Resist the urge to put the flowers in the middle every time. This row of neutral accents benefits from an unexpected bloom of color on one end—and note how designer Tiffany Brooks used repetition of similar items across the row to achieve balance (bravo!) without symmetry (boring!). A low-slung piece like this antique boatmaker’s cabinet from Bassett is a great place to experiment with objects of different heights. Don’t be afraid to mix and match until you get just the right look.

Is your book collection a million different colors? If you’re going for a unified neutral look on an open shelf, just flip the book spines inward. Presto: a soft palette of tans and whites that looks carefully chosen, not random. And if you’re stumped on how to group objects like the vessels on top, stick with odd numbers—sevens, fives, or threes rather than sixes, fours, or twos.

For accents to go with your newly neutral book collection, try to collect objects around the house that share a single attribute, like a metal finish. Here, in the master bedroom, designer Tiffany Brooks used several brass and copper items that complement the gunmetal etagere.

Yes, you can combine big, bold chunky accessories in one tight spot. In the right place, it won’t look messy or overdone—here, the big expanse of empty charcoal wall makes the grouping of items on the cabinet feel balanced, not cluttered. Got tons of wall art? Go more minimal with accessories on surfaces.