Flat styling is definitely an art, which means it takes practice. At the live online class, “Styling 101: What Every Creative Needs to Know to Style Like a Pro,” I will be diving deep into the fundamentals of design as related specifically to product and paper flat lay styling.

Today, I’m sharing three tips for styling a strong, beautiful flat lay to get you ready for what’s to come on 4/26! 

Tip #1: Let the pieces direct you. 

Rather than forcing a preconceived plan on your flat lay, allow yourself to be creative and take a cue from the products and pieces you’re working with! What might be a great approach with an invitation suite might not work as well when styling food. Look at the lines, shapes, colors, and textures of the pieces you’re working with and then trust your eye! You will naturally be drawn to certain arrangements and elements based on your design eye and preferences.

Tip #2: Pay attention to tone and color.

We will talk more about working with colors and tone in the online class, but pay attention to how your color and tone are interacting. Does one side or portion of your composition feel weighted down compared to other areas? Is one portion heavy with a specific color? Is this intentional or accidental? Squinting your eyes to look at the tones rather than colors is also a helpful trick when trying to balance your palette! 

Tip #3: Practice, practice, practice!

I can never say this enough to the students at our workshops – if you aren’t practicing you will not see improvement! At the Styling 101 class you’ll receive even more insight you can begin to put into practice, along with built in work time. But whether or not you have additional training, you have to practice styling flats in order to develop your personal aesthetic and voice and strengthen your design eye. 

Happy styling, friends! I hope to see you at the Styling 101 class – Early Bird tickets end tonight at 11:59 pm! (Grab your seat here!)