The weather is changing and the mantel is all decorated for fall! I’m so happy to be participating in this series of Fall into Autumn posts that 5 of us will be bringing to you during the month of September. Today we’re showing you how we’ve decorated our mantels, and we hope you get plenty of ideas for your own fall decorating, too!
I love all the seasonal changes that Mother Nature brings us. I’ve taken my cue from her as I put together my fall mantel. I’m calling it my “burnished” fall mantel because that’s the word that comes to me when I think about all the brilliant colors of fall. It is as though Mother Nature is burnishing the landscape for our enjoyment.
What exactly does the word burnish mean? It means to make lustrous or shiny especially by rubbing. Think of burnished gold. So I decided to do a little burnishing of some traditional elements of fall such as pumpkins, gourds, acorns, and seed pods to use in my mantel display.
I actually got the idea of using these colors when I saw the colors in the hydrangeas that I was drying. Much like Mother Nature’s seasonal transition, I decided to use these more muted and understated tones to ease our home into autumn.
The grapevine wreath is composed of soft tones, and I added some of my plaster leaves that I made last year. The directions on how to make them are in the post How to Make Plaster Leaves. And of course, I had to add one of those inexpensive plastic gourds that I burnished!
Painted apple baskets loaded with pumpkins and gourds are at the base of the fireplace. If you look closely, you can see a little straw from our garden tucked into the baskets!
Here’s a closer view. All of the pumpkins except for the burlap one are inexpensive, plastic pumpkins that I’ve painted or burnished.
If you’d like to see how I burnished them, click here to read my post How to Burnish Cheap Plastic Pumpkins and Gourds.
If you notice, I kept up the burlap topiary that I used in my summer oyster mantel. Plopping in a few miniature pumpkins turned it into a fall topiary. You can find directions on how to make one here: How to Make a Burlap Topiary.
The large burlap bows were used in last year’s Christmas mantel, and I added them here because I thought they went well with all the other tawny, neutral colors in this display.
All the burnished colors that I’ve used are my way of inviting fall inside, and I hope you gotten a little inspiration to begin your autumn decorating, too.
You can find more Fall into Autumn Mantel displays by visiting these other fabulous blogs.
1. Debbie-Doo’s 2. On Sutton Place 3. A Cultivated Nest 4. Creative Cain Cabin 5. That’s me!
I’m joining:
Wow Us Wednesday@Savvy Southern Style
Homework Wednesday@Everyday Home
It’s Fall Y’all Mantel Party@Thrifty Decor Chick
Nancy says
September 13, 2016 at 8:22 pmBeautiful indeed!
Debbie says
September 30, 2013 at 7:25 pmLoveth the burnish and burlap and bringing gleam to all! Yea Fall!
Erin says
September 27, 2013 at 6:47 amLove the baskets! Did you use spray paint, if so what finish (flat or satin)?
Thank you for sharing!
Erin
Debbie says
September 24, 2013 at 7:05 pmIts so hard for me to decorate around my TV, but you did a great job. Love the burlap. Blessings, Debbie
Sandy says
September 13, 2013 at 9:55 pmJane, I love the burnished look in your home! I also love white pumpkins. This is my third stop. Each one of you in the series has a completely unique interpretation of a fall mantel. I love it! I did my decor a lot different this year too. Who says pumpkins need to be orange? The burnished look is very classy.
Edie says
September 13, 2013 at 4:51 pmLove this idea. I am very interested in the fireplace screen. Would you please provide some details since I’m looking for one before fire season begins.
Becca says
September 12, 2013 at 8:05 amYour “burnished” Fall mantel, inspired by your beautiful hydrangeas, is gorgeous, Jane! So warm and inviting, your mantel excudes Fall! I love your plaster leaves, too! Happy Fall!
Mary says
September 12, 2013 at 6:04 amLove the softer side of autumn Jane and your mantle! The texture and colors of your hydrangeas go beautifully with your burnished pumpkins! I hope your crop of white pumpkins will be ready to harvest soon 🙂
Sharon says
September 12, 2013 at 12:04 amYour mantel is beautiful, Jane. I love the burnished affect. It looks very natural and elegant…just my style.
