It’s finally fall—the season of hearty soups, cozy mittens and pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING. What better way to celebrate than by bringing the natural beauty of autumn into your home? Here are a few ideas that may help inspire your fireplace mantel décor this year:

THEMES

Are you planning to decorate for each of the holidays, or will you stick with an overall fall theme until winter? If you want to acknowledge the holidays but don’t have time for two or three mantel makeovers during the season, consider establishing a fall theme that can be embellished with holiday accents. A black cat amid a tumble of pumpkins can be easily swapped out for an arrangement of turkey feathers or a cornucopia. Making the decision now may help you avoid carrying a Halloween mantel through Thanksgiving (or even New Year’s Eve).

PALETTES

Autumn reds, golds, browns and oranges are classic color choices, but they’re not the only option when it comes to fall décor. Driftwood tones, white with metallic accents, floral colors and striking black and white can all be elegant color palettes for a fall mantel. In fact, if you choose traditional fall forms, like gourds or leaves, you could go with any color scheme that suits your fancy! Here are some of our favorite finds from the blogosphere:

• Painted gourds in a riot of colors from Inspired by Charm
• An eclectic white and neutral mantel display from Craftberry Bush
• Pumpkins under glass by Décor Allure
• This light and elegant offering from The Inspired Room
• Cozy details in this mantel design by The Lettered Cottage

MATERIALS

Traditional fall décor is a celebration of the harvest season, so natural materials are a natural fit. Here’s just a sampling of the many items you could incorporate into your fall mantel:

• Branches, pine cones or colorful leaves
• Pressed or dried flowers
• Fresh fall flowers, like chrysanthemums or pansies
• Seeds, like maize, pumpkin seeds or putka pods
• Corn husks or dried corn on the cob
• Acorns or shelled nuts (painted or natural)
• Pumpkins and other gourds in a variety of colors (carved, painted, decoupage or natural)
• Dried beans, like lentils or pinto beans
• Orchard fruits, like apples (consider using artificial versions for longevity)
• Wicker baskets, brooms or boxes
• Burlap, paper and other natural fibers
• Feathers
• Weathered wood or driftwood
• Spices like cinnamon sticks or anise stars
• Cotton bolls
• Sheaves of wheat, bundles of hay or other grains/grasses

Of course, you shouldn’t feel limited to natural objects in your mantel décor. Items like these can be welcome accents to a fall display:

• Pumpkins made from brass, glass, fabric or other materials
• Ceramic owls, turkeys or other fall animals
• Lanterns, candlesticks and votives
• Framed artwork with fall themes
• Apothecary jars, hurricane glass, mason jars, glass domes and vases (especially for showcasing some of the natural suggestions above)
• Books (aim for vintage volumes and those with a seasonal or nature-inspired theme)
• Crockery
• Typography (banners, wooden letters, etc.)

Are you inspired yet? Message us on Pinterest with a pin of your mantel décor. We’ll repin our favorites!