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10 Unexpected Ways to Style a Gorgeous Fall Mantel
Been there, done that with the pumpkins and corncobs? Try these wonderfully fresh ideas for a beautifully decorated mantel this autumn
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
Decorating seasonally doesn't have to mean turning your living room into a pumpkin patch every fall (unless you it want to). The trick is to reference the mood of the season but with a fresh spin — warm up your walls with the vintage feel of Instagram photos, make a meaningful display using your grandmother's dishes or set up a cozy fireside bar. Styling your mantel is one of the easiest ways to keep your home feeling fresh and current through each season, even if the rest of the room stays the same. Here's the full scoop on how to achieve 10 refreshingly different looks.
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1. Posh drinks station. Start by anchoring your arrangement with a large mirror, then add an assortment of decanters and barware. If you don't have fancy crystal decanters, not to worry — just choose a few bottles from small-batch producers with pretty labels. If you have any little shiny gold or bronze objects lying around (votive holder, small sculpture) try adding them to the arrangement for a bit of sparkle.
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2. Heart on a string. Collect artwork, photographs or postcards with a bit of red in them or choose a ready-made collection like the Paris postcard set from Little Brown Pen shown here. To create your display, simply attach a length of natural twine to two small hooks above your mantel (you can make one row or several), then clip the artwork to the twine using miniclothespins.
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3. Family silhouettes. If you are in the market for new art to spruce up your walls, why not make it personal? Search for "custom silhouettes" on Etsy to find many great options. Most artists ask you to send in a clear profile picture of each subject to base the silhouette on. You can have the human members of your family done, of course, but many artists are happy to tackle pets, too.
by Don Ziebell
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4. Bowlful of comfort. Warm your hearth by using Nana's dishes to make a wall display. Lay out your arrangement on the floor first, then attach the dishes to the wall using plate hangers. A diamond is a nice overall shape to work toward, because it feels organic yet still symmetrical.
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by TILTON FENWICK
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| 5. Nature inspired. Using nature as a loose theme for your collection can make a wide assortment of objects feel intentional. Search your house (or a local flea market) for objects that might be useful, such as branches, antlers, deer sculptures, geodes, stones, rustic wood mirrors and art depicting wildlife and nature scenes. |
by Emily A. Clark
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6. High contrast. Painting the wall above your mantel will make any arrangement pop. Try using deep charcoal gray, bitter chocolate or (for the truly bold) oxblood red to create a rich backdrop. A flash of gold, like this sunburst mirror, brings the glamour.
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7. Goldenrod and farmhouse white. Instead of using all the rich fall colors at once, pick your favorite to focus on. I love the modern rustic feel of goldenrod paired with fresh farmhouse white, but pumpkin or persimmon could easily stand in for yellow if you prefer. Pottery is a great way to bring color into your display — once you have a color in mind, keep an eye out for new pieces when you are antiquing (or junktiquing) on the weekends.
| 8. "Antlers" for vegans. If real antlers are not your cup of tea, try a staghorn fern mounted on wood instead. These unusual plants make an excellent alternative to the ubiquitous antler display; just be sure to use them in a room that gets adequate sunlight. |
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9. Instagram collage. The faded, vintagey quality that gives Instagram photos their signature look is perfectly suited to fall. Use an online service like Small Bird Studios' to turn your favorite snapshots into ready-to-hang wall art. Pick images with similar colors or a similar mood, and hang them in a grid for a uniform look.
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10. One great piece. A painting that warms your heart is a worthwhile investment, and it can bring focus to an entire room like nothing else. An "art collection" may sound fancy, but it doesn't have to be completely out of reach.
If being surrounded by art you love is important to you, set aside a little money so you can splurge once every few years on a piece of original art you love. Seek out student art fairs and small galleries featuring up-and-coming artists to find the best deals.
If being surrounded by art you love is important to you, set aside a little money so you can splurge once every few years on a piece of original art you love. Seek out student art fairs and small galleries featuring up-and-coming artists to find the best deals.
Ideabook published on Oct. 3, 2012.
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The hearth, being raised gives you opportunity for decorating too, although I guess your main holidays, like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas would all fall when the fire is lit and you would need that space clear.
That is my starting point - trying to keep it as simple as possible for you.
I like the offset shelves, but Im sure they pose a challenge. How about hanging something between the shelves to balance them out a little? For example...Artwork (how about that cow???), or a mirror with a reclaimed wood frame, bold photography.... something with "visual weight". In other words make the shelves look like an accessory to the big main piece in the middle.
If you do not want to drill into the brick (to hang the frame) maybe someone on this board could suggest something they have tried? I don't know if the 3M command strip hooks could handle heat from the fireplace.
I posted a comment on another blog here that taking photos of your room or part of a room can help show things that need to be changed or updated. Looks like in your case it works in reverse.
What is it about cows? They really are gorgeous creatures.
I like very much Emily A. Clark ideas. Feel so inspired.