As the weather starts to get chilly, it’s time to transform your home into a cozy retreat. One of the easiest and most impactful ways to do this is by decorating your mantelpiece. In this blog post, we’ll explore three distinct styles: moody academia, vintage New England, and Pottery Barn neutral. Each style offers a unique charm and can be tailored to fit your personal taste. Discover how to create a stunning fall mantel that will warm your heart and home.
Fall Mantel Makeovers: Simple Steps to a Stunning Display
Are you looking to transform your mantel into a cozy and inviting focal point for the fall season? This blog post will guide you through a step-by-step process to create a stunning mantel display that reflects your personal style. We’ll explore three distinct looks: Moody Academia, Vintage New England, and Pottery Barn Neutral.
In the following sections, you’ll find detailed instructions, tips, and inspiration for each of the three mantel styles. We’ll cover everything from color palettes and decor choices to unique DIY projects. Whether you prefer a spooky and mysterious vibe, a traditional New England charm, or a minimalist elegance, there’s a Fall mantel look for you.
Here’s the jumping-off point, the “before” of the fireplace. I’m not going to change the art print since it works with the 3 different looks I created.
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Moody Academia Mantel
I’m calling this mantel look Moody Academia. It’s a stunning blend of vintage charm and gothic elegance. It features a darker color palette and I layered in a vintage-looking clock, old books, and feathers. I was trying to create a mysterious and inviting atmosphere. This design is perfect for those who appreciate a little bit of drama.
MOODY ACADEMIA
- Dark Color Palette: The black mantle and dark-toned items provide a moody backdrop for the display.
- Vintage Finds: The vintage-looking clock and old books add a sense of history and nostalgia.
- Natural Elements: The feathers and twigs bring a touch of the outdoors and a sense of mystery.
- Spooky Touches: The spider and bell add a playful and spooky element.
Dark Color Palette
A key element of the Moody Academia style is a dark color palette. This creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, setting the stage for a more dramatic display.
On this mantel, I’ve layered darker colors to enhance the overall mood. The black fireplace serves as a grounding element, while the deep greens of the landscape painting add a touch of nature.
The black vase filled with leaf branches further reinforces the dark aesthetic, creating a cohesive and visually striking composition.
Incorporate Vintage Finds
One of the defining features of the Moody Academia style is the incorporation of vintage elements. These timeworn treasures add a sense of history and character to your mantel display.
For this Fall mantle display I tried to blend authentic vintage items and pieces that evoke a vintage aesthetic. The old books are a classic example of genuine vintage finds, adding a touch of nostalgia.
A simple way to add a touch of style is to wrap a piece of jute twine or ribbon around a few books. I also like to tuck in a feather for an extra special touch. It takes only a minute to do but it’s a quick way to create a magazine-worthy look at home.
The clock, bell, and cloche, while not necessarily antiques, perfectly complement the vintage vibe with their aged appearance and timeless design.
Natural Elements Add Texture
Incorporating natural elements is a wonderful way to add texture, warmth, and a sense of the outdoors to your Moody Academia mantel. Feathers, in particular, are a classic choice that perfectly complements the witchy aesthetic of the witch broom and black butterfly in the cloche.
Using feathers creates a sense of movement and interest. I popped a variety of feathers into a small urn that I thrifted. I use feathers year-round when I am decorating, I have one bunch that I use over and over again.
Additionally, the dried gourd, sunflower, dried hydrangea, and unique fern add a touch of earthiness and organic beauty to your display.
Incorporating greenery when you are decorating not only gives it a pop of color but adds a feeling of movement and also a different texture to your space.
Here are some other natural elements you might consider incorporating:
- Twigs and branches: These can be arranged in a vase or placed directly on the mantel to create a rustic look.
- Pinecones: Pinecones are a classic fall symbol that add warmth and texture.
- Dried flowers: Dried flowers can be used to create colorful arrangements or small details.
- Moss: Moss can be used to add a touch of green and texture to your mantel.
(Slightly) Spooky Touches
Confession, I am not a spooky Halloween (or anything else for that matter) girl! To add a little bit of seasonal fun to this look I added a black butterfly in a thrifted cloche with a hand stamped BOO!, a dollar store fuzzy flocked spider, and a small witch’s broom.
To create the cloche display, I painted a dollar store butterfly black and placed it under a glass cloche. I used sturdy floral wire anchored in clay to support the butterfly, then concealed the clay with moss and a small dried flower. For a touch of whimsy, I stamped “BOO!” on a kraft paper gift tag and tied it to the cloche’s knob.
Final Mantle Look
Vintage New England Mantel: A Cozy and Classic Display
Your Vintage New England mantel is a charming and inviting centerpiece for your home. The warm color palette, combined with the thrifted items, natural elements, and vintage-inspired decor, creates a nostalgic and comfortable atmosphere. This style is perfect for those who appreciate traditional New England charm.
Vintage New England Mantel:
- Warm Color Palette: The brown tones of the mantel, artwork, and decor create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
- Thrifted Items: The vintage books, lantern, and urn add a unique and personal touch.
- Natural Elements: The dried grasses, pine cones, and pumpkins bring the outdoors inside and add a seasonal feel.
- Vintage-Inspired Decor: The gold-toned pheasant figurines and framed photo add a touch of elegance and nostalgia.
