Secret Tips for Visually Stimulating and Attractive Spaces Revealed: Designers Unveil the 3-5-7 Rule to Enhance Engagement
Struggling with styling your space? It's time to ditch the matchy-matchy decor and embrace asymmetry with the 3-5-7 rule. This clever interior design trick switches up the symmetry, giving your room a more dynamic, lived-in feel.
Here's the lowdown on the 3-5-7 decorating rule:
- The Odd Numbers Game: Gathering objects in odd numbers, such as three, five, or seven, creates an enticing visual impact.
"Uneven numbers dial up the visual fascinating factor, or make a focal point, "says designer Alana Marie on our site.
- No Fear of asymmetry: Worry that odd numbers or asymmetry might tip the scales? Don't sweat it. As it turns out, it can even help in maintaining a sense of balance.
"If your living room sports similar-sized sofas facing each other, a coffee table snugged in the center may feel incomplete if only one sofa boasts a side table. However, adding two chairs opposite the sofa opens the door to positioning a side table in a unique location, ensuring both sides feel symmetrical but still offbeat," explains interior designer Alana Marie.
- Disrupting Symmetry: The 3-5-7 rule helps break the ice when a room appears too symmetrical, feeling too prim and stiff.
"Symmetry in interior design can be beautiful in its own right, but the issue lies in making everything exactly alike," explains designer Alana Marie." The minute something's slightly out of whack, it throws off the entire balance of the room."
Now, let's put the 3-5-7 rule into action!
Coffee Table Styling
Apply the rule to smaller areas like your coffee table for optimal results. Stack three or five books, add a vase, some candles, or even a decorative tray. Arranging these items in odd numbers creates an asymmetrical yet balanced scheme that sets the stage for a harmonious living room.
The additional decor item on a pile of books acts as if it's the star atop a Christmas tree – that perfect finishing touch.
Bookcase Styling
Another prime location to employ the 3-5-7 rule is your bookcase. While books can take center stage, an imperfect layout risks becoming an awkward eyesore in your space.
However, the 3-5-7 rule can help bring cohesion and visual appeal to individual shelves and groups of shelves. Concentrate on factors like colors, shapes, materials, and scale to create striking odd-number groupings. And don't forget about space!
"Even if you've got a large bookcase, that doesn't mean it has to be completely filled. The secret ingredient is to leave some space between pairings to create even more visual impact," designer Jamie Gernert says.
Throw Pillow Styling
For your bed or couch, the 3-5-7 rule shines a light on purposeful asymmetry with throw pillows. Swap out an even number of pillows for an odd number to create a balanced visual. Vary pillow sizes and textures for maximum effect.
"A lumbar pillow juxtaposed with two square pillows can create a well-balanced visual, as can two squares, two rectangles, and one round pillow," designer Jamie Gernert adds.
While symmetry has its place in interior design, carefully applied asymmetry, as guided by the 3-5-7 rule, can transform even the dullest space into a visual masterpiece. So don't shy away from making that style statement! Embrace the 3-5-7 rule and watch your decorative dreams come to life, one oddly-balanced space at a time.
- Incorporate unique textures and colors in your interior design, particularly in the living room, to create a dynamic and lived-in feel.
- To add a focal point to your decor, gather objects in odd numbers, such as three, five, or seven, according to the 3-5-7 decorating rule.
- Embrace asymmetry in your interior-design lifestyle by arranging furniture in your home-and-garden, such as a coffee table or sofas, in odd numbers to maintain balance while avoiding monotony.
- Applying the 3-5-7 rule to smaller areas like your coffee table can result in an asymmetrical yet balanced scheme, making your living room feel harmonious.
- Consider the bookcase in your interior design, and use the 3-5-7 rule to bring cohesion and visual appeal by grouping books, decorative items and focusing on colors, shapes, materials, and scale.
- In your lifestyle, use throw pillows to create a purposely asymmetrical visual on your bed or couch by swapping out an even number for an odd number, and varying sizes and textures for maximum effect.
