As the outdoor pots and baskets have been planted and the 85 bags of mulch laid, we are embarking on a new project this week. More on that later.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the nucleus of what makes my home. Looking upon these items as the glue that makes everything stick. These items help to make sense of the look I am trying to achieve, and creates the balance I am always trying to perfect.

I will share with you why I have collected these particular items but, they are by no means in any special order. Each is part of the whole.

Trays and Platters. I have a ton. They are flexible, and can be used in so many ways. Of course there is the usual purpose of serving food. Yes that’s handy. But have you ever thought to display them as wall art, propped in a bookcase or cupboard. How about corralling a display of small objects. If you are a smalls collector this is a great way to showcase those objects by isolating a larger space with a platter or tray.

Antique Books. Ok, your books can be anything from antique or vintage to brand new but, this is one of the most important tools I have in my wheel house. I like scruffy old leather bound books, with uneven ruffled pages and, time worn covers. Not only do they tell a story, they create a mood I am trying to achieve. Again they are great space isolators, drawing the eye up or down, but left to right as well. You can stack your books to corral your smalls, just like a tray. They add texture and color to your overall space and, they are an opportunity for surprise, by tucking in a decorative element between the bindings. Open on a table with a cup and saucer and a pair of fun glasses they can create that sense of “in the moment.”

Bowls. In every shape and size. Pottery, wood, ceramic, footed bowls, you name it, I probably have it. Bowls are a great space isolator and can create an interesting shape on a table of any kind. Because so many accessories can be angular, bowls can be the softening element in a vignette, a focal point or a supporting player. Bowls can be filled or empty. They can also be displayed on their side using a deep easel. When the interior is more beautiful than the outside, why not show it at its best advantage. Bowls have their preferred height in which they are meant to be seen. Ask yourself will it be viewed from a standing or a sitting position? Place it accordingly.

Risers and Pedestals. These are not the main player but are definitely things I can’t live without. Risers are those wooden bases that you often see at the base of a lamp. They add about 1″ in height to the object. They come in many different sizes and can usually be picked up at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, a lamp store or of course Amazon. Everything has its height in which it is meant to be seen at. Sometimes when creating a vignette, that one inch can make a world of difference. They can be used to raise a bowl, candlestick, figurine, or decanter, anything that just needs a bit more height or an anchor. I have them in every size. Risers I use on a whim. I let the vignette tell me if I need one. Pedestals like my round beaded one, or a cake stand are tools for creating a vignette and corralling smalls. A cake stand isn’t just for cake anymore!

Candlesticks and Sconces. I have pewter and a few brass. No I don’t use battery operated candles. I prefer the real thing. Using candlesticks or sconces in every room adds a bit of romance. They will direct the eye up to where you want your attention focused and help to create movement around a room. The small and dainty candlesticks are not for me, I tend to like them a bit bolder. Mine are not grouped together they tend to be more of an exclamation point. My Welsh cupboards both sconces and candlesticks, they are in my corner cabinet, on the trunk or an end table. Anywhere I decide a bit of a vertical accent can be beneficial. Sconces are great to use as either a stand alone accent or in a gallery wall to break up all the uniform shapes.

Bottles and Decanters. This is one collection that is scattered. I have many reproduction glass bottles with tax stamps. Heavily bodied these bottles are mostly dark green and a lot of them are onion shaped. Love these things, and yes, I have them in every room in my home. I use them as both back up, and main players. Rarely as a stand alone. Next to a stack of leather bound books they are delicious, in a vignette they create a dramatic punctuation, and sometimes I use them to just draw the eye in. A wonderful vintage bottle holds my olive oil in the kitchen. I like to use decanters as an opportunity to create a bit of lightness or sparkle in a vignette. Mouthwash in the bathroom in a decanter is so much more appealing than a plastic bottle!

Dishes. If you’ve been reading me for even a minute you know how much I love dishes. Dishes are like pillows. Pop, and you have a completely new look! There are so many fabulous dishes from antique to vintage that can now be purchased for a song, some that are truly a work of art. A good dish wall can create a more interesting wall than a picture. Shoot just check your grandmothers china cabinet. Dishes aren’t just for eating anymore either!

Baskets, Boxes, Trunks and More. Living in a small home I learned early on that I needed to create storage in plain sight. In the 80’s I started collecting band boxes and I am still using them today to store a lot of my Christmas decor. My trunk houses small trees and other holiday decorations and adds an interesting relic to my lower level room. An antique wicker suitcase has housed everything from books to, florals and creates a nice texture wherever it lands. A French leather hatbox also has good storage but its interesting shape creates conversation on the Welsh Cupboard.

These are just a few of my must haves. I hope this gives you some ideas as to how to create better display and vignettes in your own home. I’ve had so much fun collecting over the years and each object brings me such joy and enables me to create a new look on a whim. I don’t store much of my stuff, I use it on a daily basis. What special pieces do you have that are always included in your home? Until next time.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley