Listen to the Design Your Home Podcast to help you design and decorate your home WITH confidence
Nestorations
Do you ever walk into someone’s home and just marvel at how good it looks? Your eyes hop around the room and everything just seems to flow. It’s perfectly accessorized. You aren’t quite sure why but you know it just looks good.
Well, my friend…it’s likely because they embrace what interior designers call the “rule of three.” And the good news is that your house can look like that, too. Read on to see how.
What is the "Rule of Three"
In a nutshell, the rule of three suggests that things grouped in threes are more natural, harmonious and visually appealing. Odd numbers challenge our brains a bit and are more interesting. The Latin phrase “omne trium perfectum” means “everything that comes in threes is perfect, or, every set of three is complete.” And when it comes to design that definition fits perfectly. Our eyes naturally are drawn to groups of three.
But wait, Sally. I thought design is about balance so shouldn’t I use pairs to keep things symmetrical? Well…yes and no. You’re right that design is about balance but we have to balance both symmetry and asymmetry.
Pairs of objects can feel formal and symmetry can even feel a bit stuffy at times. So, you can soften those pairs by adding a group of three. For example, if you have a pair of lamps on a console table in your foyer (that’s your symmetry) add a group of three accessories by one of the lamps (your asymmetry). The image below of my own foyer console table is a good example of combining symmetry and assymetry. The combination feels balanced, but not stuffy.
What about other odd numbers? Can we have one or five accessories? Well, you could, but one accessory on it’s own is pretty boring and 5 can be overwhelming and busy. Three is the sweet spot.
When you select the colors for your room you also want to think in threes. Three colors in a room is very complimentary and soothing on our eyes. The first color is your main color, the second color is still prominent, but not as much as the main color. The third color is your accent color that you use sparingly or sprinkled here and there. If you’re into numbers you could break this down into 60%, 30%, and 10%. Main color: 60%. Secondary color: 30%. Accent color 10%.
In this example below, the main color is our beigey/neutral. The secondary color is brown and the accent color is purple.
Use the rule of three with accents/decor
When accessorizing your home you really do want to add some groups of three. It keeps things interesting. You could have three vases or three objects grouped together to create a small vignette. It looks put together and is easy on the eyes.
When using a group of three accessories sometimes a pair or cluster of accessories acts as one. In this example below my group of three is: a tall vase, a smaller vase, a stack of books with beads and porcelain flowers (these act as one).
Below is a cluster of accessories on an end table. The stacked books with beads and decor is one part of the “three”, the coral is one part and the succulent vase is the third in the trio.
This last example shows how the rule of three works in a bookcase in my client’s home. The shelf with the driftwood wreath has three objects grouped together– the wreath, the coral, and the teal porcelain flower. I love the way this grouping looks together.
Final thoughts...
Now, I don’t recommend following every design “rule”. But, if you’re new to design then learning the rule of three will save you a lot of time and frustration when decorating your own home.
And as always, if you’d rather leave all this styling to the pros then reach out to work with me. All you have to do is fill out a few questions on my contact page (it will take you 2 minutes) and you’ll get to schedule a complimentary call with me to talk about your home. How great is that?
Where can you use the rule of three in your home?
Please follow and like us:
Join my exclusive club to get access to the latest interior design tips and inspiration. I promise...not too much, not too little...but just the right amount of design love.
We use cookies to give you the best experience. By using this site you accept our use of cookies. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
What is the "Rule of Three" In a nutshell, the rule of three suggests that things grouped in threes are more natural, harmonious and visually appealing. Odd numbers challenge our brains a bit and are more interesting.
What Is the Rule of Three? Grouping things in threes is pleasing to the eye and creates a balanced composition that is visually appealing. “Items of any kind look better when used in groups of three” says Kristin Marino, interior designer and founder of Kozy Kasa.
A beautifully decorated interior not only functions well but it creates a mood or a feeling and shows off the personality of the family that lives there. It's attention to these three important ingredients — function, mood and personality — that ensures decorating success.
This decorating rule suggests that you should cover your room with 60% of a dominant color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% of an accent shade. It is all about maintaining the perfect balance of tones. Pick colors that mingle well with each other to create a subtle combo.
The Rule of Threes is a design principle used to make a space appear visually cohesive. It originates from Feng Shui, where it is believed that The Rule Of Threes creates more energy in a room. When looking at a styled space, it is more visually appealing to our eyes to look at a grouping of odd numbers.
Meaning. The rule of three can refer to a collection of three words, phrases, sentences, lines, paragraphs/stanzas, chapters/sections of writing and even whole books. The three elements together are known as a triad. The technique is used not just in prose, but also in poetry, oral storytelling, films, and advertising.
It's pretty simple: The rule guideline of threes say that things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing, memorable, and effective than even-numbered groupings. Three seems to be *the* magic number, but 5, 7, or 9 work nicely as well.
The so-called rule of three is an educational tool utilized historically to verbalize the process of solving basic linear equations with four terms where three of the terms are known. Evidence suggests that there are two "different" rules of three: One direct and one inverse.
So what is the magic number when it comes to arranging your home decor accents? Decorating in threes, or odd numbers, helps you avoid too much symmetry, which can make your rooms look staged and boring. Even though I love symmetry, and could not live without it, too much of it is not a good thing!
“The 2:3 design rule suggests your sofa should be the equivalent of ⅔ the size of your room.” However, if your living room is also your dining room or home office, that may not be possible, explains the designer.
The 80-20 rule in interior design is a simple guideline that helps you create a balanced and harmonious space. It suggests that you should choose one dominant style or color scheme for 80% of your room, and a contrasting or complementary style or color scheme for the remaining 20%.
It states that you should use three different types of materials in your space in the following proportions: 70% for the main material, 20% for the secondary material and 10% for the accent material. The main material is the dominant material that defines the style and character of your space.
The Rule of Thirds is another way to look at the layout of a design (be it a web page, a painting or a photograph). The idea is straightforward; you place a simple grid overlay (divided equally into thirds, both horizontally and vertically) on the space to be used for the design.
Meaning. The rule of three can refer to a collection of three words, phrases, sentences, lines, paragraphs/stanzas, chapters/sections of writing and even whole books. The three elements together are known as a triad. The technique is used not just in prose, but also in poetry, oral storytelling, films, and advertising.
A well-organised kitchen is a place where everything is within easy reach. The rule of the triangle is the secret to the best work flow. Imagine connecting the three areas with imaginary lines which form a triangle. This layout minimises movement and maximises efficiency in the kitchen.
Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
