We’ll take you through the steps to style a salute-worthy Fourth of July vignette in your home.
Adding a few patriotic touches to your home during the summer is always fun, but knowing how to do it with style can be a challenge. We asked stylist and vintage reseller Stephanie Harkins of In with the Old Goods for her insights.
I’ve chosen a Fourth of July summer-camp theme for my vignette. To start, I gathered items in red, white and blue. I also included elements that communicate my story of summer camping, such as thermoses, a picnic basket, a marshmallow tin and the camp stool.
Next, I decided which risers I would use to display my items. I chose a camp stool and a step stool since they are different heights. I grouped my like items, such as the flags and the thermoses, in odd numbers, and then I layered and overlapped the thermoses to give them more dimension. I also made sure I varied the heights of the items in the vignette. I tucked in the picnic basket for more texture, height and to help tell my camp story. I included flags of all shapes and sizes to make the eye move around the vignette. Parade flags, folded flags and the draped flag tied the theme together and added texture.
Then I picked which items would best display natural elements to bring it to life. The marshmallow tin and thermoses were the perfect vessels for the greenery stems. I put them on opposite sides of the vignette to balance it out.
As you can see in the “before” photo, I left out many of the items I originally thought I wanted to display in my vignette as it would have been overcrowded, unbalanced and looked cluttered had I included them all.
Stephanie’s Style Tips for Creating a Fourth of July Vignette
DO:
- Find a clear space to create your vignette. Shelves, tops of case goods, counters, coffee tables and entryway tables all make great spots for vignettes.
- Decide on your theme. Holidays, seasons, a specific color scheme and focusing on a favorite design style (i.e., nautical, Boho, cottage farmhouse) or a special item all work well in vignettes.
- Take into consideration the size of the space as well as the scale and number of items you will be displaying.
- Choose a color palette that complements the room it will be in.
- Gather all the items you want for your vignette so you’re not running around the house interrupting your creative flow.
- Pick a favorite piece and make that your focal point. Decorate around that special item.
- Tell a story with your vignette: What impression do you want to leave with the observer?
- Add a splash of color to draw the eye in. In a neutral color scheme, a vibrant flower can add just the right touch.
- Include various textures for interest, such as basket weave, matte surfaces, shiny surfaces, fabrics, etc.
- Bring in elements of nature to liven it up. Flowers, branches, pinecones and bird feathers/nests all work well.
- Create layers and vary heights. This helps the eye move around the vignette so all the elements can be admired. If the items you are displaying are of similar heights, use risers such as books to lift them up a bit. Overlap items to add layers.
- Mix old and new items. Antique and vintage items add character that new items may not have.
- Group items in odd numbers. Odd numbers create interest as well as capture your gaze. This helps the eye move around the grouping.
- Edit, edit and edit again. Editing is part of the creative process, so it’s completely acceptable to adjust the elements in your vignette multiple times to make it to your liking.
- Practice. The more you practice creating vignettes, the easier they will become!
DON’T:
- Don’t let your vignette feel overcrowded or messy. It’s ok not to use all the items you’ve gathered for the vignette.
- Don’t be preoccupied with cleaning and tending to other things in the space when trying to create your vignette.
- Don’t have things lined up in a row. You want the eye to naturally move throughout the display and take it all in.
- Don’t take it too seriously as this will most likely cause your creativity to be stifled.
Looking for more Fourth of July vignette and decor ideas? Read on for Fourth of July House Tour: An Americana Cottage and Decorate a Fourth of July Cookout! Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!
