Welcome to Fall into Autumn! I’m here today with Fall Mantel ideas and inspiration for decorating around a very large TV. I don’t always decorate my family room for the seasons…except Christmas. It’s really my husband’s room and honestly, it’s ALL about the TV.
Several years ago we installed this gigantic television over our mantel. For us, it was the right choice. We were able to combine two focal points, the fireplace and TV, into one. This resulted into a better seating arrangement, which in turn opened up the room. Hanging the TV over the mantel was definitely a process but one that was totally worth it.
I started with fresh sunflowers in urns and paired them with leaf plates that I use every year. These little plates move around my house and land in a different place every Fall. This is the first time I have used them in the family room and I think they work with the urns and the white brick.
The brick wasn’t always white. You can read about our fireplace makeover if you are thinking of painting your fireplace. If you love your natural brick fireplace, by all means leave it alone. Ours was tired, in bad shape and sorely needed a face-lift. Of all the improvements we have made in our home since moving in, the fireplace and refinished staircase rank right up there as the top two.
I am usually a stickler for decorating with fresh or preserved natural elements. The sunflowers are fresh but I confess that all the pumpkins are fake, faux, not real. I knew if I bought real pumpkins this early they would turn to mold before October even arrived…so I did the practical thing and used what I had.
The gourds are real and the pine balls are preserved. Combining natural elements with artificial ones is a trick I use for a long-lasting arrangement. When my bittersweet is ready to cut, which should be very soon, I’ll add that to the basket.
Over the next few weeks, as I decorate my home for Fall, I’m going to try and repurpose things I already have. I also hope to show you how to take your fall decor and make it work for Christmas. Small color changes, reversible items and natural elements from my yard will make the transition from Autumn to Christmas easy and inexpensive.
Sources: (some are aff. links)
Pottery Barn Savannah Underbed Large Basket
Orange Funkin
White Funkin
How to make your own preserved gourd
Thank you for stopping by. I hope this finds you busy, but not too busy. Make sure and take the time to watch the leaves turn.
Just click the images to visit my favorite Fall categories and get inspired!
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life says
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 2:17 pmLove the basket of pumpkins and gourds! I haven’t bought any fresh ones yet. One year I bought them early and placed them on the mantle where they grew mold on the bottom and we had to refinish the mantle! Whoops, live and learn. I’m visiting from the Thrifty Decor Chick link party.
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life
Pamela says
Friday, September 20, 2013 at 10:55 pmLove the sunflowers Ann! It all looks lovely.
Sandy says
Friday, September 13, 2013 at 10:07 pmAnn, I’m loving this series! You are my 4th stop! Love the white fireplace and boy do I understand decorating around the tv! It’s true that now you do have 2 focal points. I love the simplicity of your mantel. Your pumpkins sure look real to me!
Shirley@housepitality designs says
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 11:29 pmJust beautiful Ann.I love the gorgeous colors with the background of that beautiful white brick fireplace…..I have really enjoyed this “party”….
Beverly says
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10:20 amIt looks great, Ann. I love the yellow color on your mantel. So bright and fresh, and yellow is my favorite color.
I have to use artificial pumpkins, too. Our humidity would wreak havoc on real pumpkins, and they definitely wouldn’t make it through the season.
Vee says
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 9:01 amThe brick looks wonderful! Those pops of color work very nicely. TV? What tv?
Leigh Powell Hines @Hinessightblog says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:58 pmLovely. It’s hard to believe that it’s fall. Great job.
Glenda Childers says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 8:05 pmI love your basket of fall goodness. I really wanted to put up my fall decorations today, but it is nearly 100 in Chicago. I just couldn’t do it. :)
Fondly,
Glenda
Donnamae says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 7:58 pmYour mantle is lovely! I’m going to check out your post on the fireplace makeover…I’m considering painting ours, but I’m a little nervous. We’ve been living with ok brick for 30 years…I think I’m ready for something fresh! ;)
Janice says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 7:48 pmYou do such a nice job of decorating without overdoing. I love autumn decorations!
