8 Ways to Decorate Your Fireplace for Fall

During the cooler months, the fireplace becomes the heart of the home. Friends and family gather around, absorbing the generous warmth and enjoying the comforting flicker of flames. From a design perspective, the fireplace—functional or not—is a natural focal point and dictates the feel and focus of the room. Fireplace decor further establishes a design aesthetic, lending color, texture, and visual interest to the space.

With Halloween and Thanksgiving on the horizon, there's even more reason to get creative with festive fall fireplace decor. Go all out with a spooky Halloween theme, or celebrate the season’s harvest with pumpkins, gourds, and vibrant foliage. Whatever floats your ghost, we’ll show you how a bit of creativity can make your fireplace (and your budget) go a long way this fall. Get inspired with our fall fireplace decor ideas to create a cozy gathering spot you'll enjoy all season long.

01 of 08

Pumpkin-Filled Fall Fireplace

Gold orange pumpkins white fireplace — Better Homes & Gardens / Jay Wilde

If you have a non-functioning fireplace, what better way to use the empty space than with a multitude of pumpkins? Like a roaring fire, the vibrant orange tones lend warmth and joy to the room. Gather pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and stack them inside the fireplace hearth, letting them flow out into the room. Update a few pumpkins with a coat of glitter or metallic copper paint to enhance their allure. Or opt for realistic-looking faux pumpkins so you can repeat the look next year.

02 of 08

Decorate with Gourds

assorted pumpkin ghord stacks fireplace — Better Homes & Gardens / Panichgul Studios, Inc

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks for the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Celebrate the occasion by dressing your fireplace in some of the season's most colorful produce. Appreciate the beauty of nature’s offerings with a rich display of gourds and cabbages in vivid orange, green, and purple hues. The organic nature of this fireplace decor lends itself well to a rustic setting.

03 of 08

Fall Fireplace Decor with Leaves

earth toned living room with a fireplace — Better Homes & Gardens / Kim Cornelison

Pay tribute to autumn with a vase of golden branches and some petite pumpkins. Place them amongst other traditional mantel ornaments, such as a mirror, vase, and books, as a subtle addition that will last you year-round. For a cohesive look, spread the autumnal palette around the room with accessories that can easily swap out, such as earthy green and orange pillows or a mustard-yellow throw.

04 of 08

Neutral Fall Fireplace Decor

Living room witch decor above fireplace mantle — Better Homes & Gardens / Jay Wilde

Looking for festive fall decor without sacrificing the sophisticated charm of your neutral farmhouse interior? Opt for white pumpkins over classic orange. Here, they are perched like candles on whitewashed holders as a playful mantel accent. Exercise your creativity by covering large pumpkins in pages from old books, giving them texture and character. Upcycle reclaimed wood into a witch silhouette for a rustic centerpiece with a subtle nod to Halloween. Rest a witch's broom against the fireplace for a whimsical final touch.

05 of 08

Spooky Halloween Fireplace Decorations

fireplace mantel with pumpkins — Better Homes & Gardens / Jay Wilde

Get ready for a Halloween horror movie marathon with a fireplace decked out in orange and black. Orange pumpkins, skulls, and spiders are Halloween decor staples and look wicked against a black fireplace. Place the pumpkins and skulls on piles of old books across the mantel, and drape cobwebs over the display for a haunted look. Finally, scatter spiders across the fireplace; they’re sure to make your guests’ skin crawl.

06 of 08

Fall Wreath Display

home fireplace mantel fall pumpkin acorn decor — Better Homes & Gardens / Jay Wilde

Wreaths aren’t just for doors. Crown your fireplace with a wreath and create a striking focal point. Decorate it with autumn blooms or dried grasses for a rustic look. Wreaths make great year-round decor as you can switch out the trimmings to match the season. Complete your fall decor with classic motifs, like pumpkins on a bed of fall foliage and a cute acorn garland. Don’t forget to keep a cozy orange blanket on hand for snuggling up by the fire.

07 of 08

Gold Fall Mantel Decor

mantel with gold fall decorations — Better Homes & Gardens / Kritsada Panichgul

Welcome the vibrant colors of autumn into your home. Introduce red, orange, brown, and golden hues to create a warm and uplifting display above your fireplace. A trio of plaid vases makes a cozy, cottage-style centerpiece on this fireplace mantel. Use old plaid shirts from a thrift store and some old paint tins or containers, then fill the plaid vases with fall accents, like pumpkins, bittersweet branches, and hydrangeas.

08 of 08

Colorful Fall Fireplace Decor

gourds on mantel — Better Homes & Gardens / Jay Wilde

Add color to your fireplace decor with dip-dyed gourds. Simply dunk them into a bowl of acrylic craft paint and let it drip down the sides for a fun, artistic look. Contrast the gourds’ warm tones with complementary bright blue to create a bold statement or make your fall decor sparkle with a metallic sheen. Whatever you decide, the unexpected pop of color is a sure way to make your mantel stand out from traditional fall fireplace decor.

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