled with vibrant yellow flowers added another pop of autumn color.

And a small white pumpkin tucked between the darker pieces helped break up some of the deeper colors.

These little details are what make a mantel feel finished.

A couple more burgundy pieces filled with pinecones and flowers.

And a fun, rustic twig pumpkin finishes off the mantel this year. I just love how it turned out and I hope you did too.

Add a Rustic Pumpkin

To finish off the mantel, I added a rustic twig pumpkin.

I love how the natural texture of the pumpkin works with the branches, greenery and thrifted wood pieces.

It also helps bring the pumpkin theme back to the large sign above the mantel.

When you’re decorating a mantel, repeating a few elements throughout the display is an easy way to make everything feel connected.

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How to Create a Cozy Fall Mantel

If you want to create your own fall mantel, you don’t have to copy this exact look.

Start with a few basic elements and build from there.

Start With One Large Focal Point

A large sign, piece of artwork or mirror can anchor the mantel.

Add Greenery

Use faux fall leaves, branches or greenery to add height and soften the display.

Mix Heights

Use tall branches and shorter pumpkins or bowls to keep the eye moving across the mantel.

Add Pumpkins

Mix different sizes, shapes and colors rather than using identical pumpkins.

Bring In Natural Texture

Wood, pinecones, acorns, branches and woven pieces help create a cozy autumn feel.

Mix Thrifted and New Decor

Don’t be afraid to combine inexpensive thrift store finds with seasonal decorations you already own.

Finish With Small Details

Fill in the empty spaces with small pumpkins, pinecones, flowers and other seasonal accents.

Fall Mantel Decor on a Budget

One of my favorite things about this mantel is that I didn’t have to spend a fortune creating it.

Several of the pieces were thrift store finds, including the galvanized bucket and wooden leaf-shaped piece.

The mercury glass pieces were also inexpensive thrift store finds that I gave a new look with paint.

And the branches, twigs, pinecones and acorns helped bring in natural fall texture without requiring a big decorating budget.

This is why I love budget-friendly fall decorating.

You don’t need everything to be new.

Sometimes the most interesting pieces are the ones you find for a dollar or two and give a completely different purpose.