Styling vintage decor to create beautiful vignettes and displays!
Happy Friday!
Sorry for the unexpected radio silence. If you've been reading my blog for a while or follow me on Instagram then you probably already know that in addition to blogging, I also have a booth at a local vintage barn.
Picking, hunting, styling, staging and having a successful vintage booth started out as a side hustle, but has quickly become a full-time gig and true passion of mine. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE blogging and decorating and won't be giving that up any time soon. I've just been spending the majority of my time and energy on growing my vintage business.
With that being said, I thought I would share some recent vintage finds, booth photos and a few of my favorite ways to style vintage decor to create beautiful displays and vignettes.
What are my favorite vintage smalls to hunt for? Vintage cameras, doctor bags, clocks, amber medicine and apothecary bottles, creepy dolls, ironstone pitchers, brass candlesticks and animals, glove molds, blue and green books, gold frames and flower frogs will always be a favorite of mine. I love styling them with books and greenery to create beautiful vintage vignettes.
Where are some of my favorite places to finds vintage decor? I tend to gravitate towards auctions, thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, Facebook Marketplace and antique malls. If I'm not planning a day at an auction then a lot of times I just get in my car and head out in search of new places to shop and pick.
What are my favorite "fillers" to use when styling and creating vignettes? I love styling and staging vintage decor with suitcases, books, greenery, register flags, flashcards/bingo cards and black and white photos. They're perfect for grounding decor and adding texture, dimension and interest.
What is my best advice for creating beautiful vignettes in a vintage booth?
1. Find a good balance between styling and merchandising. You want to have a full booth, but you also have to be intentional about what you bring into your booth. Create displays that are natural and not overwhelming. This allows shoppers to easily see what you have to offer as well as visualize the items in their own home.
2. Buy what you love. Not everyone will agree with this, but I truly believe if you buy what you love, you will be passionate about your space, which will show in your displays.
3. Keep inventory cohesive. No matter your style, keep your inventory cohesive for an intentional and welcoming look. Yes, you can absolutely incorporate multiple styles (I tend to lean towards MCM, industrial and vintage) and still have a cohesive space. Stick to a couple key colors/styles and balance those throughout your entire space.
4. Ground decor and use "fillers" in your displays. Use a tray, basket, large book, riser or throw under your displays to ground them and bring the entire look together. These items are also great for adding height and variation, which keep your displays from looking flat. Fill in void areas and add a touch of texture with greenery, small books, cards, etc.
5. Remember the rule of 3. Simply put, decor looks better in sets of three. I don't always follow this rule, but I definitely try to stick to it as much as I can. Keeping to groups of three creates balance and an illusion of symmetry (ex. center/left/right)
You can read more about my favorite tips for running a successful vintage booth HERE!
Do you love vintage decor and styling as much as I do? You can follow me on Instagram for endless vintage decor styling inspiration and stay up-to-date with my vintage shop happenings.
Have a lovely weekend, friends!
Do you have a tutorial on how to paint that dresser/buffet? Stunning! I’m in love with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I don't, but it's super easy to achieve the look. I used General Finishes Lamp Black, heavily distressed it with fine grit sandpaper then sealed the paint with GF Satin Finishing Wax.
DeleteThis is awesome! I just got a booth this month, and always welcome ideas and tips!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
EyeLoveKnots.com
OnRockwoodLane.com
I'm so glad you found the tips helpful!
DeleteI think it's shameful to tear the spines off of old books just for "that look"....I noticed it everywhere a couple weeks ago at Sweet Clover, Chartreuse, On a Whim, Luckettes......
ReplyDeleteI get that. I only take spines off books that are falling apart or severely damaged. MANY books are thrown away/trashed and I look at it as I (and others) are using them as decor, which is much better than seeing them destroyed.
DeleteSo many wonderful display ideas Katie! We have a couple of antique booths and these vignette displays have certainly inspired and motivated me to get creative and change things up a bit. Can't wait to get started!
ReplyDelete