The art of Arranging Vignettes explained on Vintage American Home

The art of Arranging Vignettes

Gathering beloved objects and collectibles together in artistic vignettes makes a house a home.  Sometimes one can try to be decorative but feel like their placement efforts just look like a bunch of stuff stuck on a desk or table top.  How do the professionals make everything look so attractive?  How do they make things look like they were made to go together?  Part of the answer is attitude.  If you think it is supposed to look good you believe it does look good.  Part of the secret is a few principles of placement and tricks of the trade.

consoletableThis interesting display shows the importance of symmetry. There are a bunch of unusual articles on this table and under it.  I mean there is a wire basket with an open book and a baseball in it.  But the two large lanterns seem to anchor the whole kit and caboodle like bookends.  They are what makes it work.  Think two large lamps, urns, topiaries, or book ends to place on the outside edges of a vignette to make the inside stuff feel like it’s supposed to be there.

on booksHere is another trick.  elevate small collectibles by placing them on top of a pile of decorative books.  Or use a candle base or other form of a pedestal to alter the height of your decorative items.

vignette

Here is another trick.  Gather all of your collectibles in one container.  Here a bunch of spoons are stuck in vintage pottery.  The spoons on their own would look loose and untended . Together your collectibles have more impact.  Same goes for all of your silver spoons, eggs, apples, seashells, art glass, brass items, silver items, bronze items etc.  Keep them all grouped in the same location for greater impact instead of spreading them out all over.

tray tableHere, a three tiered server gives lots of opportunity to display interesting items which will add a big decorative impact to a room.  The basket and boxes on the bottom of the cart are attractive but also double as storage. The top display level can change on a seasonal basis.  Notice how the use of cake pedestals help elevate some of the decorative items.

secretarydeskWell there isn’t much room to actually work at this desk but it is a decorative piece of eye candy.  Notice how the arrangement is gathered into the rough shape of a rectangle?  The straight edges help form an outline which makes all of the little pieces appear orderly and therefore meant to be there together.  The use of similar colors also helps the pieces look more cohesive.

shelves
Credit: ThePolohouse.blogspot.com

Notice how this pleasing vignette uses books to elevate a smaller figurine to give it a similar height as the boxwood ball.  There is also a symmetrical pattern in use.  One tall item on the right two smaller items to the left.  (Pile of books reads as one unit).

Effective home decorating really boils down to  creating many smaller vignettes of artful arrangements of the items that you love to look at and things that provide warm memories of family, friends and good times.

Blue and white Chinoiserie, grand millennial vintage and antique for sale
Blue and white Chinoiserie, grand millennial vintage and antique for sale

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8 responses to “The art of Arranging Vignettes”

  1. Pam Britton Avatar
    Pam Britton

    Very helpful! Thanks!

    1. Donna Fielder Avatar
      Donna Fielder

      I have been unconsciously using this trick for years. It’s nice to know I was following a good decor premise even though I didn’t know it.

  2. Lillie Avatar
    Lillie

    I know what I love and have lots of items but I can’t seem to put things together to make it work. I’m transforming to country primitive colonial style from I have no idea what it’s called!!

    1. Janice Avatar
      Janice

      HI Lillie, I would just call it Lillie style. It really is best to have your own style and not just a page out of the Pottery Barn catalogue. Sometimes it helps if you take all of the items that are similar in theme or color or style and group them in the same room. So if you put all of your silver items in one room and your woor accents in another you can kind of start a trend in each room and then call it a style. At one point though I was calling the look using primitives, “New country”. Good luck with it!

  3. Alison Avatar

    Hi Janice!

    Great article!

    I see that you have used a photo from my home!
    Thank you for sharing it!

    Could you please credit the photo? It’s the last photo used here — the one with a boxwood ball, staffordshire figurine, and leather books in a dark oak hutch. Yes
    Credit: ThePolohouse.blogspot.com

    Thank you so much!
    Alison

    1. Jason Avatar
      Jason

      Sorry for the delay Alison, I credited your beautiful picture. Thanks so much, Janice

  4. Brenda Merchent Avatar
    Brenda Merchent

    I was doing this naturally for years. It was just a way for me to have a pretty little corner in almost all my rooms. I have a new home and have downsized so not as simple but I try. The only thing I didn’t use was my many beloved books. Working on it.

  5. Joyce Avatar
    Joyce

    I absolutely love your ideas for our homes. Sooo helpful.

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