THE MAGIC OF TRANSITIONAL VIGNETTES
Vignettes are a wonderful way to add personality, a bit of the season, and a big dose of pretty to your home! But sometimes putting them together can get overwhelming! So, today let’s talk about the basic elements of a transitional vignette and I’ll show you a few I created out of a handful of things I had in my basement!
Transitional vignettes are decor accessory groupings that you create and then by switching out a few decor elements changing them to work with a new season.
Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well, let me show you how…
I began with a handful (or laundry basket full) of decor from my basement.
I chose a very tight color palette. I love sepias for fall and they work for summer too!
Here’s what I created for a very easy summer vignette…
Keep these things in mind when creating a vignette…
- odd numbers look most pleasing to the eye
- corral a vignette in a basket, create, tray, cloth, etc
- add height
- add texture
- vary height
- layer decor
- add something organic
- add books
- use things you love
- add something seasonal
- use what you love
- candle or lantern
I started this vignette using my favorite faux topiaries. So many of you have asked about these pretty topiaries. I found them at a vintage shop. I’ll be posting a topiary diy in the fall. Make sure to be looking for it!
The next item placed into this summery vignette was a white lantern. I collect lanterns and love this white lantern for summer decorating.
Candles and lanterns work wonderfully in vignettes and illuminate everything in it with a golden glow!
The last member of this vignette trio was a square glass container I use often. Today I filled it with white shells and a garland of wood beads I recently made. Aren’t they so pretty together? The shells are my only overt nod to summer.
The bead garland was so so easy to make and very inexpensive. See it HERE.
Did you notice I use two burlap covered books as a riser for the glass cube? It’s easy to change the heights of things in a vignette by perching them on a couple books!
Now let’s change seasons… Fall is coming soon and it’s so easy to go from summer to fall just by changing a few items!
Keep these things in mind when transitioning from one season to the next…
- try to keep the same color palette to make transitioning easier
- replace one-for-one items in the vignette
- remove anything that is unmistakably the past season
- add one new seasonal thing
Using the summer vignette and changing a few things out, here is my fall vignette…
Very light and perfect for early fall!
Here’s a comparison…
The same basket was used, the books stayed and so did the glass cube.
One of my favorite free things to put in a vignette is wine corks. Talk about texture!!! And if you do not imbibe you can find a package of corks on Amazon! See some recycled ones HERE.
In this vignette I only used one book as a riser. Ah, I love books!
My favorite white pottery lantern is called into duty as a vase! Don’t you love these fabulous burlap flowers? I found them at a local shop so I don’t have a source, sorry!
Did you notice the “organic” element is not the tallest thing in the fall vignette? Just make sure to vary height.
Instead of a lantern I found this architectural element (I can’t pass them up) and propped a candle on it. LOVE its crusty look! Yes, crusty can be beautiful!
I’ll use this early fall transitional vignette until the end of September. Then change things out and add a few white pumpkins on top of the books and in place of the burlap flowers I’ll add some gorgeous real fall oak leaves to the lantern turned vase!
Just for fun, I created a couple more vignettes from of the decor I brought up from the basement! I was on a roll!
What a fun exercise in decorating. I LOVE transitional vignettes because they are easy to and I don’t have to “recreate the wheel” when the seasons change!
Why don’t you spend a little time with things you love and create a vignette that can transition from one season to the next!
You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see what I’m finding to pin every day HERE.
Great tips! Sometimes it can be so hard changing things up for a new season. Thanks for your help:)
No you have a solution!
I love the vignettes you do! They always look so good! Thanks for showing us how to change them around using just a few different items.
Hi Carol, you are welcome!
You make it look so easy. Time to give it a try. Thank you!
I just love all your ideas, everything is just so perfect! Where did you get that gorgeous picture? I absolutely love it! Our kitchen, family room space is black and white and it would look great in there. ANy insight as to where you got it would be so appreciated.
Thank you!
You are asking one of the most asked questions here at StoneGable! You can find more about it here: https://www.stonegableblog.com/7-foolproof-ways-to-choose-art-for-your-home/
Love vignettes, have a few around my home.Sometimes changing a small thing can be just all you need to add a touch of a new season.I also have a crusty base from a pillar of an old home in my kitchen, it is topped with a ceramic white rooster.Thanks for all your tips Yvonne.
Everything you do is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing your creativity.
Did you make or buy the cute topiaries? They look so real! I’d love to get a set.
These topiaries get asked about the most on StoneGable. I’m going to do a topiary diy using them as an example in the fall. Look for it!
I’m new to your blog and am really enjoying it! This post is an excellent resource that I will refer to regularly. Thank you!
Welcome to the StoneGable family, Jody!
Loving the “Find it Here” segment on your blog. I hope this will be a “regular” item. Great post on transitioning vignettes from one season to another. SOOO easy, using your tips!
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Lovely ideas! I have seen the picture on your wall in previous posts. I love it! Would you mind sharing where you purchased it?
Here’s a link to all the information… https://www.stonegableblog.com/7-foolproof-ways-to-choose-art-for-your-home/
I have had a very dull vignette on my coffee table for some time, took your advice and shopped my house. I purchase a small glass vase and potted fern at Hobby Lobby. I will be downsizing to a senior independent living apartment in the future, a vignette using some of my treasures from the past will allow me to have seasonal decorations in a small space. Love your posts.
Love it! Nicely done.
Ahhh…vignettes! My favorite! Did you know Pottery Barn has those punched ceramic lanterns again? Their website says September though, but if they get them back in I’m certainly ordering them. I’ve loved yours for a very long time!!! I’m already thinking of Fall. I know a lot of people do not like that, but when it’s 100 degrees outside that’s all that keeps me happy.
Yes, hurrah!!! My readers love these pretty lanterns.
First let me say, I love your podcast…I always play new and old episodes while I’m driving around town. You and the girls always have the best tips! I also love your blog, especially your weekly menu series.
I have a question that I thought you might be able to help me with….where can I buy silver (chrome or nickel) round chair pulls… Like door knockers? I found the perfect dining room chairs at Homegoods, but the hardware is brass and everything in my room is silver. The chair pulls unscrew and I want to replace them with silver ones. I’ve found what I want on Ali Express, but they ship from China and if they aren’t what I expect I can’t return them. I’d rather find them here in the U.S. Have you got any idea where I could buy these?
Hi Lisa, Thanks for being a podcast listener. Our goal is to give our listeners tips the can easily implement in their homes.
Love all of these, Yvonne. Such great info, and the list you provided is perfect! Thanks for the link to the corks for us teetotalers! 😉
Your color palette is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing your talents.
Hi, I love the wall art in the background, where did you find that?
Hi Tizza, you can find this picture here:https://amzn.to/2UMf6cI
Thank you! I’m always looking for ways to freshen up my decor, and I really like your monochromatic vignettes. May I ask where you got your white wood lantern? I’ve been looking for one that’s simple and elegant like yours for…well, forever.
I’ve had that one for over a decade. I think it came from the Pottery Barn. However, I just got 2 gorgeous tall lanterns for my summer mantel I’ll be featuring soon and I found them at Walmart. You can see them here:https://rstyle.me/+JOc_zNrxevRYSrfeUr1oFQ
Where is the round basket from?
I found this at HomeGoods years and years ago.