Cynthia says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 5:26 pmHi Ann, I love the look of the fireplace. Everything is perfect in that basket. I really like the basket!
Cynthia
Becca says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 1:20 pmSo beautiful, Ann! I love how you’ve incorporated sunflowers into your Fall decor … they pop against your white fireplace! And, I love that you mix faux with real to make gorgeous displays! You know I can’t wait to see more of your Fall decor!
patty says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 12:03 pmThank you for reminding me to get out my leaf plates that I love that are hidden in a cabinet. Love the way you decorated your TV space.
Penny @ The Comforts of Home says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 10:34 amLove the sunflowers and the leaf plates! Such a refreshing fall mantel!
Susan ~ Designs of Home says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 10:31 amAnn,
Beautifully elegant, as usual ! The faux pumpkins are a great idea. And, of course, I like the Sunflowers on the mantle ! :-)
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 10:03 amThis is lovely! I think I have those same plates, they’re such a pretty color for fall. This is simple elegance at its best!
Mary Alice Patterson says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:24 amThe fall colors POP against your white brick mantel. So Pretty!!
Mary Alice
Gee says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 9:12 amPretty!! I too have combined the TV and fireplace… makes it a challenge to decorate at times. Luv the simplicity of yours.
priscilla says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 7:46 amVery pretty ! Love the sunflowers !
Sandy says
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 1:35 amI really like the continuous pops of yellow you incorporate throughout the rooms in your house. The PB Savannah basket has been a favorite , and I would love to grow bittersweet. Hopefully I will find a plant next spring.
Nana Diana says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 11:46 pmAnn-It looks so great. You did a great job on the mantle. We are always working around a TV in our family room, too. It is the proverbial elephant in the room xo Diana
Shelia says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 11:09 pmHi Ann! Oh, your mantel looks wonderful and you’ve decorated around the big screen tv perfectly. The sunflowers are so pretty.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Kathy says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 10:45 pmYour mantel and hearth look lovely! Love the leaf plates, and the faux gourds and pumpkins look very realistic!
Martina says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 10:23 pmAnn your fireplace looks so pretty!
Jane says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 10:09 pmI just love everything you’ve done, Ann. The sunflower and plates, the baskets…very pretty! I’ll have to remember your tip of mixing faux with real. Now, how did you find such realistic looking pumpkins and what are pineballs? Do you make them? They are so pretty! :)
XO,
Jane
Amy says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 10:05 pmIt’s so classy, Ann! I would never have known the pumpkins weren’t real. I love them piled in a basket. You have inspired me!
Shenita says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:12 pmAnn, your fall mantel looks wonderful! I love your sunflowers and pumpkins! Everything looks so vibrant and festive. I’m ready for fall!
debbiedoos says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:02 pmLOVE your mantel Ann, so simple yet such a statement for the season!
Angela says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:55 pmVery pretty Ann! Love the pops of color against the white fireplace! I can’t decorate with real pumpkins either….they’d be molded and gone in a couple weeks with our hot weather so faux it is! Beautiful mantel!~~Angela
Elizabeth@ Blue Clear Sky says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:41 pmVery pretty, Ann! I especially like the pop of yellow against the white brick in the plate, sunflowers and vase.
Manuela@ A Cultivated Nest says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:34 pmVery pretty Ann! Love the sunlfowers in the urn – just stunning!
Cindy says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:07 pmYour Fall decorating is beautiful, i love the sunflowers and the pumpkins and gourd basket. Really pretty! And you’ve done a nice job of decorating around a large black box, thankfully I don’t have one of those so i never have to get too creative!
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:06 pmAnn, your fireplace looks wonderful! I have some of those leaf plates but I’ve never thought to use them on the mantel. That’s a great idea that I’ll have to remember for next year!