Jean Windham says
September 11, 2013 at 4:32 pmJane, this is one of my favorite projects you have completed so far. The burnished look is so pretty and I love hydrangeas anyway so what a great idea to bring out the colors and use them all together for fall. I also enjoyed visiting the other sites to look at their fall mantels. Thanks to all of you for sharing. Jean
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books says
September 11, 2013 at 1:52 pmLove your mantel ! So pretty! =)
Vee says
September 11, 2013 at 9:27 amBeautiful! So elegant!
laurie says
September 10, 2013 at 10:15 pmJane, this looks beautiful! Your burnishing is done to perfection, and I LOVE those giant burlap bows with streamers hanging down. laurie
Linsey @ Farmhouse Porch says
September 10, 2013 at 10:05 pmMetallics and brass are big this year for the holidays I’ve heard…you’re a step ahead of the game! Very pretty!
I would love for you to link the up at The Scoop party tonight!
♥Linsey
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
Gina says
September 10, 2013 at 7:40 pmJane, it’s beautiful! I love the burnished colors & I love the bows. The baskets on the sides of the hearth are so pretty.
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
September 10, 2013 at 6:34 pmJane, I love your choice of colors…the mantel and hearth area is such a soothing and warm feeling of Fall…and I am anxious to see your pumpkin crop!!! … Beautiful Jane!
Bonbongirl says
September 10, 2013 at 6:13 pmJane-
I love your mantelscape and the Fall into Autumn idea! Can’t wait to see what else is coming our way 🙂
Cynthia says
September 10, 2013 at 1:40 pmJane I am loving this look with a capital “L”. It is soft yet sings of fall! What inspiration!!!
Cynthia
Melanie says
September 10, 2013 at 1:17 pmLove it! Everything is perfect, what a lovely way to bring fall inside!
Susan ~ Designs of Home says
September 10, 2013 at 1:08 pmPretty mantle. It is fun to see how you all decorate for fall in different ways. I just love the way you used the ‘black box” for the caption in the first photo! I will be pinning that one, for sure!
judianni says
September 10, 2013 at 12:09 pmI love your use of muted fall colors – but I am oh, so not ready for fall!!!We are redoing an old bay front home and the weather is cooling down enough to really enjoy being outside. I am surely going to use some of your wonderfully beautiful ideas next month, but the dried hydrangeas are coming to my mantle IMMEDIATELY!! I never would have thought to use them for fall. Thank you so much for your inspiration!! Love your site!!
Ann says
September 10, 2013 at 10:10 amOh Jane you have out done yourself! This is amazing. I love that you included touches from your garden. I have a TV to work around too. It’s just a fact of life. I think you did a great job working around yours. The wreath is perfectly placed!
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
September 10, 2013 at 9:59 amSo elegant! I love the muted colors, such a refreshing start to fall. Thanks so much for sharing your burnishing technique, I have a whole box of those cheapie pumpkins. Somewhere 🙂 Have a great week!
xo, Andrea
Carol says
September 10, 2013 at 9:33 amIt all looks beautiful.
I am not ready for fall yet – summer just arrived on our part of the coast. I am getting some great ideas from your little blog hop so I will be ready when I make my fall change on October 1.
Thanks for the inspiration.
priscilla says
September 10, 2013 at 7:39 amLove your mantel ! Pretty colors !
Betty says
September 10, 2013 at 6:51 amI totally agree Jane, such a beautiful mantel. Oh how I wished I had a mantel to decorate.
Tina says
September 10, 2013 at 5:46 amJane, I just love your mantel. It’s so warm and inviting.
Shelia says
September 9, 2013 at 11:13 pmHi Jane! Oh, your mantel is just so beautiful. I love everything.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Kathy says
September 9, 2013 at 10:43 pmBeautiful mantel and hearth! Love the muted colors!
Martina says
September 9, 2013 at 10:25 pmLove it Jane!!
Gee says
September 9, 2013 at 9:29 pmLuving the burnished colours Jane.
debbiedoos says
September 9, 2013 at 9:11 pmLoving your mantel Jane…love the burlap bows too!
Angela says
September 9, 2013 at 9:04 pmI love your burnish look Jane!!! Right up my alley!!! I’m off to see how you burnish cheap pumpkins as I see a lot of burnishing in my future!! Gorgeous!~~Angela
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says
September 9, 2013 at 9:04 pmIt’s burnished to perfection! Love the bling – and those dried hydrangeas!
Kelly
Manuela@ A Cultivated Nest says
September 9, 2013 at 8:29 pmLove your burnished fall mantel! That wreath is just adorable and so are those buckets with the cute bows!
Kim says
September 9, 2013 at 8:29 pmThat is pretty, Jane.