My aim with this post is teach you how to style a collection. Whether on a bookcase, a mantel, or coffee table. It’s about how to create a vignette with the décor you love. A vignette is essentially a display that extends your story through your interior style. It’s a snapshot of you and what you love. Here’s how to style decor in a bookcase or coffee table expertly.
First principle of styling a collection
The first thing to consider is that collections work best in odd numbers. To be honest I can’t explain why, it’s just something I learnt at interior design school and absolutely rings true every time I’m styling a client’s décor.
While vignettes work best in odd numbers the next most important thing is balance. So, this in balance in height and width. For example, if you’re styling a mantel the two ends need to have an object of the same height. It doesn’t have to be the same object just the same height.
In styling a coffee table, the collection needs to be in proportion to the depth and width of the coffee table and the objects in the vignette need to be evenly placed. For example, if your coffee table vignette starts with a book, the other objects need to be placed in line and within the same proportion as the book. For example, a candle or statue.
Shapes and colours are also important in styling a vignette. For example, it’s hard to style a tall slim vase with a short round one. Although your décor doesn’t need to have the same colour scheme as your overall home, some consideration of colour will go a long way. The key thing to remember with colour is repetition.
I’ll leave you with one last tip for how to style your collection on a coffee table styling, do it on a tray so that you can easily remove your vignette for family movie nights when you need space for popcorn, drinks, remotes etc. Our homes need to be practical as well as beautiful.
