A Year-round Frame for a Seasonal Mantel

I love seasonal decorations! Even in high school I was the odd chick that made silly seasonal hats for her bobble-head bulldog on the dash of her car. I pray my taste has matured a bit since then but I am still learning what my style is exactly. I love bright colors. I love bold. I am not really a sleek modern girl. I’m not a flowered-y country girl. Some would say I’m a “traditional” girl but I think my love of bright colors and a few trendy things doesn’t land me in that category either.

Here is a picture of what my mantel looked like this spring and summer; minus the Easter or Valentines day items I added during those months. See, simple. And lots of PICTURES!

With all that being said, I have found fun Spring and Summer items and even bright funky Christmas decor I love. Now Fall…Fall is hard. For years I’ve settled with the ‘traditional’ pumpkins, corn, wood, dead flowers, and country scarecrows just because I haven’t found something that’s me. This year I’m trying something a little different. COLOR! Something uncommon. A little something to add to the red, orange, yellow, and browns of fall.

Typically my “year-round” color is red. I think a shade like red can go with any decor. I also love the idea of something red in every room. BUT since I recently created a big wall-scape set of red frames I ask my husband what another year-round color he would love to see. He chose my newest favorite color- bright blue. Some people call it teal, some call it turquoise. It doesn’t really have a green tint and it’s a bit darker/brighter than what I envision when I hear turquoise.

Do you like the colors? I wasn’t sure about the black but I think it grounds the mantel decorations and allows me to use lots of color around it. I am slightly obsessed with pictures {but you knew that} and love funky frames! So when looking for my year-round frame, of course I snagged up these Poppy Seed layering frames! There is another fun post on the Poppy Seed Projects’ blog where I guest posted {eek!} about “A Photo Fanatics’ Home” and next week I will have the tutorial on my blog as well as.

Here is the rest of the mantel:

I added just simple, fake, miniature pumpkins, twine balls, and a few frames that I changed out the pictures in using last year’s fall pictures of my family. Then there’s the ivy tree I almost always have around. And a few more punches of turquoise and purple and a vase with corn and fake berries. The pennant flags are one of my favorite additions. It’s just made from scrapbook patterned paper cut into 6″ triangles and strung on some twine. ALL things I had at home already: Score!

In what way can you switch it up this fall? I challenge you to find your personal taste! Share it here with us!