I’m not the biggest fan of rules.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a rule-breaker… and maybe that’s the rub!

I don’t like things restricting my freedom of movement, and that’s what rules tend to do — especially arbitrary ones made up in the realm of fashion and design.

Still, there’s something to be said about soft rules that provide a framework for how to approach the more subjective aspects of life.

In dining: If every ingredient is shouting, none of them are.

In art: Negative space is an active ingredient.

In fashion: Repetition creates personal style; novelty creates outfits.

My mom shared one of these rules with me when I was younger, and it’s always stuck with me: Decorate in odd numbers.

It’s a simple and memorable concept that offers guardrails for any decor project you’re working on.

By why does it work? What about grouping objects in groups of 3, 5, or 7 is more effective than 2, 4, or 6?

My theory: objects in odd numbers provoke visual movement.

*Shop this post by clicking the image above!

Symmetry is a naturally occurring element of architecture. It’s common to see an even numbers of walls, windows, and especially in decor like side tables, and nightstands — of course, even French doors are symmetrical by definition! This symmetry divides spaces into pairs, which is easier for our brain to quickly process.

Decorating in odds naturally creates visual tension that resists symmetry. Having three or five objects in one space creates a central object with supporting pieces around it, which keeps your eyes moving throughout an arrangement. This asymmetrical approach engages the viewer, holds their attention longer, and creates more interest — not to mention, it tends to feel more natural and lived-in when contrasted against the mirror-images we see throughout the architecture of a home.

It’s not all that different from any other visual storytelling medium. Mirror images rarely move us — could you imagine a movie where two carbon copy characters experience all of the same challenges together and respond the exact same way? We crave contrast. We love to see main characters interacting with a supporting cast. We connect with good versus bad, the comic and the straight man, or a coming of age story where we see one character go on a journey of growth and friction.

We’re moved by asymmetry, juxtaposition, and, well, movement.

And in that sense, it’s not a stretch to say decorating your home is a way of telling a story — your story. And your story isn’t often symmetrical, or clean, or simple, and it’s certainly not boring. When you place pieces you love around your home, it’s personal for you. It’s an antique your grandmother left you, a trinket from your first apartment, or a scented candle that reminds you of your favorite family vacation. Arranging those stories so that they’re told throughout your home is a worthwhile cause! Hopefully this rule helps them get the spotlight they deserve.

Decorating in odds isn’t a hard and fast rule, or even a rule of human psychology. It’s simply a reliable shortcut for composing your story throughout your home.

If you’re looking for some pieces to decorate your next vignette, everything in the photo above is linked here!