12 Great Ideas for Creating a Vignette in the Bedroom
Give your sleep space creative flair with a stylish display of objects or keepsakes
Cheryl F
9 July 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing for the UK's top interiors titles. I love shopping for quirky accessories, have a passion for rummaging through vintage stores and I'm ever-hopeful of finding that elusive perfect paint shade.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing... More
If you want to elevate your home above the ordinary, try applying a stylist’s touch by introducing small decorative displays to make it feel stylish and considered. Bedrooms are great spaces to do this, as there’s often little in them other than beds, wardrobes and a few select pieces of art. A display of objects will up their personality and stop them from feeling spartan.
Keep it simple and balanced
The top of a chest of drawers is a natural space for a bedroom vignette, but it doesn’t have to be fussy or contain loads of objects. In this traditional bedroom, a lamp, vase of flowers and an ocean-inspired ornament are simple and stylish. The lamp and flowers are the same height and placed on either side of the surface to create a balanced look. The artwork behind is the anchor that bridges the gap between the objects.
The top of a chest of drawers is a natural space for a bedroom vignette, but it doesn’t have to be fussy or contain loads of objects. In this traditional bedroom, a lamp, vase of flowers and an ocean-inspired ornament are simple and stylish. The lamp and flowers are the same height and placed on either side of the surface to create a balanced look. The artwork behind is the anchor that bridges the gap between the objects.
Channel your style
A vignette is a chance to express your personality, so if you love a certain style reflect it with a themed display. Here, bird-shaped hooks have been used to display glittering jewellery. They’re teamed with a religious icon, perfume bottles, trinket cases and a classical portrait for a nostalgic, vintage look.
The key to displaying an eclectic mix of objects is to keep things neat and ordered. It’s also important to balance the height of objects – here the orchid nearly reaches the same level as the hooks, which helps tie it all together.
A vignette is a chance to express your personality, so if you love a certain style reflect it with a themed display. Here, bird-shaped hooks have been used to display glittering jewellery. They’re teamed with a religious icon, perfume bottles, trinket cases and a classical portrait for a nostalgic, vintage look.
The key to displaying an eclectic mix of objects is to keep things neat and ordered. It’s also important to balance the height of objects – here the orchid nearly reaches the same level as the hooks, which helps tie it all together.
Make your bedside area an event
If your bedside table is a riot of dust and paperwork, then it’s time for a rethink as a stylish, organised bedside table will make you feel much more relaxed. Here, a compact lamp, vase with posy, a couple of books and a pretty dish are all that’s needed to make things feel special. Note also how the artwork has been hung directly above the table, helping to ground the display.
Planning a complete revamp of your bedroom? Here’s what you need to consider
If your bedside table is a riot of dust and paperwork, then it’s time for a rethink as a stylish, organised bedside table will make you feel much more relaxed. Here, a compact lamp, vase with posy, a couple of books and a pretty dish are all that’s needed to make things feel special. Note also how the artwork has been hung directly above the table, helping to ground the display.
Planning a complete revamp of your bedroom? Here’s what you need to consider
Try the ‘Rule of Three’
Never heard of it? Well, it came about because most designers feel that things arranged in odd numbers look more natural than even-numbered groupings. Here, a teacup balanced on a couple of antique books creates the third point of interest.
Never heard of it? Well, it came about because most designers feel that things arranged in odd numbers look more natural than even-numbered groupings. Here, a teacup balanced on a couple of antique books creates the third point of interest.
Bring out your ‘A’ game
This bedside display uses the A rule (grouped together, the objects roughly follow the letter’s shape). The neat display has allowed the owners to be brave with colour. They’ve added bright pink and orange to the blue, grey and cream colour scheme.
This bedside display uses the A rule (grouped together, the objects roughly follow the letter’s shape). The neat display has allowed the owners to be brave with colour. They’ve added bright pink and orange to the blue, grey and cream colour scheme.
Incorporate clothing
If you have items of clothing that are particularly pretty, try displaying them outside of the wardrobe – a pretty dress on a hanger, a hat casually displayed on a chair, you get the picture. And use colour to coordinate the items in your vignette. In this home, a palette of watery blues are picked out in the throw, hat, dress and vase. This room also shows how a successful display doesn’t have to be confined to one small surface – the chair, bed, chest of drawers and wall shelf all work together to form a beautiful vignette.
If you have items of clothing that are particularly pretty, try displaying them outside of the wardrobe – a pretty dress on a hanger, a hat casually displayed on a chair, you get the picture. And use colour to coordinate the items in your vignette. In this home, a palette of watery blues are picked out in the throw, hat, dress and vase. This room also shows how a successful display doesn’t have to be confined to one small surface – the chair, bed, chest of drawers and wall shelf all work together to form a beautiful vignette.
