The Art of Display

Having received some questions on how to display items on shelves I will give you some tricks of my trade. These are some very basic tricks that I teach the staff in the shops I work for.

Ofcourse there are more advanced display techniques and there are more advanced variations on the ones I'm teaching you but I won't get into that today. Also, it's not necessarily so that all beautifully styled shelves that you see in photos and in magazines have been styled using these techniques, some people just have an eye for it :) But once you know of these tricks you will probably start noticing that they are being used. Check out the chain store window displays next time you're out and about. You'll probably see a few examples.

Trick #1 TRIANGLES

   

Items which are grouped in a triangular shape draw the eye to the group as a whole instead of each individual item. The triangular shape is pleasing to the eye and without realising it your eye "reads" the display, starting at the top point, going to the bottom right and on to the bottom left and then back to the top. Click on the images to see them in bigger size.

Trick #2 GROUPING

For a triangle to be effective you need to group your items properly. Pick out the tallest item you want to display or add one if you were not planning on having one. This tall item will be the top point of your triangle. Add your mid sized items infront of your tall one. Place the outer ones to the side but still overlapping the tall one. Then place the smallest ones in front and to the side of them.

Grouping means exactly what it says, the items are or are almost touching each other (at least looking at them from the front) and yes, you may not see the every inch of the one at the back, but you will have a pretty grouping of items.

Trick #3 EMPTY SPACE

Don't be afraid of empty space when displaying. You may not have empty space in your bookcase but you should strive for some where you're not storing, but displaying.

Empty space basically means that you leave a bit of space around your group of items until there is another group. It helps the eye focus on your groups.

Trick #4 REPETITION

 

Repeating similar items is also a great attention grabber. If you have a collection of similar items you can simply line them up 3, 5 or 7 at a time. Uneven numbers are more pleasing to the eye as the eye tends to group things in two's which will "break apart" your display. Again think about the grouping trick, although this is not a triangle you still need to keep your repeated items close together, if not touching or overlapping. Also remember the empty space. Leave a little bit of space in between groups. 

When displaying I often use the triangle technique for a larger group and incorporate some small repeated items at the in bottom left or right of my triangle.

Trick #5

Keep it simple. Don't try to display all your nick-nacks at once. Store some and bring them out to switch your displays around.

I'm off early tomorrow to the south of Sweden to see my mom so I won't be posting again until Sunday. You'll have plenty of time to practice the art of display until then :)

Good luck!

Ps. The cute print "Little Olive Girl" is by Tiel Seivl-Keevers of Tsk Tsk who was recently featured on Design*Sponge.

Comments

[Rachel]

Another FABULOUS and informative post Benita! Great design principles. I'll be linking to this!

[joan]

THIS IS SO AWESOME! I love that you broke it all down and explained it so clearly. You ROCK, Benita!

Joan in Louisiana

[Patia]

Wonderful, very helpful post! Thank you so much! I love learning decorating tricks like these.

[Katherine]

I'm really loving this blog. Everyday I look forward to seeing more pictures of your projects, ideas and home. Thank you!

[TM]

WoW! Thank you so much for this post - just what I needed to learn! :-D

Do you have any good tricks for hanging stuff on the wall too?

[Julie]

Thanks for this post! Very helpful!

[sidsel]

Dear Benita

I love this post - and I hope it´s ok that I´ve posted it here.
http://www.myliving.dk/blog/spagat/opskriften_paa_smukke_opstillinger_419/

[Nancy]

WOW! This is what I always struggle with, displaying items. I have great stuff but I am not good at grouping or displays. Thank you so much! Please continue to teach more on this subject.

[lauri]

I LOVED this post. I am a visual learner and I totally loved how you explained how to make things look great. I have to go now, I have lots of stuff to regroup. Thanks!!!

PS How bout a post on how to hang pictures and make them look good?

[lucy]

Love this post Benita!!! Have a great weekend!

[kenn]

thanks for this post. i am off work sunday and monday and am going to put these principles of design to get my items into a great vignette. thanks

[Linda]

Thankyou for being so generous. That is very helpful.

