How To Style Stoneware And Ceramics

Decorating your home with stone objects and ceramic wares is a beautiful (and affordable) way to elevate a space and live with more of the natural materials you love. Vases, bowls, candleholders and dishes crafted from stone or clay will complement almost any interior, and the materials’ unique markings and natural textures create depth and visual interest. Here, we share a few tips on arranging ceramics and stoneware like a stylist.

Create a vignette

A vignette is a group of items arranged together to create a small scene or ‘moment’. These arrangements are best suited to book shelves, coffee tables, consoles and sideboards, and they can always be updated and evolve with the seasons and your personal style. Take a curated approach and don’t overcrowd your vignette with too many pieces, which will look cluttered. Give each stone and ceramic piece some breathing space and then add in other elements — a low stack of hardcover books, a favourite candle or a small framed artwork propped up against a wall.

Introduce a statement piece

If you’re decorating a surface with plenty of space, consider investing in one larger stone or ceramic design, such as a table lamp, platter or sculptural work. This will serve as a statement piece that will draw the eye in, and smaller objects should complement your hero piece rather than compete with it. And if you want to go even bigger, that statement piece could be a marble side table, travertine coffee table, or large ceramic planter.

Mix materials, tones and heights

The beauty of styling stoneware and ceramics is that you can be creative with a mix of materials and tones. As a guide, stick to no more than three different materials so that it feels cohesive and considered but not one-note. Play around with marble, travertine and ceramic pieces, and add in brass, glass, resin or mirrored elements. Take the same approach to mixing shapes and sizes — arranging pieces with different heights and silhouettes will actually look more harmonious and ‘in proportion’.

How to care for travertine

For Spring 23, Assembly Label introduces two travertine designs to the Lifestore collection — an incense dish and catchall. Travertine is easy to care for and only requires the occasional wipe down with mild soap, warm water and a soft cleaning cloth that’s been thoroughly wrung out. Do be mindful that travertine is a porous material, which means it absorbs liquid and stains easily. The best way to keep your travertine wares in premium condition is by avoiding wet areas and spills.