Living in a small space requires a balance between style and organization. Open shelving can contribute to clutter, especially for those who naturally collect items. The '3D rule' encourages individuals to prefer traditional storage options, like cabinets and drawers, to keep items concealed. This design approach reduces visual clutter and fosters a sense of spaciousness. Oyin Antwi, a design expert, highlights that by eliminating open shelving, one can better manage everyday chaos, creating a cleaner aesthetic in the home.
Open shelving may be working against you, as Oyin Antwi - author, cofounder of interior design firm Via Asha Design and Brooklyn-based venture studio Digital Park - has found. It often creates a conundrum for those who aren't constantly self-regulating. If you already know you're the type of person to be "prone to clutter," she advises, you may want to adopt what I'm calling the "3D rule."
One of Antwi's rules of thumb in design ethos is to embrace stylish storage solutions that reduce clutter, a clear focus in each room of her West African-inspired Brooklyn condo Apartment Therapy toured in 2023. Part of her redesign aimed to conceal the hodgepodge of everyday life by eliminating open shelving in her kitchen, a tactic that carried over into her living room console and bedroom storage.
The 3D rule stands simply as an acronym to represent Antwi's advice to always opt for traditional storage that makes use of a cabinet door, drawer, or, in some cases, a dividing drape or curtain. Keeping the contents of your cabinets or storage obscured helps to reduce visual cues of disorganization, maintaining an environment that prioritizes cleanliness.
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