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With crisp autumn mornings and the leaves changing to vibrant colors, it's the perfect time to give your home a refresh for fall. One of the ways that I like to embrace the fall spirit is by transforming our fireplace mantel and unused fireplace into a cozy focal point in our living room.

Create a Focal Point with Artwork or Mirrors

Above our mantel is a tall arched gold mirror that acts as the focal point. I chose this mirror because it reflects more light into the space, it has a clean and modern look, and adds height to the fireplace wall. While I don’t change this piece out with the seasons, I add decor around it and will sometimes layer seasonal art prints in front of it.

To select the best focal point for your fireplace mantel, keep in mind that scale matters! Opt for a piece that is larger in size so that it feels substantial above your fireplace. You will also want to have some negative space on either side of the artwork or mirror that you choose, so that the mantel is still wider than your wall decor. This blank space also gives you room for taller decorative pieces that won’t completely cover your focal point.

Here are a few mirrors that I think would look lovely above a fireplace:

The mirror in the featured photo is 24” w x 40” h. Please check the measurements of your fireplace wall and the product sizing to ensure the best fit for your space.

Illuminate with Warm Lighting

Nothing creates a cozy fall mood quite like warm accent lighting. On our mantel and in our fireplace, I love to use battery-operated candles that I can set with a timer to turn on in the evenings. Candlesticks and holders are decorative items that can add a lot of color and texture to your fall display. I’ve added gold taper candle holders that I found at antique shops and they work nicely with the orange and brown leafy garland.

Inside the fireplace, are flickering pillar candles in various sizes. I incorporated two large lanterns to add both height and dimension to my display. Other lighting types that I like to use are fairy lights and small led lights. While we’re not able to enjoy the ambiance that you would typically get with a fireplace, these lighting options provide a nice alternative and certainly make for an inviting space to spend fall nights.

Since the candle holders that I used are not available for purchase, I’ve included below links to a curated collection of taper candlesticks and lanterns that would work well for a mantel or fireplace display:

Also, I’ve linked a few of my favorite battery-operated candles and led lights:

Layer with Texture and Color: Natural Elements, Seasonal Accents, and Collected Decor

Create a warm, layered look through the use of varying textural elements and a mix of autumnal hues. This is the perfect time to showcase fall-specific items such as mini pumpkins, acorns, and dried florals. On our mantel, I’ve added a leafy garland that I attached with command hooks. To take it a step further, I added faux floral stems that I weaved into the garland to create a fuller look with even more variation in texture and color. I love the darker rust tones added by the faux maple leaf stems and the look of the faux eucalyptus stems mixed in with the leaves.

Inside the fireplace, I have many different textures to add depth and interest to my display. Natural materials like wood, wicker, seed pods, and dried florals, add warmth. In both of the lanterns, I placed dried floral stems and acorns around the pillar candles. I also incorporated a couple of terracotta pumpkins and a suitcase made with a woven fabric material. It’s really the mix of items that can make your fall fireplace decor feel special and totally unique to your style.

While my fall display is a mix of old and new items, here are decor pieces that would create a similar look:

I hope you feel inspired to decorate your own mantel for the season!