A fireplace mantel is often the focal point of a formal living room or den. According to Houzz.com, a fireplace is one of the top six focal points you can use in your interior decoration. Autumn is a great time to draw attention to your mantel decor: The air is chilly, the leaves are changing, and a crackling fire starts to be especially inviting. With just a few easy-to-swap-out decorative touches, your fireplace can pay homage to both Texas culture and the fall weather.

On Your Mantel, Size Matters

If you have high ceilings and a large mantel, you may want to find one large piece of artwork to hang on the wall right in the center. For a rustic Texas feel, a bronze Texas star or sweeping landscape painting of a Texas field that depicts the changing of the seasons is a great way to fill in a large space without distracting too much from the fireplace itself. If you decide for a large painting or rustic piece of metalwork, Better Homes and Gardens recommends that you highlight the largest piece with neutral found objects like small baskets or an antique jug. This allows you to dress up the ledge of your mantel without distracting from pieces of art or ironwork that you like.

For more asymmetrical tastes, you can overlap pieces of different sizes and textures. Better Homes and Gardens also emphasizes the importance of using pieces that have varied heights and widths to achieve a layered yet chic look. You can achieve this by placing a large rustic piece like a stained pallet or reclaimed wooden window at the back of the mantelshelf and then place smaller frames of artwork in front.

Rustic Texan and Fall Touches for Mantel Decor

You can easily keep a Texas-themed fireplace year-round, and swap out candles and other small trinkets on a seasonal basis.

• Rustic pieces of wood can evoke a Texas theme. To add autumnal touches, consider small mason jars of cotton blooms or earthy-colored candles placed on the far ends of your mantelshelf.
• If you choose a Texas-themed painting or piece of metalwork as a large backdrop, when fall comes, you can arrange fake or real pumpkins and gourds along your fireplace’s tile or the mantel itself.
• Fall colors tend to be earthy, so look for candles, sconces, and trinkets that are auburn, amber, olive green, or brown.
• You may also want to place silk leaves in fall colors along the base of your mantel’s shelf or hang a fall-themed wreath on the wall above your fireplace.

Decorating your mantel does not have to break the bank. Just a few simple additions of mantel decor can help you pay homage to both your state and the seasons. Once you figure out the size and colors of pieces you want, you can shop at your favorite craft or antique store to complete the look in your DFW home.
Image Source: Flickr

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