Decorating 101: 10 tips for creating a gorgeous vignette

I always get asked for tips on styling and how to create pretty vignettes. SOOOOO I thought I would share a few simple styling tips that can help you get started on creating the home of your dreams. I created a simple vignette for my coffee table, but I use the exact same ideas for shelves, tiered trays, dressers, entryways, etc. AND this is exactly where I begin when creating all of the displays for 509 Farmhouse. Once you get the basics of creating an eye appealing vignette, the possibilities for decorating are ENDLESS!!

First off, let’s start with WHAT THE HECK IS A VIGNETTE??

This is what the dictionary has to say about it…

A vignette (in terms of interior design) is a tiny, curated style statement, made up of a group of objects that are displayed on a shelf, a table, or elsewhere in the home.

SOOOO basically it is a group of items that look WOW when you look at them. That is the JESSICA definition anyway:)

OK. Next…How do I create a vignette??

Start with a base. A tray, crate, tablerunner, basket, etc. This helps to center your vignette and keep it cohesive. PLUS it gives you a boundary to work with and makes your vignette look intentional…instead of just a pile of things in the middle of a table:) THIS tray is my current favorite!!
Pick one MAIN IDEA piece. For me, this is the bunny. The bunny will be the star of the show, and the rest of the vignette will build upon that bunny. Similar bunnies found HERE.
I like to use a vessel of some sort…a bowl, pitcher, birdhouse, bucket etc. This way I can fill it up. It adds height and draws your eye. Shop your house. Save money by using pieces you already have. Once you have your main idea piece (remember for me that is the bunny), the rest can be found around the house. Budget Friendly Tip: Use what you have. Decorating does NOT have to cost a fortune. People always think they need to go out and buy ALL of the hottest decor trends, but that is just not true. You probably have a good start already in your home. Kitchen items are SOOOOO easy to use in decorating, and cost ZERO dollars. Pitchers, crocks, pots, jars, etc. are perfect for decorating.
Nature. By adding in branches, stems, plants, etc. it gives much needed texture and reality to the vignette. Faux stems are SOOO good these days, there is no need to go real. BUT if you have a pretty blooming tree or fresh flowers in your garden…EVEN BETTER. FREE DECOR is MY KIND OF DECOR!!! You can look anywhere for nature pieces too…sea shells, pinecones, rocks, birch slices, branches, leaves, lavender, moss balls, etc.
Differ your heights. You want your eye to travel up and down and back and forth taking it all in. Books are my go-to for this because I have ALL the books at my house:) Vintage books are my favorite because they add amazing texture, color, and eye appeal. If you don’t have vintage books laying around, rip the covers off of a couple paperbacks. Or take the hard cover off of a hardback…pulling the spine cover off as well. These “naked” books are a huge trend right now…and TOTALLY free. I also loved these STAMPED BOOKS that are popping up all over the internet. Or just cover some books in brown paper or burlap. EASY PEASY.
Differ textures. I had planned to use a jar candle in my vignette, but it ended up being to round and smooth and just blended right in. I switched it out for the sign which added a pop of color, a square shape, and helped draw the eye to the center of the vignette. Try to have lots of textures represented in the mix…glass, metal, wire, paper, flower, wood, cork, etc.
Keep tweaking it until it is right. I was happy with my vignette and then walked past and on a whim switched the bunny from facing towards the sign, to facing AWAY from the sign. It was a subtle difference, but looked SOOOO much better.
Odd numbers are a MUST for decorating. Think of groups. The pitcher is group 1. The bunny and books are group 2. The sign is group 3. Even numbers have an awkward look when decorating. If I wanted more on my tray, I would add another small group of 3, or add a group to each end to make 5 groups. This goes for MOST decorating. Our eyes just find odd numbers more appealing. So if I was going to create an open shelves display, I would create 3 groups of 3 across my shelves. I just create mini vignettes and join them together to create one cohesive shelf.
Just keep working at it. Find a vignette you like on Pinterest and try to copy the style with items you already have. The more you keep trying, the easier it will become. I actually created an entire board of vignette perfection over on Pinterest if you need more visual inspiration.
Have FUN!! Decorating should be fun and reflect your own personal style and personality. So if you LOVE IT, DO IT!!

Below are a few vignettes from different seasons at Orchard Slope. As you can see I just add and group MORE smaller vignettes together to create a larger shelf or tiered tray display. Now instead of asking ME to come to your house and decorate FOR YOU…which I would TOTALLY do by the way…you can create the home you want, one little vignette at a time!! You can also find my current decorating favorites HERE and HERE. Happy decorating:) Let’s chat soon. JESS