A Year Later, the “Triangle” Method Is Still the Best Way to Decorate Shelves

Filling in the shelves of a bookcase isn’t usually a complicated task and can actually be quite fun. However, when there are a lot of shelves to style it can seem overwhelming. I imagine shelves as little dioramas that reflect the personality of the person styling them — and creating an honest reflection with so many opportunities across dozens of shelves can be daunting. Rosie Dart, who actually had 33 (!) shelves to fill, used an Apartment Therapy-approved method to help.

In Rosie’s vintage-filled London apartment, she originally had minimal storage space. So, after purchasing the home, she enlisted the help of House of Lozi to build the dreamiest, Scandinavian-inspired floor-to-ceiling shelving unit. She thoughtfully approached the design of each shelf using the “Triangle” method. 

Rosie took organizing her shelves seriously and thoughtfully. She describes the “Triangle” method as, “basically when you have a weighting on one side, so you might have a vase with a smaller little box, and you might have something really striking in the center.” 

The method, by TikTok creator Nick Lowry (@nikil0w), explains that you create “’visual triangles’ using your books, decor objects, and other items that ‘draw the eye to the center or top of a specific shelf,'” he explained in a video. You can place a weightier object in the center and smaller objects to the side, or the focal piece to the side with less visually demanding items in the center. Take a look at Rosie’s shelves: One pattern that emerges is a stack of books to the side (the subtler items) and the focal point in the center (a vintage camera or dried milk canister).

Rosie believes that anything can be decor. She advocates for throwing design rules out the window and instead reminds us to “appreciate beautiful items and objects and find a way to bring them into your home as decor pieces.” 

The “Triangle” method works so well on Rosie’s shelves because of her incredible collection of mostly vintage objects. “If I want to have a 1950s chocolate packaging up on my wall, I’m going to do it,” Rosie says. “If I want to have my dad’s vintage travel guides up on my bookshelf and treat them like highly prized books, I’m going to do it. If I want to bring vintage milk bottles with advertising slogans on the front as vases, that sounds great.” 

To keep your shelves fresh, it’s important to reflect on whether certain items are still representative of where you’re at in your decor journey. Because Rosie has minimal clothing storage (and she loves collecting vintage clothes), she’s constantly checking whether items still bring her joy or speak to where she is. The same can be said for decor objects — especially those on display.

“I think a happy, healthy home is all about being OK with growth and evolution,” Rosie explains. “Ultimately, I think it’s being able to ebb and flow with your own stylistic shifts.” The “Triangle” method isn’t about making every shelf look perfect, but creating a framework that evolves with your items as you add and remove. To see more of Rosie’s wonderful, gem-filled home, visit the full House Tour.