Ones and Threes

I’m asked more often than not how to arrange items in a pleasing way. Here are my tips.

“Ones” Ones are the simplest. There are factors to take into account. When you place a singular item is should have a ‘POW’. This is not the place for a simple, restrained item. GO BIG. This a picture of a jade marble vase I had coveted at Renniger’s Antique Mall for over two years. I loved it…hated the price. One day the shope owner’s daughter caught me looking at it. Mind you, it hadn’t been sold in the two years I had been stalking it. HEHEHE. We ended up chatting and I ended up getting it for $100 off. I could swallow its price then. It never hurts to ask. I placed this in the front entry, so when you enter, it’s the first thing you see. I added pussy willow branches I found for a steal at the Mt. Dora arts festival.

LOVE IT.

Next are “Threes” A bit more difficult.

Rule of thumb for me is…a ‘hmm’ piece, an ‘organic piece’ and a ‘sharp piece’. I’ll explain the examples bellow.

Example 1

Here is the breakdown. The globe is the ‘hmm’ piece. It’s nicely detailed and tall. You’ll find yourself searching for countries. Did I mention you should vary heights. The owl is solid stone and it’s my ‘organic’ and the jack is the ‘sharp’ piece due to the angles. Also they are of a similar color palate.

Example 2

Number two. The vase is the ‘hmmm’. It’s an antique from my mother. The ‘organic’ is the solid granite apple and the ‘sharp’ is a trio of crystal star candle holders from my mom. WAIT….what, what, what! That’s five items. In this case the three stars are so small, when clustered they read as one. These are guidelines, remain flexible with your arrangements.

Example 3

Here is a variation of my rules. In this case, shape is the ruling factor. This is more harmonious a grouping. The others were more dynnamic. The plate is the ‘Hmmm’. Seriously who doesn’t like a bit of gold bling. The glass sphere is the organic. Not really organic but the lines are fluid like water…YES I validated that! HEHE and lastly is the ‘sharp’ lines of the chinese teapot. Also the colors meld. Gold t in the plate to the gold yellow in the sphere that has brown, that is in the pot. Harmony…yet texture.

Those are my rules of three. A set of three can be dynamic or harmonious. A ‘hmm’ piece, an ‘organic’ piece and a ‘sharp’ piece. These are the basic guidelines. Mix and match and try things out. I am always altering and replacing items. Just because you found a good grouping doesn’t mean you can’t tweak it, so have fun!

Matt