Bookshelves are more than just a place to store your favorite reads. They also provide a prominent space to show off your personality through meaningful objects, balancing pretty with practical. There’s a trick to arranging bookshelves so they feel curated, not chaotic, though. The simple solution? Triangles.
What Is the Triangle Method?
Don’t panic — there’s no need to dust off a geometry textbook. The triangle method is a styling technique that involves arranging objects (think books, framed photos, decorative pieces, and plants) in a triangular shape to create visually appealing vignettes.
It’s easy to put into practice: The key is to horizontally or vertically stack objects so they form a triangle when viewed as a whole. Remember that there are multiple ways to form visual triangles; you could opt for the classic equilateral triangle, a right triangle, or an isosceles triangle. For example, on one shelf you may place a tall vase to the left, a stack of books (shorter than the vase) in the center, and a small framed photo (shorter than the stack of books) to the right, creating a right triangle. Or, you could form a regular triangle by stacking two similarly sized books topped with a decorative object, such as a brass butterfly.
TikTok creator Nick Lowry shared a helpful tip about the triangle method: Don’t copy the same vignette arrangement on a shelf above or below, as it will end up looking unbalanced. Alternating how your triangles are organized allows the eye to effortlessly move around the arrangements.
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More Tips for Expertly Styling Bookshelves
• Weigh Them Down: Large and heavy items, such as coffee table books or a collection of records, look best on bottom shelves. They visually ground the bookshelves.
• Style Each Shelf Individually: Treat each shelf as an individual vignette, varying the size and placement of the triangles to avoid monotony.
• Take Your Time: The best bookshelves are filled with special-to-you items collected over time. Consider adding seashells from a beach vacation, a framed vintage family photo, or a handmade ceramic vase gifted from a friend.
• Incorporate Negative Space: Leave some open space around your triangles to ensure the bookshelves don’t feel too cluttered.
• Mix and Match Qualities: Variety is key. Integrate items with different shapes, colors, textures, and materials to add dimension and interest.
• Group Items in Odd Numbers: Objects arranged in sets of three, five, or other odd numbers offer a sense of balance, while also creating a focal point of a central object.
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