Happy Hump Day and first day of October, friends! What are you all up to this week? My last day working at the library was last Wednesday so it’s the first Wednesday in a lonngggg time that I haven’t had to leave the house and commute to a job! It’s sooo amazing to be home and working on Dwell Beautiful and I’ve got something awesome to share with you today – my fall mantel!
I haven’t had a fireplace since I was a high schooler living in my mom’s house, and I’ve gotta say, having one again is totally wonderful! It’s the perfect place to cozy up on a chilly day and of course is the perfect feature area for all my fun holiday decor. This is also the first year that I’ve been able to purchase fall decorations! Living in apartments and dorms for the past 6 years had put a real damper on decorating for any sort of season or holiday, but now that we have our own home, we can go as crazy as we like! Huzzah! So without further ado, here is my lovely fall mantel 🙂
Please ignore the barf green half-painted wall and the sponge painted fireplace – this is what the previous owners did! I can’t wait to get rid of both of these paint jobs. Why anyone would think that barf green (or baby poop green, if that is more accurate) would be a good idea for a wall choice is sadly mistaken. And while they tried really hard to get a more original brick “look” with the sponge painting on the fireplace, it’s just a little too much for such a little room. The master plan is to paint the fireplace white and put in a pallet wood plank wall over all that green! Seriously can’t wait. Seriously.
The base of my fall mantel started off with a lovely leaf garland from Michael’s! It was 50% off and I knew it would be perfect for the fireplace. Of course I can’t resist anything sparkly, so I love the little hints of glitter and glam!
For one side of the mantel I combined some things I bought with some things I already had on hand. I already had the lantern from Ikea and the wooden box, but also added the vase and the sweet little green owl that I got on sale at Michael’s (only a couple bucks each!) Seriously, almost all of their fall stuff is on sale right now – you should go STAT!
I took some bits of a faux gold plant and some gold pipe cleaners and wound them into curlicues for some extra glitz and visual interest and tied a Halloween-appropriate black and white bow around the vase. Isn’t that little owl the cutest? I have named him Herbert.
For the other half of my mantel, I left up the candles and letter ‘S’ that I usually have up year round but traded out my printable for one from Brepurposed! In real life the leaf looks like glitzy gold leaf and I absolutely love it! Go get yours here.
Underneath my fall mantel I snagged some faux pumpkins from Michael’s (again, half off!!) and arranged them on the edge of the fireplace. I have a LOT of magazines so I used a stack to vary the height to create some more interest. I also arranged a basket of mini pumpkins on the trunk coffee table nearby to round out and extend all the fall prettiness 🙂
Oliver gives full approval of the fall mantel.
What do you think of my fall mantel? What would you add to your own?
Your mantel looks fabulous and the printable is perfect!! Thanks for the shout out! So glad you added it to your decor 🙂 You have such a cozy space!
Thank you and thank YOU so much for the GORGEOUS printable! I think it fits in perfectly with the rest of the decor 🙂
I love it, looks great! And Oliver is PERFECT too. What a cutie!
Hehe, thank you! He thinks he is quite the regal prince – and I suppose he is. We spoil him and his brother far too much! That’s one of his favorite nap spots 🙂
SO pretty Erica!!! LOVE the pops of shiny gold and that print from Brepurposed is just perfect!
D’aw thanks, girl! It feels good to finally be able to decorate for the seasons. I’m enjoying it far too much – I spend all my spare time just oogling my pretty sparklies 🙂
Erica, your mantel is beautiful and I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. I have just one question though . . . do Herbert and Basil get along? xo Bre
Hahah, that made me giggle! They seem to be getting along quite nicely, even for the fact that Basil is a Fox and Herbert and owl. I think they will be best of friends in no time! 😉
Love it, so pretty! The owl is too cute, I added one to my fall decor, too! And love Bre’s print. AND love your Happy Potter print on the wall. 😉 Great job!!
Aw, thanks! It’s my first time ever setting up fall decor, so I’m glad that it wasn’t a total disaster! Owls (and Harry Potter) are my downfall (in the best way) and I have tons of owls spread throughout my home year round 🙂
Your mantle looks beautiful! Warm colors and filled with sweet Autumn touches. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo
Thanks so much, Katherine! We really love hanging out by the fireside! Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop is awesome – I’m glad I joined up 🙂
So pretty and colorful, Erica! Bre’s printable fits perfectly too!
Thanks, Amy! I agree – it’s like her printable was made for my mantel! I’m really happy with how it turned out 🙂
Your mantel is fabulous! So many great little fall touches!
I have that same mirror, but never figured out where I wanted to put it. I actually forgot that it is hanging out in the basement….Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Jamie! And that’s so funny! It is quite the tricky little mirror, isn’t it? I think mine will look better once that half green wall is gone. Glad I could remind you! 🙂
Erica, I love everything! Bre’s print fits perfectly with your decor. Can’t wait until the day I have a fireplace in my home 🙂
Thanks Tara! It really is so wonderful having a fireplace – we haven’t lit a fire in it yet, but just the presence of it is so cozying!
Oooooh I love all the sparkle!! Looks great!!! Happy sparkly fall 🙂
Thank you! I hope you have a very lovely (and sparkly) fall, too! 🙂