Style Secret: Symmetry The traditional look is all about balance, from architecture to furniture placement. Furnishings tend to be grouped in formal arrangements that invite conversation, and positioned along the axis of a room. Your pieces don't all have to match, but this isn't the style for you if you're drawn to an offbeat, eclectic mix.Make it fresh: Although you don't want to stray too far from symmetrical placement, there are subtle ways to keep a room from feeling static. Prop a tall mirror against one wall, hang art in a grouping that creates a sense of motion, or angle a cocktail table next to an armchair. Here, the irregular shape of the rug loosens the room just enough to give it energy.