A friend recently challenged another friend and I to style a fall mantel without spending a dime.  We styled at her house, and it was a nice change to work with items she had already.  To get started, we cleared everything off and wiped it down.

Next, we shopped her house, digging items out of her stash and pulling pictures off the walls.  For the first round, we set out a trio of framed items, an old window, a mirror and a black and white cow print.

With our center focal point created, we added a rustic galvanized bucket of sticks for height.  On the other size, for a bit of color, a vase of red poppies.

Lastly, we filled in the empty spaces with candle sticks, a potted succulent, and a metal E.

For kicks, we played around with other arrangements.  Whether you like a more full look:

Or a bit more sparse, there’s no right or wrong so long as you like it.

Ultimately, we landed on this arrangement.  It has it all, height, softness, wood, touches of black and greenery.  A few personalized items round out the arrangement, creating a neutral fall arrangement.

If you’re feeling stagnant with the items in your home, ask a group of friends to corral items they’re tiring of and do a swap.  It’s a fun and free way to shake things up.