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Looking to freshen up your fall mantel and need some simple fall mantel decor ideas? Check out 3 of my favorite unique accessories to bring texture and character to a beautiful fall mantel!  Keep reading for favorite fall inspiration from some amazing bloggers too and remember to pin your favorite ideas to refer to later!

If you’re hopping over today from Lucy at Craftberry Bush, welcome!  I am so glad you are here!  The fall home decor inspiration is off the charts amazing today and I’m saving so many pretty ideas that I want to try.

I love this time of gathering decorating tips and ideas at the beginning of each new season!

Fall is always such a fun season to decorate for and I think it’s because fall just brings out all of the cozy, inviting, welcoming kinds of looks for our homes.  For me, some simple fall mantel decor is the first thing I love to create because it kind of sets the tone for the rest of my fall home decorating for the season.

What month do you put out fall decor?

Such a great question.  I never realized decorating for fall was such a highly debated topic (though not as debated as Christmas decor ????) until I joined the world of home decor on social media!  That being said, my answer is always the same.

You put out whatever decor you want, whenever you want.  It’s your home and it needs to feel amazing for you and your family.

For me, personally, I like to start transitioning my home decor from the summer beach cottage look to an early fall look right around the time that my kids start back to school.  That just feels like a natural break in our schedule and a good time to refresh everything.  My summer decor is usually looking like it’s in need of a super duper deep cleaning by then anyway. ????

Plus, once we are in more of a routine of being home after school every day, not going out in the evenings, etc., I love to make our home decor feel extra cozy and inviting!

Like I said, my mantel and gallery wall are usually the first fall decorating job I tackle.

(Mantel…mantle…I discussed the history of it HERE.  But no matter how you spell it, they are FUN to decorate!)

BUT, if you don’t have a mantel, don’t worry!

You can take these same ideas and use them for different spaces, such as bookshelves or entryway tables.

Fall is an especially fun time to decorate your home.  However, believe it or not, I only have a couple bins of fall decor and part of that are just party things for the kiddos that I’ve used for school events over the years.

One thing I love about fall is that the colors lend themselves so easily to mixing in the old and new, blending in the vintage patinas I love, and finishing it all off with natural elements.  I also love that there are a lot of FREE items I can bring inside to use in my fall home decor too!

So, what do you put on a mantel in the fall?

While there are about as many ways to decorate a mantel as there are mantels in the world, I like to think of each styling as an opportunity to create something fun and different.

However, I like to think outside the box a little for my own mantel styling and decorating.  There are literally so many great ideas out there and it’s fun to experiment with your home decor!  (In the comments, be sure to leave your favorite thing to use on your fall mantel and we can all inspire each other!)

Create Simple Fall Mantel Decor with These 3 Unique Home Accessories

And because I just love creating something a little bit different than the typical big-box kind of fall decorating, here are a few of my favorite thrifted and vintage finds for fall decor:

How do you decorate a mantel in the fall?

Try These 3 Unique Home Decor Accessories On Your Fall Mantel

#1: Try stoneware for simple fall mantel decor

I always love finding and using great vintage, thrifted pieces in my fall decorating.  When I came across a set of vintage crocks and pottery pieces on the World’s Longest Yard Sale, they were just too good of a deal to pass up.

I love how they all looked together and there is something about the warm, earthy tones of old pottery and stoneware that blends beautifully with the vintage, farmhouse fall color tones.

This year, I added even more to my collection and spaced them around our main living areas.  I especially love how they look in the dining room too!

When I hear “vintage crock”, I tend to think of the really huge ones (which are also fantastic for fall and winter decor) but definitely do not work on a mantel.  They can be beautiful for a hearth but the small ones can add a lot of texture and dimension to the mantelpiece as well!

Working with the decor triangle concept of decorating in three’s, I used three of the pottery pieces on my fall mantel one year.  Vintage books helped to vary the height of two of them at one end and I used the third one as a book end on the other side of the mantel for a simple fall decor style.

Why can I do with vintage crocks?

Mixed with more traditional elements, such as brass candlesticks, the vintage crocks and pottery pieces can really add extra depth and character to the mantel styling without being visually overwhelming.

Since they are most often found in neutral tones, they can easily complement a range of fall color palettes.

If you do not have a mantel to style, try using some crocks, stoneware, or pottery on a bookshelf.  They are usually heavy enough to make great bookends and can add a unique shape to an otherwise boxy space.

Check out this post for more shelf styling ideas for fall too!

How do you decorate with old crocks?

I actually left my crocks empty, but they can be a great opportunity to put a cute fall stem too!

The great news this fall is that vintage-style pottery and crocks are trending.  If you don’t have vintage ones, you’re in luck!  There are some really budget friendly ones available. I  particularly love the pretty fall tones of THIS ONE and the neutral color of THIS ONE can blend anywhere and be used year round!

Here are some other favorites:

• This vintage-inspired crock
• This gorgeous blue-gray piece for flowers!
• This clay planter for a smaller scaled piece

Also keep an eye out at thrift stores and flea markets.  You may find a great piece!  If you don’t like the color, try painting it for an afternoon DIY!

What can I do with vintage crocks?

