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.
Another FABULOUS and informative post Benita! Great design principles. I'll be linking to this!
Posted by: Rachel | September 10, 2008 at 03:54 PM
THIS IS SO AWESOME! I love that you broke it all down and explained it so clearly. You ROCK, Benita!
Joan in Louisiana
Posted by: joan | September 10, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Wonderful, very helpful post! Thank you so much! I love learning decorating tricks like these.
Posted by: Patia | September 10, 2008 at 04:44 PM
I'm really loving this blog. Everyday I look forward to seeing more pictures of your projects, ideas and home. Thank you!
Posted by: Katherine | September 10, 2008 at 04:47 PM
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?
Posted by: TM | September 10, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Thanks for this post! Very helpful!
Posted by: Julie | September 10, 2008 at 05:11 PM
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/
Posted by: sidsel | September 10, 2008 at 06:01 PM
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.
Posted by: Nancy | September 10, 2008 at 07:28 PM
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?
Posted by: lauri | September 10, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Love this post Benita!!! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: lucy | September 10, 2008 at 08:22 PM
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
Posted by: kenn | September 11, 2008 at 01:43 AM
Thankyou for being so generous. That is very helpful.
Posted by: Linda | September 11, 2008 at 02:02 AM
I really enjoyed this post and now I'll always have your advice in mind when displaying ;-). Thanks!
Posted by: Ksenia in Canada | September 11, 2008 at 02:35 AM
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
Posted by: Ibabe | September 11, 2008 at 04:17 AM
Thanks for your great tips. I can't wait to try them.
I really like your blog, keep on the good work!!
Posted by: Mirjam | September 11, 2008 at 05:25 AM
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 :)
Posted by: Ian J | September 11, 2008 at 05:33 AM
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
Posted by: Peacock Modern | September 11, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Jag håller precis på och inreder ett nytt hus och dina tips kommer vara till ovärderlig hjälp, tack!
Posted by: anette | September 11, 2008 at 03:42 PM
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
Posted by: carol kradolfer | September 11, 2008 at 07:09 PM
LOVE this post! I've linked to it over at my blog as well. This is such an informative topic!
Posted by: Rachel Shingleton | September 12, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Something I didn't know (consciously) but funny how I've always displayed things in uneven numbers!
Posted by: Maya | September 12, 2008 at 04:53 PM
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.
Posted by: SnippetyGibbet | September 12, 2008 at 09:43 PM
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
Posted by: Jay | September 13, 2008 at 11:37 AM
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 !! :)
Posted by: Helena | September 13, 2008 at 05:54 PM
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
Posted by: Benita | September 14, 2008 at 04:24 PM
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
Posted by: carol k | September 15, 2008 at 05:30 PM
it looks super Benita. lovely post.
Posted by: Tiel | September 16, 2008 at 07:15 PM
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....
Posted by: ken | September 17, 2008 at 03:27 AM
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
Posted by: sue | September 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
gosh i love your blog.. all the ideas and te tips are so awesome.. so glad i found it
Posted by: Natty | September 26, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Great blog...fresh, simple..and so super, love it!
Posted by: MaddyLane | September 30, 2008 at 10:38 PM
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.)
Posted by: Pittsy | October 03, 2008 at 01:40 AM
I knew of the triangle trick but the repetition trick is a great new idea for me!
Posted by: Sarah Jane | January 16, 2009 at 10:55 PM
thank you for this very thoughtful post.
Posted by: Account Deleted | August 26, 2009 at 11:11 AM
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
Posted by: Steffi | February 04, 2010 at 08:17 AM
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.
Posted by: Little Miss Wedding | February 09, 2010 at 07:16 PM
I am also from BYW class, referred by Leslie Shewring in our reading. Great ideas that have my mind percolating. Tak skal du ha'!
Posted by: kalanicut | September 19, 2010 at 05:59 AM