Hooray! This fall mantel is one of my most loved posts of the year. I hope you enjoy seeing how I build a special vignette for each season.
This year I tried to stay neutral, like I did with my neutral fall vignette, but I couldn't resist adding a few pops of orange and red. Just a couple of bursts.
Have you ever seen a blanket draped over a mantel? It took me a few days to get used to it up there, but now I love it! Plaid is SO in this season. And I adore the blue and green in this throw. (I guess I was ahead of the trend a couple of Christmases ago.)
I plan to keep the blanket out for Christmas this year, too, since it's so cozy and I love the colors. I'll probably curl up with it on the couch, though.
I grabbed some navy plaid napkins at Target the other day and whipped up a couple of throw pillow covers. I've been searching for affordable new pillow covers, and you can't beat $10 for a set of two and a few minutes of sewing. It's not a new idea, I know, but I'll show y'all how to get the same look in an upcoming post. I've found that even the simplest DIY projects benefit from a quick tutorial.
I also picked up the bread board at Target the other day (along with some pretty spoons and spatulas).
The charming autumn leaves are a free printable from Ella Claire. So cute and sweet! I simply printed them on kraft paper and tied them on with twine.
The boxwood wreath was a DIY project I finished last week. I loved using my boxwood shrubs outside and other items I already had around the house to create exactly what I envisioned for this mantel.
If you don't have a boxwood shrub at home, go plant one today. You never know when you'll need a few twigs, or more.
The navy and white pumpkins are faux. We haven't made it to the pumpkin farm yet this year, so I haven't decorated with any real ones this season. I can't wait to pick up some of my favorite Cinderella pumpkins.
In the meantime, I recycled some I bought a couple of years ago. The larger one was orange until a few days ago, but I painted it Hale Navy. I love it! I'm thinking about adding a vinyl monogram. Do you think that would be too much, or would it be cute? I'm still debating.
Want to see something fun? I put my past mantels side by side. I love seeing how my style has changed over the years. That first year? Whew.
2012 / 2013 / 2014
I hope you like my cozy, thankful fall mantel this year. I'm always surprised by how the creative process unfolds and how the final look takes shape. Now I'll sit back with some wassail and enjoy the cooler days!
Sources (some affiliate links, see my disclosure policy):
Blue/green plaid blanket – Target
Navy plaid napkins (for pillow) – Target
Galvanized bucket – Target
Bread board – Target
Fall foliage – Hobby Lobby (last year)
Harvest sign – DIY tutorial
Boxwood wreath – DIY tutorial
"Be Grateful" sign – Hobby Lobby
Crock – Ballard Designs (no longer available)
Cotton stems – Decor Steals
Mercury glass votive candle holders – Pottery Barn
Capri Mercury Glass Candle – Anthropologie
