Scrapbooking, while being a creative and fun hobby, is based on basic design principles. These “rules” of design are also used in art, interior decorating, floral arranging, and graphic design. Principles such as using odd numbers, the visual triangle, and creating a focal point can be found in print advertising, movies, and architecture. You have most likely been using these rules instinctively as you have developed your scrapbook style. As with any skill, you can take it to the next level with study and practice. Being aware of the visual triangle can help you pull together a professional looking scrapbook page like you see in your favorite magazines and web sites.

Our brains perceive images in familiar shapes. By placing items on our scrapbook pages in a triangle, it allows our eyes to see the page as a whole rather than being distracted by one or two pieces on the page. You can create a visual triangle on your scrapbook layout with photos, embellishments, or event text such as your title, date, and journaling. On the Flower scrapbook page, the fabric flowers with acrylic gem accents, are placed in a visual triangle.

 Other samples of the visual Triangle