Mushrooms & Oak Leaves: A Fall Mantel Garland

Explore my autumn mantel decorated with golden oak leaves, bittersweet, glittered fern, velvet mushrooms, and one regal pheasant for a stunning fall mantel garland.

Come trip along the oak leaves,

Gathering glittering fern,

And spring from cap to cap,

Where field meets forest and the pheasants roam into the verge.

Oh…me and my mushroom mantel whimsies! They’re back again this year. I just love these velvet capped fungi so much, I was inspired to incorporate them in this year’s fall mantel garland display again.

Honestly, this year’s garland is my best work! It turned into a lush autumn profusion of colorful oak leaves, bittersweet, and glittering fern that just sings. What does it sing?

I love autumn! I love autumn! I love autumn!

I knew I wanted to create something asymmetrical this year that had the romantic wildness of my 2023 autumn mantel but with bolder color and a tumbling and climbing shape. Here’s how the garland base started:

It is actually four oak leaf garlands 48″ long intertwined with bittersweet garlands. One hangs from the mirror; two drape across the front; and the fourth hangs down the left side. I use hooks screwed into my mantel with fishing line or floral wire to secure the garlands to the mantel.

From there I added in stems of glittery fern, magnolia, and pheasant feathers. The mushrooms and pheasant (similar here) are sitting on top of the mantel shelf.

The final flourish was this lovely brown and white gingham ribbon. I had intended to use several gorgeous colored velvets with this gingham, but after playing with the different combinations it just felt too overdone. The gingham complements the orange and gold oak leaves without stealing the show. Sometimes editing yourself is the best thing you can do for your designs!

Good news for you…I have some lovely autumnal velvet ribbons coming soon to the shop!

I pouf-ed and swirled the ribbon down the garland just letting it naturally follow the shape.

If you would like to create your own gorgeous fall mantel garland with these materials, I have a few oak leaf and bittersweet garlands available in the shop along with the gingham ribbon, magnolia, and fern.

I found the mushrooms at HomeGoods last year, but it looks like there are a few colors left here, and sellers on eBay and Poshmark are offering some too.

Also available in the Curio Shop are these gorgeous floral pillows from the daybed and this chic vintage brass tray!

Thanks for stopping in and happy autumn!