Halloween Mantel Decor on a Budget

Directions

1. Gather affordable decorations from Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart, such as pumpkins, gourds, wooden ghosts, flowers, leaf garlands, and Halloween-themed bouquet fillers.
2. Use leftover paint samples to paint Dollar Tree pumpkins and gourds so they coordinate with your room's color scheme, or let kids paint them with non-toxic finger paints.
3. Instead of spreading items uniformly, arrange clusters at both ends of the mantel to prevent a cluttered appearance.
4. Elevate larger pumpkins by placing them on top of objects like a bowl or a candle to add height variation.
5. Conceal the supporting objects under the larger pumpkins by positioning the painted smaller pumpkins and gourds around them, and mix in different shapes for interest.
6. Set wooden ghosts at each end of the mantel, and use small pumpkins to hide their bases.
7. Take apart the Halloween bouquet fillers and arrange the pieces behind other items to create a creepy background.
8. Incorporate any existing decorations that match the theme, such as fake candles and owl bookends.
9. Cut bat shapes out of black construction paper (or purchase pre-cut ones) and attach them to the wall or mantel to introduce motion and a spooky vibe.
10. Drape bunting along the front edge of the mantel to visually connect the two ends.
11. If you have small children, keep all decorations away from the floor or fireplace base to avoid accidents.