Last Updated on August 3, 2025 by lindseymahoney
Ready to transform your living room for spooky season? This easy DIY Halloween mantel decor project brings instant haunted vibes to your fireplace using thrifted items, old books, potion bottles, and creepy black gauze. Whether you’re styling for a party or just love seasonal decorating, these Halloween mantel ideas are budget-friendly and packed with charm. Let’s create a spooky setup your guests (and kiddos) will love.
With a few clever props, you can craft a spooky mantel that will leave your guests spellbound. Here’s a full tutorial to recreate our Halloween fireplace mantel decor.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- DIY Halloween Mantel Decor | Easy & Spooky Fireplace Ideas
- Affordable Mantel Decor Materials to Use for the Halloween Display
- Step-by-Step DIY Halloween Fireplace Mantel Tutorial
- More Spooky DIY Halloween Mantel Decor Ideas
- Halloween Mantel | REVEAL
- More DIY Content You Will Love
DIY Halloween Mantel Decor | Easy & Spooky Fireplace Ideas
[Affiliate links are included in this post where I receive a small commission when you purchase a linked item at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Building Bluebird!]
Whatever your mantel size, you can tweak this design to make it work for your home.
Affordable Mantel Decor Materials to Use for the Halloween Display
- Black gauze
- Witch artwork
- Old books – owned
- Skulls
- Apothecary bottles – thrifted
- Plastic bats
- Battery operated candlesticks
- Candle holders
Step-by-Step DIY Halloween Fireplace Mantel Tutorial
1 | Drape Black Gauze for a Ghostly Backdrop
Start by draping black gauze material across the top of the mantel. Let it hang loosely for a more eerie, cobwebbed effect. You can let some parts spill over the edges to create a tattered look. This is the perfect foundation for your haunted display.
2 | Add Witch Artwork as a Focal Point
Center your mantel display around framed artwork. Large artwork is great for making a statement and this creepy witch was really easy to make!
The secret to affordable artwork is by using free printables. I purchased this image for less than $5 on Etsy. To give the printed photo a realistic look, I applied Mod Podge to the image so it looks like an old painting. These large frames can be purchased for a steal at antique stores and estate sales.
This can be a vintage witch portrait or something you create yourself! The artwork will act as the anchor for the display, drawing attention to the center of the mantel.
*Check out the complete tutorial to create this witchy art yourself!
3 | Layer Thrifted Books and Apothecary Bottles
Stack old books in uneven piles along the mantel, adding a charming yet mysterious element. Their worn pages and faded covers add to the antique feel. You can find lots of secondhand books at the local thrift store or antique shops. I used books with black and orange hardcovers.
Add old bottles between the books—these can look like vintage apothecary bottles, either clear or colored, to enhance the spooky look. I found these at an antique store and keep my eye out for any others that are less than $5/piece.
4 | Add Fake Skulls for a Chilling Touch
Scatter a few fake skulls across the mantel. I have had these skulls for a few years, but they can be found at most stores that sell Halloween decor.
Place one on top of a stack of books, another nestled between bottles, and perhaps one hanging slightly off the edge for dramatic flair. The skulls bring the essential creepy factor without going overboard.
5 | Candlesticks for an Eerie Glow
Incorporate some candlesticks for a haunting glow. Choose dark or neutral candleholders, and use either black candlesticks or white candles for maximum effect. I have also used orange taper candles in the past for an orange and black color combination.
You can light them during Halloween night to create flickering shadows or use battery-operated candles for a worry-free option.
I own battery operated candlesticks and they were the perfect option for our family room with a bunch of rambunctious kids.
6 | Add Plastic Bats for Drama
Lastly, add some fake bats flying up the wall above the mantel. The plastic bats helped create height variations on the vintage Halloween mantel. The witch artwork was much taller than the candlesticks, books and bottles, and the flying bats help balance the mantel decor.
You can find pre-made bat decals or cut your own from black paper. Stick them on the wall in varying sizes to give the illusion of bats swooping up and away from the mantel, adding movement to your display.
More Spooky DIY Halloween Mantel Decor Ideas
Here are a few additional items to consider incorporating into your mantel design this spooky season:
- Spider webs and creepy spiders – use as the base layer on your mantel or drape the webs on the picture frame and other objects
- Bare twigs and branches – Placing a few scraggly twigs in a container is a great way to add height to your mantel design
- Black Crows – perch a few of these spooky birds on bare branches or apothecary bottles
- Halloween garlands – to use for the base layer
- Witch hats – consider hanging these hats over the mantel from the ceiling
- Mini pumpkins – Add a pop of color by peppering in a few orange pumpkins on the mantel
Halloween Mantel | REVEAL
At the base of the fireplace, I placed a basket of cozy blankets and a flickering candle in a lantern.
In the evening, the kids love to watch the faux candles flicker above the fireplace while watching a Halloween movie together.
The key to a spooky Halloween mantel is layering textures and objects to create depth and intrigue. This Halloween fireplace styling DIY project can transform your mantel into a spooky scene, perfect for Halloween festivities!
I hope these spooky mantel decor ideas have inspired you to create a version of this in your own home.
Happy Halloween!
More DIY Content You Will Love
- DIY a Dollar Tree Wreath for the Fall Season
- 15+ Holiday Decorations to Find at Thrift Stores this Christmas season
- Red and Gold Christmas Decor for the Holiday Season
- Squiggly DIY Ghost Candle | Easy Halloween Decor
- Must-Try Spooky Halloween Decor with Easy Photo Filter DIY
- Create a Beautiful Christmas Garland Mantel | Affordable DIY