Work your lights
Why not opt for a suspended bedside light instead of a table lamp? This type of lighting is practical and looks amazing and, if it’s hung at the right height, it can be part of a display. This mini bedside shelf works with the cage light for a cool modern effect, and a sculptural houseplant finishes things off.
Choosing the right bedside lights for you
Why not opt for a suspended bedside light instead of a table lamp? This type of lighting is practical and looks amazing and, if it’s hung at the right height, it can be part of a display. This mini bedside shelf works with the cage light for a cool modern effect, and a sculptural houseplant finishes things off.
Choosing the right bedside lights for you
Consider the surface
The base your vignette will sit on will have an effect on how it looks, so consider thinking outside the box when deciding on a surface. Here, an old trunk makes a great bedside table and does half the work of creating a gorgeous vignette. The owners have teamed it with a retro-style radio and some old paperbacks for a vintage look. Hunt for interesting suitcases in local charity shops or look on eBay. However, do think about height – not all will be as tall as this one.
The base your vignette will sit on will have an effect on how it looks, so consider thinking outside the box when deciding on a surface. Here, an old trunk makes a great bedside table and does half the work of creating a gorgeous vignette. The owners have teamed it with a retro-style radio and some old paperbacks for a vintage look. Hunt for interesting suitcases in local charity shops or look on eBay. However, do think about height – not all will be as tall as this one.
Add a ledge behind the bed
In any bedroom, your eye is naturally drawn to the wall behind the bed, so consider turning this space into a focal point with a mini gallery of artwork. One or two picture shelves is all that is needed to display your chosen pieces. Mix up frames and sizes for a pleasing effect.
In any bedroom, your eye is naturally drawn to the wall behind the bed, so consider turning this space into a focal point with a mini gallery of artwork. One or two picture shelves is all that is needed to display your chosen pieces. Mix up frames and sizes for a pleasing effect.
Create a reading nook
Perhaps your bedroom vignette could be extended to include a reading area. Here, the frame of the midcentury armchair ties in with the wood sidetable, both in terms of tone and era, so the two areas don’t feel separate. A black frame was chosen for the print on the wall to tie in with the light and headboard, while the cushion on the chair mirrors the blue of the bedspread.
Perhaps your bedroom vignette could be extended to include a reading area. Here, the frame of the midcentury armchair ties in with the wood sidetable, both in terms of tone and era, so the two areas don’t feel separate. A black frame was chosen for the print on the wall to tie in with the light and headboard, while the cushion on the chair mirrors the blue of the bedspread.
Combine natural textures
This quirky wood table works with the organic textures of the objects on it. Natural surfaces, as well as flowers or plants, can bring vignettes to life, but if you don’t want to keep buying fresh flowers, consider investing in some good-quality artificial ones. There are some brilliantly convincing versions around these days; silk designs tend to be the best.
This quirky wood table works with the organic textures of the objects on it. Natural surfaces, as well as flowers or plants, can bring vignettes to life, but if you don’t want to keep buying fresh flowers, consider investing in some good-quality artificial ones. There are some brilliantly convincing versions around these days; silk designs tend to be the best.
Use what’s to hand
These pretty blue ceramic vases add a peaceful feel and tie in the bedside table with the navy bed linen.
You might not immediately consider a group of vases for your bedside table, but sometimes it’s the unexpected that catches the eye. Have a look around your home and see if you can pinch things from other rooms. The key is to find a similarity between a selection of objects that brings them together as a collection, such as colour, shape or style.
Want to create a vignette in your bathroom? Here are some tips
Have you created a vignette in your bedroom? Share your ideas/photos in the Comments below.
These pretty blue ceramic vases add a peaceful feel and tie in the bedside table with the navy bed linen.
You might not immediately consider a group of vases for your bedside table, but sometimes it’s the unexpected that catches the eye. Have a look around your home and see if you can pinch things from other rooms. The key is to find a similarity between a selection of objects that brings them together as a collection, such as colour, shape or style.
Want to create a vignette in your bathroom? Here are some tips
Have you created a vignette in your bedroom? Share your ideas/photos in the Comments below.
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Thanks for this article! The detailed explanations of such small vignettes was really helpful to understanding what is making the collection work together -- which will help me in other rooms as well.
I think all these photos look lovely, especially the horse artwork. But I do wonder about the idea of hanging up a pretty dress. What's the point? I get that it's the same colour as the room so it doesn't clash but it still seems a little odd to me. I love the 'hanging contraption' that the dress is on though; but I'd use that for clothes that I might wear the next day, or use it for guests staying who need just a little hanging/wardrobe space.
Thank you MJ :) The project with the Horse artwork belongs to us. Bedroom is such an intimate space and there for it's important to decorate it with an artwork that has some personal meaning as well as sets the right mood.