Beyond the mantel: 10 Other places to decorate for fall

Believe it or not, in just a few months the stockings will be hung and the house will be decorated with care. The mantel is a common decor focal point during the holiday season, but what about the rest of the year? And what do you do if you don’t have a mantel? We’ve rounded up several other spaces that you can easily update as the seasons change.

The mantel is the go-to space for seasonal decor. There are some major perks to the mantel: it’s small enough to make for quick work, you don’t need to spend a ton of money to make it look fabulous, and it’s typically front and center in your home. But there are several other spaces that are just waiting to be decorated. Think outside the box this fall and deck out these additional spaces in your home. Shelley, the blogger behind the popular design blog House of Smiths, had a few quick tips to share regardless of what space you choose.

Take inventory

Figure out what you have that you can work with before buying anything new. “When we redecorate our shelves for each season, we first take inventory of what we already have that we can utilize, and then if we need to make or buy something else to complete our look, we move forward with that,” she said.

Have fun with it

Don’t take the process too seriously. Let the simple things, like the color of changing leaves, inspire you. “There’s never really any set plan or budget, to be honest. Sometimes we’re inspired by a simple color palette, and other times we find a piece of decor we want to work around,” she said.

Switch things up

You don’t have to wait until an actual holiday to switch up your look. When you are decorating small spaces, you can freshen up the space anytime you feel inspired. “You don’t ever have to settle on just one look! You can try something one month, and then switch it out or even just change things around the next,” she said.

Shelley’s small space of choice is the shelving in her kitchen. “Because we don’t have a fireplace in our home with a mantel to decorate for different holiday seasons or even just everyday, we decided we’d utilize a big, open, empty wall in our kitchen, equipped with DIY chunky open shelving instead! We have an open floor plan in our home, so these shelves can been seen from almost anywhere in the house, much like a mantel would be,” Shelley said.

Julia of Chris Loves Julia keeps things festive and simple by adding subtle fall decor to a sideboard in her living room. With a perfectly placed pumpkin here and there, you are ready for fall!

Becca from Adventures in Decorating is the kind of lady who makes you feel like you need to try a little harder! Her beautifully designed home is decked out from top to bottom for the season change. If you aren’t quite as ambitious, take her lead and just update your art. Fall foliage placed over mirrors is a classy and easy way to add a touch of autumn to your space.

A piano serves as the perfect setting for seasonal decor. This spooky design is from Carina Gardner, and she even has a tutorial for the adorable banner on her blog.

Allison of House of Hepworths wanted to update her coffee table decor for fall. Using items she already had and about 10 minutes of her time, she had a cute new look!

A fancy tablescape is fun for dinner parties or family gatherings, but you can also set one up to enjoy throughout the season. If you have a formal dining room that doesn’t get used often, this may be a great option. If not, just keep the decor simple. We love this design from Becca from Adventures in Decorating.

Do you have a small table in your entryway, behind your couch or in your hallway? In just a matter of minutes, you can give it a festive fall makeover. Get inspired by this look from Pottery Barn.

It’s not uncommon to hang a fall wreath on your door, but don’t stop there! Get a little creative and create a warm autumn welcome for any visitors. Kim from Sand and Sisal is giving us porch envy. She added a few pots of mums, pumpkin topiaries and a creative take on a traditional round wreath to give her front entry a fall makeover.

Fall decor doesn’t have to stop at the front door. If you have a garden bed in your front yard, an empty wall or just a small area that you can tuck in some decor, go for it. We are loving this look from Pottery Barn, complete with hay bales and a scarecrow.

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so why not get it into the spirit of fall? Add a basket of pumpkins or gourds to your island, above your cabinets or even just on your countertops. Look for end-of-season clearance deals on festive canisters, dish towels and other decor that is also functional in the kitchen. Among all the other fall decor in her home, Becca from Adventures in Decorating even included the top of her kitchen cabinets.

More fall decorating tips

Hot fall decor for your home
Fall designs trends to try for a seasonal refresh
SheKnows spacelifts: The bright side of fall

Photos courtesy of each blogger or store mentioned