28 Absolutely Stunning Halloween and Fall Mantel Decor Ideas

Get stacking. Perch petite pumpkins on top of wooden spools and bobbins for a 60-second mantel upgrade.

An eerie flicker is a must for any Halloween mantel. Paint wine bottles with matte-black spray paint. Once dry, insert an orange taper candle in each. (Remember to keep candles away from anything flammable, and never burn unattended.) The spider is crafted with balloons, wire, and black faux fur—so clever!

For this natural Arkansas fieldstone fireplace, symmetry rules. A mounted deer head acts as striking focal point the whole room seems to build on. Magnolia leaves brought in from the yard tuck into clear vases on either side; even the furniture arrangement builds off the prized taxidermy. Romantic lighting from the mounted sconces and a double-tiered chandelier casts a warm glow over the entire living space.

This simple idea will take you all the way through winter with a few tweaks. Stack up some heirloom pumpkins along with candlesticks, books, and other treasures. The vintage show shoes make a compelling and seasonally appropriate focal point.

To get this spooky look, adorn old portraits and silhouettes with witch hats, pitchforks and scythes, fangs, and devil horns. Detailed cutouts of candelabras and sticks, "lit" with gold flames, give this mantel a faux glow. Add paper bats attached to swoops of black sewing trimming with black upholstery tacks. Finally, line the opening of your fireplace with paper or painted wood, and attach a roaring red paper glow. Cut snake andirons from black foam core and glue to painted craft blocks.

This rustic vignette is pure country. Collected antlers, branches of cotton blooms, and landscape artwork in fall hues reflect a strong sense of place. The fireplace facade is made of brick pavers from an old family home.

Wreaths aren't just for doors. We love the idea of hanging a wreath, like this black crow grapevine version, above a mantel as a spooky holiday focal point. Layer one over a mirror, or if space allows, hang a trio for maximum impact.

Copper buckets filled with tall wheat stalks flank a framed painting and bring height to this simple mantel arrangement. Pinecone-filled bowls on the ottoman add another natural touch to the den.

If you have a non-functioning fireplace, fill it with the symbol of the season for a fast, easy, and totally charming fall look. Include a simple garland, like this one made from tassels in autumn colors, and a few mini pumpkins on the mantel. This styling will last all season long, and if you want to Halloween it up in October, a spider and web on a nearby wall makes for a cute addition.

See more at Studio DIY.

As long as you don't have arachnophobia, you're going to love this mantel themed around eight-legged creepy-crawlies. There's a lot here to enjoy, including the large web, the line of spiders marching up the side of the fireplace and the skeleton hanging out beside it all, who looks just as amused as we are.

See more at Design Improvised.

Think beyond the usual, rich fall palette with this happy rainbow-inspired look. If you're worried about it being too bold, stick with a family of hues, like all pastels or a natural palette that includes cream, green, and apricot.

See more at A Kailo Chic Life.

A tree made of backyard sticks and raffia adds some height to this decidedly country mantel. Pumpkins, dried flowers, barnwood, and a letter display that spells "fall" round out the look.

See more at Thistlewood Farms.

This blogger paired warm wood with bold black-and-white pieces and small pops of color for a more sophisticated and happy Halloween mantel display.

See more at Make and Do Studios.

As the seasons change, so can this chalkboard framed above this pretty, natural wood mantel. For fall, write your favorite autumn quote, then fill in with pumpkins, wheat, and candles.

See more at Nest of Posies.

There's a lot going on around this joyous mantel, which is literally bursting with seasonal fun. We especially love the clever spiderweb (with spiders) spun over the mirror and bats taking flight around the space. Pumpkin topiaries that can stay up through Thanksgiving flank the fire box.

See more at Where the Smiles Have Been.

To simplify your Halloween decorating, pick a palette and stick to it. Here, this black and white mantel is both festive and elegant.

See more at The Tomkat Studio.

Skip the classic Halloween orange and go for a spooky pop of neon green instead.

See more at Positively Splendid.

Blogger Liz Marie Galvan proves that a layered display in neutral tones can be just as festive as a colorful one for the fall season. To recreate this look for your own home, let a DIY rustic sign sit front and center of your display.

See more at Liz Marie Blog.

Give your mantel the purr-fect makeover with this black cat garland made from black card stock and string lights. Use a set of spare Christmas lights for the glowing cat eyes, as shown.

To make this at home, start by downloading our cat face template. Using a white pencil, trace the template onto black card stock and cut out desired number of faces.

Give it some texture by fringing the sides of the cat's face and the top of its head with scissors. Then cut three pieces of black waxed twine, about 4" long for each cat and tie them together in the center of the twine, and glue to the cat's face as whiskers.

Finish this craft by using a standard single-hole punch to create holes for eyes toward the center of each cat's face. Hang string lights and position cat faces on 2 lightbulbs, one in each eye hole.

Dried gourds and squash form a still life on this rustic mantel. Additional 'Tiny Bottle' gourds hang from a garland of farm stand chestnuts.