Warm Color Palette
One of the hallmarks of the Vintage New England style is a warm and inviting color palette. By using shades of brown, green, and muted gold to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere on the fireplace mantel.
The dark tone of the mantel itself provides a solid foundation for the display, while the green accents from the plant and artwork add a touch of nature. The muted gold tone of the pheasant figurines add a hint of classic style.
Other New England Inspired Color Combos
- Cream, sage green, and navy blue: This combination creates a classic and timeless look.
- Rust, burgundy, and olive green: This palette offers a more vibrant and autumnal feel.
- Beige, tan, and chocolate brown: This combination creates a warm and inviting atmosphere with a neutral base.
Thrifted Items
One of the fun parts of decorating in the Vintage New England style is the opportunity to incorporate unique and affordable thrifted items. By using thrifted vintage books, a basket, and an urn-style vase, I’ve added a personal touch and a sense of history to the mantel display.
Thrifted items can often be found at local thrift stores, antique shops, and even online marketplaces. I’ve collected items from all of those places! Most of my home decor is secondhand finds!
Natural Elements
As a lifelong New Englander, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. It’s natural for us to bring that love into our homes, especially during the Fall. Pumpkins, pinecones, interesting branches—anything from nature can add a special touch. And the best part? Finding them for free is even more rewarding!
For this New England-style mantle, I decorated it with pinecones I gathered from my backyard, a faux antler, ceramic pumpkins, a trailing silver pothos plant, feathers, and a small grapevine wreath.
Vintage-Inspired Decor
For a vintage-inspired flair, I incorporated a rusty lantern, pheasant statues, and a DIY vintage art frame. The result is a welcoming and inviting mantel that perfectly captures the essence of New England charm.
DIYs Seen Here:
Final Mantle Look
Pottery Barn Neutral: A Timeless and Elegant Mantel
Pottery Barn-inspired mantel is a beautiful example of understated elegance. The neutral color palette, clean lines, and natural elements create a timeless and sophisticated look. This style is perfect for those who appreciate a minimalist and refined aesthetic.
Pottery Barn Neutral
- Neutral Color Palette: The white and brown tones create a calming and sophisticated atmosphere.
- Clean Lines: The simple design of the mantel and decor elements contributes to a minimalist feel.
- Natural Elements: The branches, moss, and woven balls add a touch of texture and warmth.
Neutral Color Palette
I’m always inspired by Pottery Barn’s ability to create beautiful neutral color palettes. For this mantel, I’m sticking to their classic combination of green, cream, and brown. It’s a subtle and understated look for fall. Not every space in your home needs to be overly decorated for every season.
Clean Lines
Here I wanted to create a mantel that had a stylish yet understated Pottery Barn vibe. I kept it simple and used just a few items to achieve a trendy look. This is the cleanest and most minimalist of the three mantel styles.
3 tall and narrow black metal candlesticks have a minimalist look and add height to the end of the mantle.
Natural Elements
One design idea to take away from the Pottery Barn aesthetic is the weaving in of natural elements. It’s an easy way to add texture and warmth to any design that you create in your home…and it doesn’t cost a fortune either!
For this mantle look I filled a small thrift store vase with dried flower pods from my garden. It’s a small detail but adds another layer of visual interest.
Grapevine orbs, found at a local antique shop for just $6.50, add a unique touch. Pottery Barn often incorporates unexpected and visually interesting elements in their designs. These are actually for the garden but I love how they look when displayed indoors.
Favorite Decor Books:
To stay true to the color scheme I wanted for this mantle look I am using a large vase that was a DIY project for me (it is inspired by this Pottery Barn vase). Then I filled it with moss branches (you can see the tutorial for the moss branches here).
The Final Look
DIYs Seen Here:
Creating Your Cozy Fall Mantel
In this blog post, we’ve explored three distinct Fall mantel styles: Moody Academia, Vintage New England, and Pottery Barn Neutral. Each style offers a unique charm and can be tailored to fit your personal aesthetic.
Remember, the key to creating a stunning Fall mantel is to choose a color palette that suits your style, incorporate elements that resonate with you, and have fun with the process. Whether you prefer a mysterious vibe, a traditional New England charm, or a minimalist elegance, there’s a Fall mantel look out there waiting to be discovered.
So go ahead, gather your favorite decor items (shop your home!), and let your creativity flow. With a little inspiration and a touch of personal flair, you can transform your mantel into a cozy and inviting focal point for the Fall season.
See your projects featured! If you are inspired by this or any of my other DIY projects I would love to see them and add you to the Reader’s Spotlight gallery. Send a photo to me at jennifer@cottageonbunkerhill.com
xo, Jennifer
I just subscribed to your blog and I am thrilled by your approach. Many bloggers are providing lists to incorporate into design. I find your step-by-step approach so much more helpful. Can’t wait for your future posts and looking at your prior posts. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this comment Cheryl! I appreciate it so much, glad you found me too!
Such good ideas! I love the slightly spooky touches. Thanks for sharing!!!
Love the mantel ideas! The moody mantel is my favorite.
Love this post! Always great to get new ideas🍁🍂. Fall is my favorite season to decorate for! Dark academia is a fairly new concept for me, although I realize I’ve been drawn to that look for awhile now, just didn’t know it had a name, lol! The vintage New England feel has my heart, even more so after my first trip there this fall!
Vicki, I hope you had a good trip!! It’s been a beautiful Fall here!