As we get ready for the fall, we start to decorate not just the exterior of the house with pumpkins and baskets, but also the interior. When I start decorating the inside of my living room, I tend to start with my fireplace mantle first as this is the center point of my home.
Here are 5 steps to take to add that gorgeous autumn decor to your mantle.
1. Start with a clean slate
Anytime I start a new decorating project at home, I like to start with a clean slate. Take away all the old decorations from the summer. Then, I look at my staple items that I tend to use all the time; these can be books, baskets, vases, artwork, or mirrors. Place them around the floor, center point, or mantle top.
2. The rule of Triangles
When decorating the mantle, start with a focal point and work in a triangle pattern. It can be the center for a symmetrical shape or to the side for an asymmetrical modern look. In our example, we are using the artwork as the top of the triangle, the vase on the left, and the lantern to the right.
Next, add in your flowers for the season. This is where you can pull in the oranges, yellows, and greens into the room for that warm, Autumn feel.
3. The Rule of Small, Medium, Large
Continue building smaller triangles on each side of the mantle with decor. I like to start from the top and work my way down using my large accessories first. I do this to help ground the design.
On the right, we start with the lantern as our large item. Then we added a small wooden sign as our medium piece. This is a great spot to use your own family photos instead if you want to add a personal touch. Anytime I can reuse decorations in different ways, I will.
Don't forget the floor. Add in some festive pillows for color and comfort.
4. Use ODD #'s
When decorating with accessories, the rule of thumb is to use odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7). In our example, we are using 3 as our number for each side and a total number of 7 above the mantle, including the artwork. Start adding in the most common Fall decor item...pumpkins.
There are so many different styles of pumpkins for you to find your favorite one for that festive flare.
Here, we add the smaller pumpkin to the right to finish off one triangle. We then put the medium sized pumpkin next to the vase for balance.
5. Dress it up!
Time to add your finishing touches. Use variety of heights to help keep your eye moving and your mind focusing on all the tiny little details. This adds balance and proportion to the decor. Lastly, bring some texture in with a cozy blanket to finish off the 3rd triangle on the floor.
When you are done, stand back and admire your work. If you want a more personalized holiday mantle, book our holiday package today.
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