RENOVATE & REFINE
styling
interior
ARTICLE LEANN PARKER
HAVE YOU EVER PIECED TOGETHER AN OUTFIT FOR A SPE-
To get started on styling a vignette, first
CIAL EVENT OR PLACED A COLLECTION OF ITEMS ON A SHELF
decide on the space you’ll place it. It could
AND THEN STOOD BACK AND FOUND THAT THE PIECES YOU
be an empty shelf, bedside table, or coffee
PULLED TOGETHER TOTALLY WORKED OR COMPLETELY DID
table. Next, collect a few of your very favor-
NOT WORK? I used to think that I either needed a whole lot of tal-
ite things that could be styled there. These
ent or a bit of luck when it came to styling something beautifully.
objects could be a few books, a vase with
Turns out, there is no talent or luck about it at all. It all starts with a
flowers, a candle, a small clock, a plant, a few
math formula. This formula is known as The Golden Ratio of 1.618.
apples, the list is endless Now that you have
Discovered in the ancient world by mathematicians, this pattern can
your space and objects to style, it’s time to
be found all over in the world of nature. This ratio creates patterns
assemble your vignette.
that can be found on the spines of a pinecone, seeds on a sunflower head, spirals on seashell, even the human form, to name only a few.
GET IN LINE! {Where to place objects}
And our eyes love to see it. Why our eye likes this particular pat-
In grid form, the Golden Ratio shows
tern may remain a mystery but how to achieve it is no mystery at
designers exactly where to place the most
all. Fashion designers, interior designers, architects, photographers
important objects in the composition
and artists have all been using this formula for centuries in order to
for the greatest visual appeal. Known as
achieve visually appealing compositions. And so can you!
Phi, this grid splits the space that you’re working with into thirds vertically and hor-
LET’S MAKE A VIGNETTE!
izontally. To apply to your vignette, place
In interior styling, a vignette is a small, curated collection of objects
the most important objects on the correla-
grouped together to create a smaller picture within a larger space in
tion grid lines. Even better, on the points
a room. Chances are, at some point you’ve put together a vignette
where the lines intersect. This will be more
without knowing it was one. What makes the difference between a
appealing to the eye then if the important
purposefully styled vignette and a cluttered collection is all in the
objects are in the center of the frame or far
composition. The composition is most appealing when this amazing
to the sides.
Golden Ratio is applied. 48
Johnson County Lifestyle | September 2021
CONTINUED >