The most common push back I hear to my love of styling is that accessories look like clutter. Well they certainly can. There is an art to styling that takes a few key insights and some practice!
See why we called this room the most beautiful room in the world for 6 months (it’s the befores)
This week’s Colour Rescue is Part 2 of last week’s tour of my accessory hideaway (aka garage). But this time I’m walking you through the basics of styling.
See all the before and afters of this makeover here
Just this week I received the question “My husband thinks our accessories look cluttered how can I make them look better?”
I’m here to tell you that NO ONE ever has enough lamps or coffee table books.
The simple reason your accessories look like clutter
If you think your tables or bookshelves just look like clutter, you are missing books. And not just any book, coffee table books, I will say it again.
This week I’m teaching you how to create a tablescape and how to create the best looking fruit bowl in your kitchen as well (as I’m demonstrating above)!
Styling Secrets: How to Create a Vignette
Learn more about creating and decorating your dream home
All throughout my two day workshops, you will discover not only how to choose the right finishes for your renovations and new builds but THE most important part – how to take what you have now and make it look better!
We spend too much time in our homes and my mission in life is to help you love the home you’re in, no matter what it looks like.
So go shopping, even in thrift stores for coffee table books in the colours of your decor. You will be amazed at how just arranging your coffee table or sideboard in your dining room will TRANSFORM the feeling immediately.
Go here to watch the replay! You’ll see what both my apartments looked like before I ever became a decorator.
Related posts:
How to Style a Vignette in 5 Easy Steps
How to Create a Vignette or Tablescape
Looking for post-holiday styling inspo? It’s here in 7 before & afters
This was really helpful! I love the triangle concept. Would you consider a post on styling bookcases? Especially built-in bookcases? I have them flagging a double window on 3 sides and have been trying to lighten them up! Also would love one on how to figure out whether to use a flush-mount, semi-flush mount, or pendant light fixture over coffee and dining tables. Especially when the sight lines go to a window or a French Door.
Love these super helpful styling videos! Please do one on bookcases! I have three bookcases flanking my fireplace and can’t seem to get them all styled right. And to get really specific, should I leave the adjustable shelves all even or how do I raise or lower some of the shelves without it looking really cluttered?
Maria, that was very helpful and a great example of repeating colors. I’d love to see you do a video on throw pillows – I used to buy them from Pier 1 but since they’ve closed….. if you want to look at custom fabric, where do you go? Are there online sources? I’ve gotten lots of samples from Sunbrella but what about other types of fabrics like you’d see in a furniture store, for example? Thanks!
Tonicliving.ca is a great source for pillows!
Yes Etsy is a great source for designer pillows at good prices! Maria
Interested in a tutorial in adding wall art in bathroom, and overall styling of the bathroom. 😀
I have a basic form-over-function problem with accessories. I think I agree with the person who said it’s all just clutter. I look at the primary function of a piece — for example, a coffee table where I want to put the books I’m reading and a cup of tea, now covered with a beautiful vignette that gets in the way of the table’s function — or curtains intended to provide privacy that require climbing on furniture to actually open and close.
If you need to climb on furniture to close your curtains, you need fling rods. And at the minimum 2 coffee table books with a candle and a vase with a flower makes a big difference to having absolutely nothing on the table. Hope that helps! Maria
Thank you for these lovely guides for creating vignettes. I love the interplay with your sister, too.
Maria this post this morning included a link about getting a Free guide to updating your kitchen which when clicked on say this link is no longer available and takes one to the list of your more recent posts. Wondering if that Free guide is still available or if not perhaps it should be taken off post? Loved your zoom seminar yesterday…very helpful
It is still available yes. email my team at [email protected] if you have issues. Maria
can you help with how do we display those wooden beads with tassle at end
i have a black one and love it but keep moving it around and cant quite figure it out
love the idea on a book but looks dumb when i do it ?
That was a very helpful, video. Great ideas. Maria, could you do arranging houseplants with tchotchkes?
I would love for you to do a session on lamps and what size/ height lamps should be in different uses around living spaces.
I see cute lamps all the time, but have no idea if they are the correct size until I get them home. Very much trial and error, there have to be some guidelines to get the correct size.
Lamps are coming up next! Maria
I’d love to see a photo of the coffee table the reader’s husband thinks is cluttered.
Maybe there are lessons to be learned.
Loved your video. I would like to see a video on styling a fireplace mantel. Thanks
I second the bookcase idea!
I’d like more of the same, or similar. And an e-book with 50 million examples — photos of before/afters, plus a photo with the items numbered and an explanation of why you did what. You’re welcome. Thank you!
Would love a video about decorating a fireplace mantel
– How do you know when enough is enough? I would have stopped sooner (with fewer things in my vignette), but you kept going.
– How many vignettes in a space?
– How do do vignettes on small-medium sized surfaces that include lamps?
If you have a very small table, maybe you only have one elevated object on it or nothing. But generally larger tables all need some kind of vignette for a feeling to descent upon your room. Try it, you can always remove things like when you have too many accessories on your body! Maria
Very nice! Keep them coming.
Thank you! I enjoyed this video. Do you just by books for the color, regardless of what the book is about?
No. But if it’s about Iceland for example, I’m okay with that even if I wasn’t looking for a book about Iceland! Maria
I don’t always love using books for this purpose. I found some thick, rectangular pieces of stone and marble that I use to elevate my knick knacks and I love that they are heavy, so they stay in place really well.
My roommate has a tendency to put way too many teeny little items in a vignette. I am trying to move her towards fewer, larger items of varying sizes. 30 small identically sized rocks on our table does not look good to me. I would love to hear your thoughts on number and size of items.
Thank you, Maria. You are so generous with your knowledge and we appreciate it!
I noticed that someone earlier mentioned a video on lamps. I second that request AND would like to have guidance on making sure light fixtures in different rooms “flow”. We have slowly been replacing 1980’s ceiling fans throughout the house with new light fixtures. Some have been replaced with light fixture only…but living in the Houston area, some rooms will need fan/light combos. It’s an ’80’s home, so not open concept, but I still want every room to look reasonably coordinated with the other rooms in the house.
Thanks!
I loved this helpful video!! Maybe show us how to style a LOT of shelves including some 8×10 photos. I have built in on each side of my fireplace. 8 tall spaces on each side and I love my photos of my kids and family. They’re the largest display area I have in my small den.
Yes that tutorial is in my free download at the beginning of the video! Thanks for your comment, Maria
Great styling and decorating tips!