[Ksenia in Canada]

I really enjoyed this post and now I'll always have your advice in mind when displaying ;-). Thanks!

[Ibabe]

Really good tips.
But unfortunately my boyfriend is an "space eater", he leaves, the keys, the watch, papers, every little space I leave emply...imposible to keep the shelves quite organized.

I should tell him to read your blog.

Thanks for all

[Mirjam]

Thanks for your great tips. I can't wait to try them.

I really like your blog, keep on the good work!!

[Ian J]

This is ace! Thanks for the tips, i love the idea of leaving negative space around stuff, similar to graphic design principles which is really cool :)

Love the how-to's you do, they are very inspirational :)

[Peacock Modern]

This is great - thanks so much for sharing! I posted about your great ideas on my blog as well:
http://peacockmodern.blogspot.com/2008/09/speaking-of-displays.html

[anette]

Jag håller precis på och inreder ett nytt hus och dina tips kommer vara till ovärderlig hjälp, tack!

[carol kradolfer]

Benita-
Every single day I am so inspird by your home. I love your info. about visual triangles and using space.
What are your rules for editing? I would love to hear how you get your fabulously pared down look.
Blessings to you .carol

[Rachel Shingleton]

LOVE this post! I've linked to it over at my blog as well. This is such an informative topic!

[Maya]

Something I didn't know (consciously) but funny how I've always displayed things in uneven numbers!

[SnippetyGibbet]

Really nice post. I know some of this intuitively, but not all of it, and it is nice to see it to refer to later.

[Jay]

Benita, I hope that you and the family are well, and that everything is fine in your part of the world. Three days without a post from you is sort of like three days without sunshine. Your posts always brighten my day. Hope to hear from you in a post soon. Take care, Jay

[Helena]

Oh Benita, thank you so much for this post. When grouping objects, sometimes I like, sometimes I don't. I´m sure that with your tricks I'll do it better and easier.
Your blog is a MUST !! :)

[Benita]

Rachel, Rachel, Peacock Modern and sidsel, thank you so much for linking! So Sweet of you :)

I'll definitely consider the picture hanging post request. Will have to have a proper think about it first though...

carol kradolfer, this may answer your question on editing.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/organizing/top-10-organizing-tips-from-chez-larsson-050026

[carol k]

Benita- Thanks for the 10 organizing tips. I am using the give away bag tip and I am working on realizing that ,in a 100 life times ,I'll probably never use all the stuff I have, so I can let it go. YEAH!
You are so inspiring. Thanks again.
Carol

[Tiel]

it looks super Benita. lovely post.

[ken]

WOW! This is a great idea. I will definitely do this in my office area. Thanks for the post. I might post this idea in my blog as well....

[sue]

Thank you for this post moved into a new home and hope to soon be doing some decorating. This will hep. I have also used this post in my blog with a link back here. Keep up the great blogs. I always enjoy them!
Sue

[Natty]

gosh i love your blog.. all the ideas and te tips are so awesome.. so glad i found it

[MaddyLane]

Great blog...fresh, simple..and so super, love it!

[Pittsy]

So refreshing. I just came across your blog and I love it. I posted a link myself today. I must share! (My husband's people are Swedish so my children share in your heritage.)

[Sarah Jane]

I knew of the triangle trick but the repetition trick is a great new idea for me!

[Account Deleted]

thank you for this very thoughtful post.

[Steffi]

You are such a cool teacher! Thanks for these ideas. Found the link through Blogging your way-class of Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring.
Have a lovely day! I'll go and decorate some triangles! :)
Steffi

[Little Miss Wedding]

great post - I really need some help with styling and this post has made it seem really simple and clear (I hope will be as simple in practice!) I to am from BYW course with Holly and Leslie and I am sure your tips will come in useful for our homework.

[kalanicut]

I am also from BYW class, referred by Leslie Shewring in our reading. Great ideas that have my mind percolating. Tak skal du ha'!