How to Style a Vignette
Blogger Emily A. Clark shares her favorite tricks for creating a stylish display.
Emily Clark believes design can be simple. That's not the same as "boring," though—just one look at her well-followed blog proves that. The stylist brings her space to life with bold pattern and a collected color scheme, and yet every space seems effortlessly put-together. One particular area of expertise is her vignettes: careful combinations of accent pieces on tables and bookshelves that tell an intriguing, eye-catching story. Want to create your own curated display? Here, she shares a few of her best tricks.
1. Start with a clean slate.
“I usually start by taking everything away and clearing the surface first," Emily says. It gives you a little space to breathe and think about how you really want the vignette to look. Then, only bring back pieces that you really love.”
2. Add an anchor piece.
“For me, it’s usually a big piece of art, a collection of frames or a pretty mirror," Clark explains. "Then I add my biggest tabletop items—a pair of lamps or a big glass vessel, for example. Once you have the anchors in place, you can fill in with the smaller pieces.”
3. Think in layers.
“Try bowls layered on books, a small plant layered on a pretty storage box, a framed painting leaned in front of a mirror, et cetera," Emily advises. "Vary your heights so that it doesn’t fall flat. You don’t really want any two things side-by-side to be the same height.”
4. Err on the side of restraint.
A cluster of a few larger items works better than a bunch of smaller pieces, Emily says. "If you’re unsure, go with fewer little knick-knacks and stick to a few well-placed accessories. Odd-number groupings usually work best.”
5. Bring in nature.
“For instant impact, bring in branches from the outdoors and put them in a pretty container. A little green can instantly change the look of a vignette," Emily notes. "A sprawling group of tall branches will add dramatic height—for little or no cost!” Mix real and faux, evergreen and seasonal, and you'll have arrangements you'll love laying eyes on all year long.
