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Make a Scene With Vignettes and Tablescapes
Draw attention to objects on a table or shelf by arranging them in a vignette. These guidelines will get you started
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
Vignettes, those small, lovely scenes we create on surfaces around our houses, are what take our homes from merely well put together to personal, artistic, and unique. Also called tablescapes, they're where we get to show off family heirlooms, weird collections and beautiful items we've collected. They're more or less what art books were created for.
But there are rules. A good vignette has balance and forethought. We must consider color, height, theme, texture and mood. Which isn't to say a perfect vignette can't be created with a mishmash of unrelated items. Those are some of the best. But it is not cluttered. In fact, creating a vignette is a good way to prevent clutter. No one wants to mess up a pretty little scene by piling the mail on top of it.
Here are 15 lovely little vignettes to inspire and a few pointers for creating your own perfect arrangements.
But there are rules. A good vignette has balance and forethought. We must consider color, height, theme, texture and mood. Which isn't to say a perfect vignette can't be created with a mishmash of unrelated items. Those are some of the best. But it is not cluttered. In fact, creating a vignette is a good way to prevent clutter. No one wants to mess up a pretty little scene by piling the mail on top of it.
Here are 15 lovely little vignettes to inspire and a few pointers for creating your own perfect arrangements.
by Emily Ruddo
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Here are the basics:
• Use books as pedestals.
• Fresh flowers or foliage always, always looks good.
• Include at least one bright, weird or unexpected piece (like the bright orange box pictured).
• Place things at different heights (like books as pedestals).
• Use books as pedestals.
• Fresh flowers or foliage always, always looks good.
• Include at least one bright, weird or unexpected piece (like the bright orange box pictured).
• Place things at different heights (like books as pedestals).
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Houseplants are wonderful in a dozen different ways (keeping the air clean being a big one), but there is no need to have them in a jungly mess. Use sculptural plants such as mosses or succulents to create a leafy vignette. Note the book as pedestal.
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by Ninainvorm
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| A high shelf in a kid's room is the perfect place to create a vignette out of all the lovely things that are too fragile or special for Junior to actually play with. This one is all about color and symmetry. Note that it utilizes the multiheight principle. |
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This scene benefits from composition and juxtaposition. The midcentury media items (phone and cameras) and the dreamy, spacious, nature-inspired mood are complementary opposites.
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This one is clearly modern with a 1940s vibe. Note the books as pedestal and the repeated cage design on the fan and in the frames behind it.
P.S. That succulent is going to die unless someone plants it ASAP.
P.S. That succulent is going to die unless someone plants it ASAP.
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| Candles are like flowers; they work almost everywhere. A good rule: Odd-numbered groups work better than even-numbered ones. |
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Another illustration of the basics: Books as pedestals. One bright color. Multiple heights. And a loose theme: vintage beach.
by Incorporated
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A vignette can be spare, especially when it involves a piece of art or sculpture that requires our attention. This scene is about this bust and the branches. The two other pieces are there for balance.
by Jeanette Lunde
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To properly show off a collection, let it stand alone. This white-on-white setup (with two spots of yellow) highlights the plates and makes everything look intentional and clean.
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This modern vignette is well balanced by the horizontal books, the vertical vases and the organic shape of the bamboo. Note the odd number of vases clustered together.
by Tamar Schechner
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The organized jumble. The mood is very feminine. The colors are pink, yellow and turquoise. The rest of it is just a lovely assemblage of vaguely related things. Artsy, vintagey and worldly.
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| Bell jars and cake stands elevate regular items like plants and shells to the level of items worthy of display. In other words, they make things look fancy. |
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Balanced. Minimalist. Playful.
by Dreamy Whites
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A tray keeps things looking tidy and brings together seemingly unrelated items, like this bowl of shells and the antique seltzer bottle.
by Vintage Renewal
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This entire corner counts as a vignette because everything is in relation to everything else. Oh, and because it is so pretty.
More:
Titillating Tablescapes
Creating a Tablescape
More:
Titillating Tablescapes
Creating a Tablescape
Comments
Madison Modern Home Samantha, I always enjoy your Ideabooks, and this one is no exception. Plus, you're talking about one of my favorite things - tablescapes. You're right on point about using books as pedestals and the one odd or bright object. I've found that items with differing heights, shapes, sizes, textures and on different levels -- but which share a common theme, color or style -- will almost always play well together.
13 months ago · Like
Vintage Renewal Love it!
13 months ago · Like
The Old Painted Cottage Fun ideabook! Thanks for including a couple of our photos. And not to worry, no succulents were harmed in the creating of that vignette...it's artificial : D
13 months ago · Like
Mary Kozma love the article I have made a few vignettes in my home here is one I did when I staged my house for sale, I got to enjoy this for myself and see how wonderful it is to have a vignette to dress up the room at all times. 
12 months ago · Like
Samantha Hayward Love them but can't put them in my home, I have such an issue with dust and little trinkets - my vignettes are big and bold like the one with the orange cabinet...
12 months ago · Like
shiney123 This is a tablespace in my livingroom
12 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on April 29, 2012.
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