The 3:3 rule is the expert-approved secret to organised shelves – here’s all you need to know, and how to make it work in your home

Three wooden shelves in an alcove with books and pictures on them, above a wooden sideboard.

There’s no denying that open shelving can have a transformative effect on your space, instantly creating an open and airy feel. Plus, it provides us with an extra surface to display decor and trinkets.

But, for all its pros, open shelving can become an easy magnet for clutter. If styling isn’t your forte, your shelves will soon look like a dumping ground for ‘things’, with mismatched items crammed into small gaps.