This year I’m trying something new by decorating a fall mantel with dried arrangements. There’s nothing like taking a fresh approach when making seasonal style changes, even if it’s just one small area in your home. Take a look at your mantel or a shelf or an entry table and add a little bit of color to welcome the fall season.
Pinterest Challenge
Once again it’s time for our monthly Pinterest challenge. If you’re new here, each month our host Cindy of County Road 407 selects an inspiration photo for us to recreate. Each participant puts their own spin on the photo according to our individual style of decorating.
The best part is seeing how everyone interprets the image, and we always have an interesting variety. Be sure to click through all the links at the end of the post. If you’re stopping by from my friend Carol of Bluesky at Home welcome! Love her spin on styling a fall mantel!
To see last month’s Pinterest challenge click on my post Strawberry Scone Recipe.
Our August Pinterest challenge photo of a beautifully decorated mantel comes from Janelle Trinette and her Fall Tour post.
Here’s my take away of Janelle’s cozy fall mantel.
- large sign of a fall quote
- a grouping on each side of the mantel
- lantern with vase inside
- tall wood candle holders
- large glass jar or vase
- wood slice under glass jar
- small glass vase
- variety of pumpkins
- colorful fall leaves
For this challenge I’m focusing on decorating with a lantern, glass vases, wooden candleholders with pumpkins and fall foliage.
Fall Mantel With Dried Arrangements
I’m so happy to see more dried grasses, leaves and flowers making their way into fall arrangements. It seems like these were abundant in the 80s and 90s so I’m glad they’re coming around again.
Our inspiration photo has three arrangements in glass vases on the mantel, so I’m repeating the look, but with dried foliage. Each one is a little different but they still have the same components. One thing to remember about dried grasses is how fragile they can be, so take your time creating your arrangements.
Wood Candle Holders
For most of the Pinterest challenges my personal goal to use items that I already have in different ways. Well this time with some clever bargain and thrift shopping I’m incorporating some new accessories.
One can never have too many wooden candle holders. Right?! They are so versatile, because they create cute little platforms for more than candles, and I love the idea of using them for displaying pumpkins. I found three on clearance for a real steal.
Like the inspiration photo I’m using a variety of pumpkins. One is a twig pumpkin and the other two are faux pumpkins with real pumpkin stems.
The Mister asked if I was going to paint the candle holders, but for once I didn’t alter the appearance of my bargain find. This is may be a first for me!
Decorating With Lanterns
A few weeks ago I found a wonderful beat up looking lantern missing all four glass panes at a local antique mall. Now most people wouldn’t get too excited about something in this condition, but I sure am. So as you can imagine I’m going to have a lot of fun decorating with this vintage looking piece.
I like the open sides of the lantern, and it doesn’t bother me one bit that the base seems to be missing too. Did you notice how the dried grasses sort of lean out the sides? In my books that’s turning a negative into a positive.
To add a little height to the lantern I have it sitting on a couple of books. This creates a better balance to the tall arrangement on the other side of the mantel.
Fall Sign
An old slate board with Hello Fall is a small last minute addition. Of course it doesn’t have the impact of the sign in our inspiration photo, but it works for me.
I know I should probably switch out the artwork in the family room more often, but I really love the colors in my mom’s print. Plus I think the soft green shades in the dried foliage arrangements compliment the landscape.
For more fall decorating ideas see my post Simple Fall Mantel With Gourds And Greenery.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with seasonal inspiration you can use right now!
Thank you for stopping by today for my take on our Pinterest challenge with my decorating a fall mantel with dried arrangements. Up next on our blog hop is my friend Niky over at The House on Silverado sharing her fresh ideas on a neutral fall mantel.
The links for everyone participating are in the list below so enjoy at your leisure.
Cheers!
Fall Mantel Pinterest Challenge
Your fall mantel is so pretty, Michelle! I look forward to seeing more of your fall decor over the next few weeks.
Thank you so much Paula! I still feel like it needs a little something. Maybe more pumpkins!
Or more mini gourds? 😉
You may be right! 😊
Michelle, I absolutely love your lantern. What a great find. I’m sure you will use it quite often. The chunky candlesticks are awesome, too. I need some short ones like those. Aren’t we lucky that faux flowers are in style now?
Yes that little lantern is such a happy find. It just shows that I need to go thrifting more often.
So when you said you love your moms print, did you mean she painted it or was it once hers? Either way, I wouldn’t change it out either. It’s fantastic and with the touch of blue gray in your stems, it looks beautiful. I love how your mantel turned out and the different characteristics you chose to use. Like the jar inside the lantern. Super cute Michelle. Thanks so much for joining in. Pinned
Thank you Cindy! I love this Pinterest challenge but I’m already wanting to add a few more details to my mantel after seeing how everyone decorated theirs. So many fantastic ideas! The landscape watercolor was displayed over our mantel in my childhood home. The artist was from New Mexico and a friend of the family. I reframed it several years ago after I inherited it from my mom, and still enjoy it everyday.
Love your mantel, and such a pretty painting too. What a creative idea to use dried flowers in the lanter. Love it.
Thank you so much Marty!
Those dried grasses are beautiful, Michelle! I think they look perfect for fall. You’ve inspired me to look into getting some now. Your whole mantel turned out gorgeous!
Thank you Crissy! It’s not as over the top as I imagined, but I’ll add more into the season.
Love the dried stems… and I think the artwork is perfect! Your mantel looks elegant and cozy!
Thank you sweet friend!
Michelle,
Your mantel is so pretty. I loved the floral arrangement when I saw it on instagram. So fun doing these together.
Thank you Rachel! These Pinterest challenges just keep getting better and better!
Michelle,
I really love how the pieces you used for fall work with the art. It’s such a lovely look. Can’t wait to see more of your fall home.
Thanks so much Christy for the sweet comments!
Michelle, that gorgeous lantern was a great find! I would have snatched it up too! You have done a great job adding fall florals to your mantel, it looks really pretty!
Thank you Cindy! I can’t wait to go thrifting again to see what else I can find for more fall decorating!
Michelle, your mantel bouquet is lovely!!! I do love grasses even if I am allergic to them (when I brush up against them) but I enjoy the lovely movement as they blow in the wind that I want them in our yard regardless! Something I plan on putting in this coming year as we open up the sideyard.
What a great find, the candlesticks! I like the weight they each have and the lantern looks nice with its mini bouquet peeking out.
Happy fall decorating to you,
Barb 🙂
Thank you so much Barb! You know I’ve decorated with dried flowers before but this is a first with dried grasses. I’m really hooked and already thinking about other vignettes where I can add them.
The candle sticks are perfect the way the are! I don’t paint evvverrrything I bring home from shopping trips! Pinned!
You know, I think it must be the blogger in me that thinks I have to change things up LOL! I still can’t believe I haven’t painted them yet. Thanks for stopping by and pinning Cindy!
Your fall mantel looks so cute!!
Thank you Kristin! Hugs!
This is so pretty Michelle!!
Thank you Jennifer!
Your fall florals are so pretty. Love your mantel!
Thank you Niky! I’m thinking of adding some fall florals to the entryway.