A mantel provides the perfect stage for a grouping of candles. The key to putting together a pleasing arrangement is to stick to one or two colors — here, shades of brown and cream — and vary the height and width of the candles. The mantel should look full, even crowded. If you don't have enough candles to fill the mantel, group them off center at one end rather than spreading them out. Here, short, medium, and tall pillars rub elbows with elegant tapers in mismatched silver candlesticks culled from flea markets. There's no particular order to the arrangement — just a loose tall-short rhythm. A mirror over the mantel doubles the flicker.

From left: Twilight carved pillar, $21, American Craft Museum, 212-956-3535, ext. 157. Charcoal-and-black pillar, $50, NAC for Lafco New York, 800-362-3677. Twilight pillar in linen, $21, American Craft Museum. Rustic dinner taper in ivory, $10 for a box of eight, Illuminations, 800-226-3537. Pillar in mahogany, $11, Purelight Natural Candles; call 972-416-8455 for store locations. Twilight candle in linen, $32, American Craft Museum. Beeswax taper in ivory, $32 for a box of six, Williams-Sonoma, www.williams-sonoma.com. Mirror with candle tray (16 by 21 inches), $280, Oly; call 510-644-2163, ext. 205, for store locations.