Purposefully Break It Up
Once you’ve established your base layer, you can begin to “dishevel it a bit,” as Hyman puts it—adding in those imperfect touches that make the arrangement feel lived-in and effortless. “Layer with intention and a touch of asymmetry,” AD100 designer Brigette Romanek shares with Vogue. “Play with height, texture, and scale to bring depth and character, but don’t overthink perfection—a little imbalance makes a space feel more inviting. Offset a striking vase with a small stack of books or an unexpected decorative piece to keep the arrangement dynamic and personal,” she adds. This can be done by adding in sculptural objects—like a tall hand-thrown vase or marble sphere—or quirky flea market finds.
In fact, a mantel is the perfect perch for smaller decorative pieces or meaningful knick-knacks. “I don’t like having clutter in my kitchen, so the mantel is the place where I will have little trinkets and pieces I have collected over time—it sort of tells a story,” shares British designer and founder of MG&Co., Matilda Goad. AD100 designer Heidi Caillier agrees, “I love to style little treasures I’ve procured while traveling. They are great conversation starters.”
Conquer also emphasizes keeping the material story top of mind when adding in objects. “What really brings it to life is the material conversation; the unexpected pairings you couldn’t have planned,” she says. “A raw cast object beside something polished, a textured-matte glaze beside reflective glass. Rough against refined, ancient against contemporary. Those frictions are where the eye lingers.”