Decorating
“C” Is for “Commonality” Give the members of your vignette a reason to be together. Relate them by color, texture, theme, shape or pattern. When one or more of these elements is repeated, the eye travels enjoyably around the vignette. This is one of my favorite vignettes — a picture in green, white and natural wood. I love how the floral theme is made intriguing by the scale of the close-up in the background. It makes me want to lean in for a closer look. Tip: When you are happy with your vignette, take a photo, so if you have to rearrange it for cleaning, you can replace everything easily.
Balance Several objects of similar height or color placed at one end of a table or bench create an unbalanced look. A lopsided placement needs variety within it and visual connection to the rest of the surface. Balance it with a tall central object, such as a painting or sketch, and a secondary grouping opposite. This picture shows how.
An “A” Formation Assemble your pieces and then superimpose an imaginary “A” or triangle over them. Use this visual structure to prevent a long skyline effect, which would scatter focus, and to carry interest around the frame. Positioning the shortest objects toward the outer edges will help form your “A” shape.
“A” Is for “Anchor” Choose an item as the center of interest, the “hero” of your vignette. Pick something you love to see every day and that expresses your personality and that of your home. It will be the first point on which the viewer’s eye rests. A very small hero would be swamped by other objects in the group, so choose a statement piece with visual weight and height, such as this dramatic starburst mirror in a vignette from Digs Design.
Coziness Pieces spaced evenly over the whole surface lose their connection to one another and may end up looking as if they are set out for a garage sale. Snuggle them up to one another and let some of them touch. If your vignette is on a central table, check it out from all angles and tweak anything that looks awkward.
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