Why The 3-5-7 Home Styling Rule Is A Great Innovation

There's no denying that buying new decorative pieces for your home is exciting. Raise your hand, though, if trying to find the perfect placement for them ever causes frustration. You try them in different spots and nothing feels quite right. If this happens to you, you're certainly not alone. Luckily, there's a simple rule that can help every decor item fit perfectly in your home. An interior design rule designers want you to know, the formula is called the 3-5-7 rule, which essentially means grouping decorative items in odd numbers. It sounds so simple, but designers have been using this method for years, and it's a foolproof way to take your space from feeling forced or staged to seamless and organic, per interior designer Sarah Jacquelyn. 

To break it down, the 3-5-7 rule simply means — as its name would suggest — displaying objects in groups of threes, fives, and sevens. Something to keep in mind when executing this is to let the size of objects be your guide. For example, smaller items like small candles and tea lights, decorative figurings and bowls, and small plants like cacti and succulents, work best in threes. Medium-sized decor, meanwhile, such as vases, coffee table books, and taper candles, shine in groups of five. And larger items, like gallery wall prints, sectional sofa pillows, or dining table centerpieces, look great in groupings of seven as they help fill the space in a way that feels intentional rather than cluttered.

While it is a super simple formula to follow, there are a few key things to consider when implementing the 3-5-7 rule in your home — the first being color. The whole point of grouping items in odd numbers is to create a "sense of movement and asymmetry," per Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors, so the last thing you want is for all your items to be the exact same color. This can make the display look too thought-out and less natural. On the other hand, you also don't want the colors to feel random and clash. The best approach is to keep the palette cohesive by choosing items in varying shades of the same color or using an analogous color scheme. The next thing to consider is size. Similar to color, grouping items of the same size results in a look that's much too uniform. Instead, mix pieces of different heights and widths. For example, instead of grouping five candles of the same size on a mantel, try varying their proportions. The same goes for vases, coffee table books, and even prints for gallery walls. 

The versatile rule truly works so well in any space — bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, you name it. And it's especially helpful when styling items on surfaces like bookshelves, coffee tables, and mantels. It's also a decor rule you should always follow with end tables. So next time you're getting flustered trying to style your new cute decor items, just remember: 3-5-7!