Putting together a vignette is a fun and inspiring process. You can play with all the most creative aspects of decorating because no two vignettes are exactly the same. It’s easy to incorporate your own unique style and switch it up whenever you are feeling inspired, because all it takes is changing out a few small decor pieces to create something totally fresh.
While there are no hard and fast “rules” to decorating a vignette, as it’s a completely creative and subjective process, there are some guidelines you can follow to help you arrange your decor with a designer’s touch. Decorating a vignette is really easy to do once you know the basics of what works.
These 10 guidelines are ones I follow all the time when decorating and staging homes. Whenever you’re feeling stuck with a vignette, refer back to them and you’ll be able to get right back on track.
1. Color. Finding a nice balance of color will help bring your vignette to life. You can do a little or a lot depending on your taste, but I personally like to keep things minimal so the color has a strong impact. The vignette above is a perfect example of using a small amount of color to great effect.
Source: Lonny
2. Texture. To create interest in a vignette, incorporate some different textures such as rope, wood, or other natural materials.
Source: House & Home
3. Balance. Capturing the right balance is key in design, especially in a vignette where you will be looking dead on at one scene. You can create a symmetrical balance, like the vignette above, or arrange it asymmetrically where one side is tall and the other is much shorter (or empty).
Source: My Domaine
4. Levels and height. Play with the depth and dimension of your vignette by stacking books with decorative pieces on top of them. Having different levels will keep the eye moving throughout the vignette.
Source: Lonny
5. Negative space. If you love a minimalist look, then leaving plenty of negative space will be very pleasing to the eye. Here, a mirror helps balance out the plant while still leaving plenty of open space on one side of the dresser.
Source: My Domaine
6. Scale. If you want to have one large impact, such as a beautiful painting as seen in this vignette, then make sure the items on the table are scaled correctly. You don’t want the decor to fight with the wall art.
Source: Veranda
7. Character. To give your vignette character, incorporate items that have a special meaning to you. This could be in the form of collection (like these vintage globes), heirlooms, something you’ve purchased on your travels, or simply decor that has charm and personality.
Source: How To Decorate
8. Story. Vignettes are a great opportunity to tell a story in the form of a specific theme, like this coastal vignette.
Source: Elle Decor
9. Wall art. Decorating a vignette doesn’t have to be limited to what you put on the surface. Think upward. A gallery wall is a great option for a vignette and then you can polish it off with just a few pieces of decor below it.
Source: Better Homes & Gardens
10. Light. As always in decorating, light is one of your most important elements. If the space is dark, like the one above, then incorporate a stylish lamp. This vignette also has a lucite console table that keeps the space from feeling too heavy and lets light pass right through it.
Source: Lonny
If you follow these guidelines, you’ll have no trouble at all creating beautiful and chic vignettes that suit your home’s personal style.
Warm regards,
Megan