The “Rule of Thirds” Is the Artist Trick You’ll Want to Try on Shelves
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When you’re staring at an empty shelf, it can be hard to know where and how to start decorating it. You could haphazardly fill it to the brim with books and objects that mean something to you, since the point of storage is to use it. But if you’re looking to create as much of a vibe as you are a functional feature, then you might want to go a little more curated in your approach to shelf styling. This might be especially true if the shelf is in a prominent spot in your living room and you just don’t want a ton of visual clutter in that space.
The first trick I always trot out when styling? I think back to my studio art and art history days in high school and college, and use the “rule of thirds” as a framework for an interesting tableaux. It’s pretty simple: In compositions, the rule of thirds means dividing the picture plane into a grid with nine equal parts and placing the most important elements of the work at the grid’s four vertical and horizontal line intersection points.
Essentially, the rule of thirds moves the focal point of a piece off-center, and that creates visual dynamism and tension in a composition, which can make it more memorable and fulfilling to look at.
Day 18: Give your shelf a mini makeover.
Today we’re going to be giving our shelf a “mini makeover” using the rule of thirds.
This is a really easy principle to apply to shelf styling. Think of your shelf and the blank space above it as a picture plane, and visualize dividing it into a grid (you might have to decide how high you want to go with your “grid” if there isn’t another shelf right above it limiting its height).
When you start to place things on the shelf, try to use those invisible intersection points as guides for where to put, say, a stack of books or a decorative object. This way, you won’t be working from the center out but from the thirds in. And you can use those intersection points to guide the height of your objects, books, and plants, too. Just don’t feel like you have to hit each of the four intersection spots; some white space can be your friend, too.
The rule of thirds isn’t an exact science when it comes to shelf styling; it’s just a good way to get the creative juices flowing, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to follow it to a T. If you have really long shelves, like what you see in the photo above, you might find that it’s helpful to divide a single shelf into three sections — and then use the rule of thirds within each of those smaller areas. The idea is to create a framework and then play around with things, even rotating them out on occasion. The best shelves will tell your story, and that’s always evolving.
PRO TIP: Editing is a shelf stylist’s best friend. Like Coco Chanel famously said about accessories, you should take one thing off before leaving the house. Just when you think you’ve achieved an ideal composition, remove one small item. Chances are you don’t need it there.
Share your shelf makeover in the community forum.
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Further Reading
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We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
