Sightlines and Vignettes: Building Visual Narratives

Carla mentioned this week how her new yellow dining room looks amazing from across the room—but what does that mean? Let’s talk sightlines and vignettes. 

These are the quiet MVPs of home style. We all obsess over throw pillows and paint swatches (don’t pretend you haven’t stress-scrolled through 12 nearly identical whites). But sightlines and vignettes? That’s the good stuff. They’re what make your space feel like more than just a bunch of furniture—more like a place with a vibe people want to walk into and never leave.

                     
                      image credit: Smith and Vansant

First off—what is a sightline?

Put simply, it’s what you see when you glance across a room, peek through a doorway, or casually check around a corner to see if that package you’re hiding from your husband has shown up yet. It’s your home’s visual first impression—and like people, it deserves to make a good one.

A clean, intentional sightline is like a wink across the room. It draws your eye in, makes you curious, and sets the tone for the space beyond. You don’t need an open floor plan or architectural drama. A well-placed mirror, a bold piece of art, or a lamp with a little flair can pull your eye forward and make your space feel bigger and smarter than it actually is (like a home wearing glasses).


image credit: Gievere Anderson

Vignettes: The still life's of real life

Now for the juicy bit—vignettes. These are those carefully curated little corners that whisper, “I read design books for fun and own too many vintage vases.” (Just me?)

A vignette can live on a console, a nightstand, the top of your toilet tank (just joking, don't do this). It’s a mix of items that, together, say something about your style—or at least how well you hoard. 

Here's the anatomy of a great vignette:

Something tall (lamp, branch, oversized candlestick)

Something sculptural or quirky (hello, ceramic pigeon)

Something flat or grounding (a book stack or tray)

And optional, something living (plant, flower, or vaguely alive air plant)

Bonus points for anything that sparks conversation or confusion. This I can't live without. In fact, I've built a whole business around selling these. 


image credit: Collected Interiors

Sightlines + Vignettes = Visual Narrative

Together, sightlines and vignettes are how you build a visual narrative. A term that sounds very serious and design-school-y, but really just means your home tells a story—one that starts from the first impression and unfolds like a magazine spread as you move through it.

Every view should feel intentional. Even if your life is decidedly not. (Like mine, which currently includes about 12 random chairs in storage.)

You don’t need perfection—just a few great focal points and corners that feel considered.

Quick tips to level up your sightlines and vignettes:

Stand in your doorway. What do you see first? Edit or zhuzh that spot until it better reflects your vision for the home. 

Float your furniture. Even slightly. A room with breathing room feels more composed.

Use mirrors wisely. Reflect something beautiful—never your TV, where you put your laundry pile, or yourself at 7 a.m. 

Layer your vignettes. Try odd numbers, vary heights, and don’t be afraid to rearrange every time you walk by. (Therapy? No need, I restyle surfaces.)


image credit: Elizabeth Kruger

At the end of the day, this is about making your home feel like it has something to say. 

-Juliette

Pssst - We just might know a place to find that perfect weird conversation-starting piece....