My Fall Mantel - How I hide the wires.

Adding lighting to your fireplace mantel makes your decor feel warm, inviting, and extra cozy for fall. The challenge? Extension cords and lamp wires that ruin the look. The good news is that you can easily hide electrical cords while decorating - no drilling or built-in wiring needed. Here’s how I add soft lighting to my fall mantel while keeping all the cables out of sight.

How to add lighting to a fall fireplace mantel.

I love using small lamps on my mantel to create that soft evening glow. People always assume the lamps are wired into the wall, but nope — they’re normal plug-in lamps! I discovered that with a little strategy, I can change the lighting seasonally and never see a wire.

If you’re looking for more fall decorating inspiration, you may also enjoy this Fall Pumpkin Vase, Neutral Fall Decor, or Simple Fall Decor on my Built-Ins.

Hiding wires on a mantel

As for the lamp wires, I hide the wires well : )!  Spend a minute with me, and I'll show you how.

There are lots of wires on the mantel.  They are from the two lamps, and I need an extension cord to reach the furthest lamp.

Here’s the truth: behind the pretty decor, there are cords everywhere — two lamp cords and one extension cord to reach the outlet. The key is hiding the bulk of the wires behind a taller anchor piece and concealing the rest with seasonal decor.

I always start by placing a large mirror or framed art in the center of the mantel. It gives height and instantly blocks most of the cords from view.

A green moss garland (or even faux greenery) is another great trick. It softens the look, adds texture, and completely disguises any remaining wires running along the mantel shelf.

Once I've placed the mirror in the center, it's not nearly as nasty of a wire mess!  But still needs some work.   Last year, I bought a moss-covered rope thingy.  I don't know what I originally wanted to do with it, but I used it for my mantle.  It does an awesome job adding some green and covering up most of the wires.

Then, I usually also have a seasonal garland.  It adds the splash of seasonal color that I love.

Decorating a Fall Mantel (and Covering Cords in Style)

After the mirror and greenery are in place, add your seasonal garland and let some pieces trail forward. Pumpkins, pinecones, or small fall florals are perfect for sneaking over any little cord that tries to show itself. Use items at different heights — those mercury glass pumpkins look so much more dramatic elevated on candle holders!

I love the colors!

And, if you didn't notice, I also added the odd extra pine cone.  To fill in some spaces where the wires might be peaking out!

And, of course, I added my mercury glass pumpkins that I've collected over the last couple of years.  Sparkly!!

Use What You Have (Repurpose Decor for Height)

A simple styling trick that works every time: vary the height of your decor pieces. Taller items should go toward the back and sides - it creates balance and draws the eye upward. I elevate my mercury glass pumpkins on candle holders so they aren’t lost in the arrangement and so they help block the view of the wires behind them.

Don’t overlook everyday items in your home - if something adds height or texture, give it a spot on the mantel! You can always rotate pieces in and out with the seasons.

I hope these simple fall mantel lighting ideas help you hide those pesky lamp cords and enjoy your decor even more this season. Lighting makes such a huge difference - especially when the days get shorter and we lean into cozy fall evenings.

**Originally published Sept. 17, 2014. Update for clarity.