Autumn Breakfast Under the Old Oak Tree - Creating a Fall Vignette

Behind our current home is a giant old oak tree that's at least 150 year old and is just beautiful!  Although it's the source of many leaves to rake this Fall, it's also a great setting for a picnic or bite to eat.

After moving from a cold climate to North Carolina, I'm still amazed when those beautiful warm Fall days come around here and there.  Yesterday was one of those days and I took the opportunity to set the stage for a Fall breakfast under the old oak tree that has been "raining" leaves lately.  I love to put together a pretty table so as part of The Scoop On Creating Fall Vignettes Tour, I'd thought I'd share my creation process...

To be honest, I approach decorating, design, paint colors, tablescapes with almost pure intuition... A paint color can be just "the one" or a picture is too high (or low), etc.  For me, design is based almost solely on how something feels.  Although, I wish I was a trained interior designer, I actually have a degree in accounting, so anybody can do this!  Much of what I've learned over the years has been from soaking in pictures from home decor books, catalogs, magazines, etc.  The more you look at inspiration rooms and vignettes, the more you'll start seeing common elements among them.

When I first set about to create a vignette, tablecape, mantelscape, etc, I determine the overall design feel that I want it to have... Like a theme, but a much looser interpretation so that you'll keep your mind open to using unexpected elements.  I think it's just too easy to get caught up in decorating for a theme. In this case, I wanted a natural, relaxing Fall breakfast tablescape by using items that invoke that Autumn feeling (wool throws, pumpkins, hot drinks).

After I determine the overall feel I'm trying to convey, I shop the house and take stock of what I currently own that will work in the design.  Gather and group items by texture, height, and try to keep it to 2-3 colors for cohesiveness.  I find it easier to gather more items than I will need for the vignette because it allows me to swap things out and play with different arrangements.

Next, I select the anchor, focal point, or generally the largest item from the group as this will be what I build the vignette around.  Many times it will be artwork, mirror, lamp, but in this tablescape, the large zinc-topped lantern is the statement piece.

After filling the lantern with texture-rich items like twig balls, birch orbs, and small pumpkins,  I then look through my gathered items for substantial-sized elements (wicker demijohn, large white pumpkin, crock of tree clippings) that can hold their weight next to a large focal point.  Staggering the heights, textures, and colors of these items keeps it interesting to the eye...

Greenery, live plants, branches, etc are some of my favorite elements to use when creating vignettes.  They add height, softness and fluidity.

As the larger items find their place, I then fill in with the smaller elements and am careful to keep staggering the heights, colors, and textures like the larger items.  For example, instead of putting the white platter holding the coffee and cups directly on the table where it would blend with the table covering, I simply broke up the color and added elevation with a simple grapevine wreath placed under the platter.

Most vignettes take some tweaking.   Don't be afraid to move things around over and over...omitting or adding until it feels right to you.  There are not set rules, just guidelines, so have fun with it and play around.

The more vignettes, tablescapes, etc that you create, the more confident you'll feel the next time you re-arrange your home or have guests over!

Don't forget to visit more fantastic bloggers that are sharing their Fall vignette how-to's over the next several days:

Friday Nov 8 -

Back Porch Musings 

On Sutton Place 

Sophia's 

Chateau  Chic

Confessions of a Plate Addict 

Saturday Nov 9-

Cedar Hill Farmhouse 

Town and Country Living

A Stroll thru Life

Mom 4 Real

Setting for Four

Sunday Nov 10-

Savvy Southern Style

Hymns and Verses 

Lilacs and Longhorns 

Marty's Musings 

White Lace Cottage 

Monday Nov 11-  

Stone Gable 

The Everyday Home 

Our Southern Home

At the Picket Fence

My Soulful Home 

Tuesday Nov 12- 

Top This Top That

Inspiration for Moms

All Things Heart and Home

Domestically Speaking 

Botanic Bleu

Sharing at:

Southern Savvy Style
Between Naps on the Porch
Common Ground
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
From My Front Porch to Yours