Vignettes and tablescapes are those pretty little “landscapes” of beautiful items displayed on every horizontal surface in any professional interior design photo. These little “arrangements” are far from accidental, and could be considered a minor art form in itself. There are so many different opinions on the use of vignettes, some feel they can look too stillife-y and contrived, others think they are a must in any room.

Whether you love them or hate them, vignettes can be of great inspiration for getting the most out of a small space without compromising the overall look of the room.

So where would you create a vignette? The answer is quite simple; literally anywhere! Rearranging the items on your windowsill, mantle, shelves, dresser top or even night stand can have a dramatic effect, and here are some tips and inspiration for creating the perfect vignette.

One approach to creating a vignette is to start with a large background object, like a mirror or a framed picture. A mirror or picture frame can be hung on the wall or placed on the table surface, leaning against the wall. You can even layer it by placing a smaller picture in front of the other. Build the vignette from here, paying close attention to proportion, color and composition.

Two popular compositions are the V and the A -shapes. Lets take a look:

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The V-shape:

Starting with a mirror or a framed picture, create a V-shape by layering objects. Start with a tall object like a lamp, and add a few fitting accessories with the lowest point being around the centre. We are not trying to create a perfect V here (more like a tilted back L). Below is another example, starting with a layering of picture frames or mirrors:

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Notice how the tallest items are placed at the side of the tallest frame. If it was placed on the opposite side, the overall result would too square, like a box, which we are trying to avoid.

Lets put it to life by looking at some V-shaped vignettes created by the professionals:

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Phoebe Howard created a simple vignette on this dresser top, in the classic V shape. Can you see the V?

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This vignette has a beach theme of corals, seafan and tiny bottles with sea star caps built around a framed print of divers.

(Design by Fluegge Interior Design, image via Houzz)

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This V-shaped vignette is designed by Kelly Wearstler. Notice how she repeats the color of the painting and frame in her vignette.

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Eileen Kathryn Boyd started with a framed palm leaf print, and chose a potted white orchid as her tallest item. She then added some smaller items of various shape and height, all while keeping to a theme of nature.

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You don’t need a square frame or mirror at all, as illustrated by Tobi Fairley. She sets the background with a sunburst mirror, building a V-shape with a table lamp, a tiny vase and a jewelry box.

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A stack of books from your bookshelf works great as a pedestal for a pretty ornament, or it can bring extra height to your “tall items”. Choose books that fit the color scheme of your vignette.

(Design by Janie Hirsch).

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The A-shape:

This basic shape could not be more easy, and still I think it is one of the most dramatic.

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A-shaped vignette by Phoebe Howard. I adore the way she combines the hard triangle (A) shape with the soft shape of the round mirror.

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Bedside table with a beautiful tablescape of purple and green,  the lamp creates the overall A-shape in front of the lovely picture.

(Design by Amanda Nisbet, view original post here ).

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This is another example of the A-shaped vignette, also designed by Phoebe Howard. I think this one is really dramatic and beautiful. Almost like a live painting!

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Sometimes symmetry works best:

Symmetric vignettes like this one designed by James Michael Howard looks more strict, clean and organized as opposed to the layered ones we have previously seen.

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This vignette is designed by Phoebe Howard and is a perfect example of how style is underlined by composition.

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This simple symmetric vignette is created by Erinn Valencich, and is built around the beautiful colors of the painting. A stack of books adds height to the yellow vase, leveling out the height of the objects. The only purpose of this vignette is to underline the color of the paining, therefore the objects and composition are kept as simple as possible.

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Your entryway can be both functional and beautiful at the same time, as proven by Dayka at Life + Style. Her vignette includes a bowl for keys and change, and a basket underneath the console table for paper recyclables. Beautiful and practical!

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The best thing is you don’t really need to go out and buy anything, just rearrange what you already have! If you use a picture as a base, you can build a vignette around that color scheme.  If you lack a tall item, go out and get a few branches and arrange them in a slim vase. Smaller objects work best in groups or pairs, some prefer to use only odd numbers like 3 or 5 similar items. Your only limit is your creativity!