Have you heard of ‘Sit-Abouts’? Joanna Gaines swears they’re the missing detail that helps your home tell a story

I love Joanna's idea of 'sit-abouts', those little pieces that really pull together a shelf, or a coffee table, or a sideboard, and luckily, her new collection is absolutely full of them

a collection of small trinkets
(Image credit: Magnolia)

Sometimes, all it takes to make a dull spot in your home come to life is a few decorative trinkets. That is according to Joanna Gaines, who filled her Magnolia fall collection with these trinkets, or as she calls them, 'sit-abouts'.

'One of the things I really wanted for this fall collection were little 'sit-abouts',' Joanna said in a recent Instagram video. These sit-abouts are essentially styling trinkets – small decorative details that give bare shelves or tabletops more character and personality. 'It's these little moments that I think really help storytell on your shelves,' she explained.

Sit-abouts come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Some are made from wood, and others from brass; some serve a purpose, while others are purely decorative. Differences aside, all sit-abouts have one common trait – they're all details that can help make your home more unique, and there are tons of them in Joanna's new fall collection.

You see, the best interiors are ones that feel layered and collected, and sit-abouts can help make that happen. Sit-abouts speak to your personality, and they're meant to reflect your interests and favorite things – whatever those may be.

Sit-abouts can be used to style a shelf that needs some sort of decor other than books, or they can function as unique coffee table decor. They can even serve as desk styling accessories, mantel adornments, or bedside table decor. Wherever they're used, sit-abouts are bound to add character to the space and make it feel more personal.

Lucky for us, Joanna designed tons of unique sit-abouts that are all available at Magnolia. From decorative bird sculptures to binoculars and even an hourglass, find 12 standout sit-abouts below.


Sometimes, it's the little details that have the greatest impact in the home. And aside from these little sit-abouts from Magnolia, Joanna Gaines has even more tiny decor in her Hearth and Hand collection at Target.

Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.

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