One of my favorite things for fall decorating is to add some pretty faux stems!  Here are a few favorite fall stems to try:

• This faux eucalyptus looks pretty mixed with fresh fall flowers!
• These faux pear stems are stunning and make a unique alternative to pumpkins for early fall decor!
• These small stems are perfect for a cute little stoneware vase or to even use on individual place settings for a fall tablescape!

How do you dress up a plain mantel?

There are a lot of ways to get started and here is one of my very favorites!

#2: Try dried gourds on your fall mantel

They are my favorite natural element to use in my fall decor!

It’s true.  I have two big trash bags full of them that I store carefully in the attic and if I find more that I love this fall, I’ll have no shame in adding a third bag!  There are so many fun ways to style dried gourds for simple fall decor all around your home.  I love that they have such a natural look.

I also love that dried gourds add a great touch of fall color and patina without being too “perfect”.  There are lots of different sizes and shapes available too!

Why are dried gourds perfect for fall decorating?

While I love using real pumpkins, they can get expensive and dried gourds are a great option. Instead of having real pumpkins coming out my ears (and out of my wallet) when it comes time for simple fall decorating, I can pull out the dried gourds to use year after year!

There are different kinds of dried gourds and lots of different sizes (which is why I like to have lots of options…haha!)  They look pretty laying in a bowl or basket or used on tablescapes.  I created a DIY centerpiece and used several of my large gourds and dipper gourds like THESE and THESE!

Even though it may seem like they are costing you more than pumpkins (although the real ones have gone up in price, it seems), I think dried gourds are a great investment.  You can get that natural, organic look year after year and only pay for them once!

For simple fall mantel decorating, I like to use some of the medium and small gourds to set on or beside a stack of vintage books, line them up as a focal point, or tuck into an arrangement like I did with my French lavabo one year for fall!

What can I do with old decorative gourds?

Put them in a bowl, line them up on a mantel, tuck them in and around fall garland, add them to individual place settings on a tablescape…and that’s just the beginning!

No matter how you style dried gourds on your fall mantel, it will be beautiful!  That’s what I love about using them; you can style them elaborately or simply and they are still so beautiful.

Dried gourds are a perfect way to get a soft, organic look for your fall decor.

I also love that dried gourds are a little more unique in fall decorating.  While pumpkins are easy to find and fun to decorate with, you can get a little more of a different, unique fall style with dried gourds.  Definitely, though, try mixing your pumpkins and gourds too!  It’s just all so fun!

#3 for a Vintage Fall Mantel: try adding some brass quail on your mantel.

Why?  Let me try to explain!

So I actually did a google search to try and get some kind of scientific reason why I think of quail as a fall bird.  No luck. Haha!

I guess the main reason is because I grew up in Kansas and the quail hunting season always started right before Thanksgiving.  What can I say?!  It was a family tradition!

The more decor-related reason must be due to the soft, neutral colors and warm tones of feathers.

Too much of a stretch?!  (Don’t tell me if I’m wrong!  Haha!)

Just trust me.

Use brass quail to add a beautiful vintage touch to your fall mantle.

The cute, little brass quail will bring a lovely combination of vintage, nature, and metallic element that will blend beautifully with simple fall decor!

They make the perfect “shelf sitters” and I love to set them on or beside a vintage book, nestled with some brass candlesticks, or tucked under a cloche.  A vintage brass quail is a great item for fall mantel decorating because it can be that “unexpected” structural element that really completes a simple mantel vignette!

However, I hunt for quail a little differently than some of my fellow Kansans on Thanksgiving weekend.  Good thing, right?

Where can you buy vintage brass decor?

My favorite places to hunt for them are at antique malls, flea markets, and thrift stores.  While they seem to be a little harder to find and more expensive than they used to be, you can still score a great deal if you’re patient enough!

I rounded up some really beautiful ones for you online too, and you can find them HERE and HERE!  I especially love that cute family of four!

You could style those together or sprinkle them throughout your fall home decor too!

• Fall garlands and stems,
• Vintage books,
• Vintage art,
• Seasonal art,
• Signs,
• Baskets,
• Mirrors…the list could go on and on!

What’s your favorite OR what would you like to try differently this year?

While you’re gathering up ideas for the upcoming season, make sure you hop over next to Pasha at Pasha Is Home for even more fall home decorating inspiration!

Each of the bloggers in this hop are sharing some of their favorites and you are definitely going to find some great ideas to save to your Pinterest Fall Decor board so you can find them when you’re ready to decorate!

1. Minimal Fall Porch Decor by Twelve on Main
2. Simple Fall Decorating Ideas to Get Excited About by Pasha Is Home
3. Fall Table Ideas For Your Dining Room by My 100 Year Old Home
4. Four Simple Things to Refresh Your Home For Fall by Most Lovely Things
5. Paper Wreath DIY by Happy Happy Nester
6. Touches Of Fall by Craftberry Bush
7. Minimalist Fall Decor Ideas by Inspiration For Moms
8. Super Easy and Minimalist Fall Decor Ideas by Modern Glam
9. Create Simple Fall Mantel Decor with 3 Unique Accessories by Robyn’s French Nest
10. Minimalist Fall Decor by My Sweet Savannah
11. Simple Fall Mantel Decor Ideas by The Happy Housie

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)