How To Create A Cottage Style Vignette With Vintage Finds

Learn how to blend your new decor with vintage thrift store finds to create a cottage style vignette in five easy steps.

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How To Create A Cottage Style Vignette With Vintage Finds

I’ve been drawn to old things for as long as I can remember. So it’s no surprise that I love to use a mix of vintage and thrift store finds to give our traditional style home a touch of cozy cottage charm.

Today I’m so honored to join the ladies of thrifting with the gals to share how I used vintage finds from thrift stores and flea markets to create a beautiful cottage style vignette.

Thanks to my friend Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse for inviting me to join the fun! If you haven’t seen Rachel’s post yet, filled with ideas for unique containers to display flowers and greenery, be sure to pop over to her blog and give it a read.

And don’t forget to see what the other gals, Ann, Robyn, and Kristin, were up to this month. You can see what they found on their thrifting adventures by clicking on their posts linked at the bottom of the page.

The Best Places To Shop For Vintage and Thrifted Finds

If you’re a lover of all things old, chippy, and worn, you probably know all the best places to shop. But if you’re new to thrifting, I hope these suggestions help.

Some of my favorite places to look for affordable vintage decor are garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores.

In recent years, barn sales and local vintage shows have become popular and are also great places to scoop up unique finds. We have some amazing ones here in Nebraska, and I love to go whenever I can.

Vintage Market Days, Junkstock, and Rural Route Rust are just a few of the sales I’ve attended in the past and where I’ve found some of my most treasured vintage pieces.

I’m always on the hunt for items like brass candlesticks, architectural salvage, and pretty linens. And at the top of the list of things I never pass up at a flea market or thrift store are vintage dishes and stoneware.

I love to find creative ways to display these pieces throughout our home, and they make perfect props for all of the yummy recipes I share here on the blog.

A few weeks ago, I spotted this chamber pot at a cute little restaurant and antique shop near my hometown. It was love at first sight. I simply couldn’t pass it up.

I already have so many ideas for how to style it, but for now, it’s perfect for creating a simple summer vignette.

5 Easy Steps To Creating A Vignette

I styled my new stoneware on top of an old chest that I purchased from Hobby Lobby years ago. I love that the chest doubles as both a coffee table and storage for extra blankets.

And it makes the perfect little spot for creating a vignette with some of my favorite things.

There are a few rules of thumb I like to keep in mind when creating a vignette, but the biggest takeaway is don’t be afraid to experiment.

If you’re feeling stuck, Pinterest, magazines, and blogs are all great places to look for ideas and inspiration. And remember, it’s okay if your vignette doesn’t look or feel right on the first try.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve styled a vignette from start to finish without making a gazillion changes first.

(Hint. It’s zero.)

Trial and error are part of the creative process. So don’t hesitate to lean in, be patient, and embrace it. The more you play around with things, the more you’ll find what works in your home and makes you happy.

The bottom line? Your home should be a reflection of you, so don’t worry, have fun, and do what you love.

There’s really no right or wrong way to create a vignette, but here are five easy steps you can use as a guide to help you get started.

1 ) Choose Items That Tell A Story

To style your vignette, first, start with an inspiration piece. It can be a vintage find like my stoneware pot, a family photo, or seasonal decor. Those are just a few examples, so don’t feel like they’re your only choices. Anything goes!

Next, look for items that help tell a story. Chose things that have similar colors or a theme to help your vignette look cohesive.

For summer, I love the casual look of coastal decor, so I chose elements that would give our living room the feel of a cozy cottage on the beach.

(And yes, I realize that Nebraska is nowhere near a beach. But a girl can dream, right?)

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the beach is seashells, so this starfish was perfect. It complements the color of the stoneware, and I love that it reminds me of a family vacation we took to Mexico a few years ago.

I always like to use greenery to add a bit of color, and as luck would have it, this fern fit perfectly in my pot.

Then to round out my vignette, I grabbed a stack of books, some old glass medicine jars that were in the girls’ bathroom, and a vintage camera.

Nothing is overly matchy-matchy, but the neutral wood tones, paired with the white and black elements, blend well with the blue and white colors in our living room to create a relaxed, coastal feel. It seems that even our kitty, Rey, approves.

2 ) Anchor The Vignette With A Base

I’m all about creating layers with my decor. So each time I style a vignette, I like to start with a base that serves as the anchor for the grouping.

Your base can be anything. A wire basket, old wood crate, vintage dough bowl, woven basket, chippy wood tray, or antique bread board. Shop your home for items you can use and get creative. You might be surprised what you find!

For my cottage vignette, I used a large wood tray. The tray itself isn’t vintage, but I love that it has a weathered and aged look.

Trays like this one are very affordable and can be found just about anywhere. If you’re looking for a few key pieces to add to your home decor arsenal, items that can be used year-round are worth the investment.

3) Use A Mix of Materials

When styling a vignette, use a mix of materials like glass, metal, wood, or fabric.

Not only does it add texture, but it helps to give your vignette character and interest.

Use your imagination and include family heirlooms or vintage pieces from a special collection you have to share more of your story.

4) Include Items of Different Heights

I like to create depth and dimension in my vignettes by using items of different heights.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by stacking items on top of vintage books.

You can see that on its own, my pot is too short. The simple addition of a few books helps add color, and texture to the vignette and gives it the extra height it needs.

When you create your vignette, think about styling your decor in the shape of a triangle. Start with the tallest items near the back. Then build your layers and add the shortest pieces near the front until the vignette looks balanced and equal on both sides.

Once I think I’m done with a vignette, I always like to take a step back and see how it blends with the room. Then I tweak it until I’m happy with how it looks.

It may take some practice, but the more you do it, the more natural it will feel, and you’ll be a vignette styling pro in no time.

5) Remember The Rule Of Threes

The last tip I keep in mind when styling my vignettes is the rule of threes.

Simply stated, this guideline’s based on the idea that things arranged in odd numbers are more visually appealing.

It’s an easy concept to remember, and it helps me when I style other areas of our home too.

How To Create A Cottage Style Vignette With Vintage Finds

Phew! If you made it this far, thanks for hanging with me. I hope these tips for how to style a vignette are helpful and inspire you to create some in your home.

Many of the items that I shared are thrifted or older, but if you’d like to recreate a similar look, I’ll share some sources for our living room below. Just tap on any of the photos to shop and see more.

More Thrifting Adventures

Thanks for stopping by! Next, go and visit Ann at Dabbling and Decorating to see some of her favorite summer thrift store finds. And check out all this month’s thrifting adventures from the gals, linked below.

Xo,

Dabbling & Decorating – This Summers Thrift Store Decor Finds

Robyn’s French Nest – How To Shop For Vintage Decor And Antiques When You’re Traveling

White Arrows Home – Recent Antique And Vintage Thrifted Finds

The Ponds Farmhouse – Unique Thrifted Containers For Flowers And Greenery

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