Rank and File

Never line accessories up like soldiers standing in a straight row.

Adding dimension is an important part of placing objects for display. Groups of items look better when arranged in an odd number. Remember the adage “shiny, matte, tall and fat” when positioning accessories. Items that look too similar are usually boring. Objects can have a common denominator, like texture, material or color, but need not exactly match.

It is a common mistake to use accessories that are too small. Scale is always key to good design, and if in doubt, bigger is usually better. One large painting looks better than a group of small ones. The eye must take a visual rest now and then, so leave some surfaces empty and some walls bare.