How to Style a Holiday Vignette

For stylist Michelle E Black, at the heart of holiday décor is the idea of a story. “They say, ‘Home is where your story begins,’ so the question to ask when decorating is, ‘What do you want your story to say?’” Then she says, you build your holiday vignette from there.

christmas vignette of mini bottle brush trees and deer on a crystal cakeplate — Michelle used a glass cake late to create this snowy winter wonderland vignette which looks great on a kitchen counter or dining table

Start with One Main Item

Pick a statement piece for your holiday vignette, an item with character that you love and build around that piece. “I am often inspired by a few key objects and build my vignettes from there,” she says. A vintage-inspired tea towel, her grandmother’s vintage green coffee set or even the cover of a vintage Saturday Evening Post magazine might be her starting point. “With those items in mind I begin to layer,” she says. And layer she does, with both old and new.

Add Height

This adds balance your vignette. Using varying levels also makes your holiday more eye catching and interesting. Flat collections work best when all the items are the same general dimension. This is what makes flat lay photos so cool looking. But adding height also makes sure your holiday vignette properly fills the space you’re using.

a holiday vignette in mini pink suitcases — Michelle created this sweet holiday vignette in a little girl’s room using a set of miniature pink suitcases. The wintry scene at the top is made from bottle brush trees and little deer toys.

Build in Layers

Different textures and colors add more dynamism. work together to create an overall balanced picture. But remember to edit, the perfect amount of layers feel rich and cozy, not cluttered and messy.