Complete your mantle-scape with a stack of antique books. They add a sense of history and authenticity, plus they balance the remaining items on the mantle. Don’t have any old books? Check out your local flea markets or vintage shops. You can find them for a dime.
This composition is as much about texture as it is about materials. The weathered look and heavy detailing of the pewter vase falls right in step with the books and mirror frames.
5. Mantels. Avoid the temptation to center one large picture or one large mirror smack dab in the center. Layer mirrors or pictures and you can manipulate a stack of books to just the right height to balance out an adjacent object.
Complete your mantle-scape with a stack of antique books. They add a sense of history and authenticity, plus they balance the remaining items on the mantle. Don’t have any old books? Check out your local flea markets or vintage shops. You can find them for a dime.
For the mantle in my den: layered mirrors, stack of antique books (e.g., Will and Ariel Durant), vase with seasonal branches (or perhaps branches to be used as a card tree).