How To Style a Flat Lay the Easy Way
So you’ve been trying to step up your Instagram game and start creating flat lays. Maybe you’re looking to promote your business through beautiful imagery, or you’re just having fun making pretty things. Either way, I’ve got a few tips for you!
What’s a flat lay?
First of all, what IS a flat lay? It's pretty self-explanatory: a flat lay is basically a photo of several objects laid out in an aesthetically pleasing fashion, usually themed or organized by type. Flat lays can include elements of nature, products people sell, an outfit someone is going to wear, ingredients to a recipe, what to take on a trip, or what someone might need to make a particular craft. They can range from very simple to very complicated. They can even just be fun little layouts of favorite things!
So how do you begin to style your own flat lay?
Theme
First, choose what you want your flat lay’s theme to be. Collect the items you'll need for that theme! A good one to start with could be the 'favorite things' flat lay. So grab a book, a movie, a piece of jewelry, a favorite accessory, a phone or phone case, even a piece of food (a few cookies, a slice of citrus, etc.)!
Layout
Now you'll lay it all out. A good rule of thumb is to just start with a bigger object in the middle and work out from it in angles. Imagine a grid and line up the edges of the objects until they feel right. Try different angles, and grouping similar objects together. You can even color-theme your flat lay! Lay your objects out on a plain background, any color, and photograph directly overhead using natural light for the best results. I’ve used wood, foam core, marble, and even my kitchen floor with good results. Cloth works beautifully too, and scrapbook paper. The sheer possibilities!
And voila! You just created your first flat lay! Keep scrolling for more inspiration:
Image from Olivia Bossert
Image from Melody Fulone Design
What else can you do with a flat lay?
Flat lays aren’t just limited to the image itself. Try creating one and leaving enough ‘white space’ to add in some text using Canva or your favorite photo editing software. You can even get creative and deconstruct the items in a specific way that highlights the product. Or, try drawing on the background to create an illustration around the item!
Image from Mason Cash
Image from Pinterest
When you’re ready to post that flat lay, you might need some templates to get you started. Snag a pack of pretty ones for just $7 over in my template shop!
I can’t wait to see how you use this fun technique! It’s a wonderful way to utilize your creative or business’ branding style, and create images unique to you. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to creating flat lays – whether it’s a recipe laid out, a tutorial with little drawn directions between the items, or simply an aesthetic gathering of beautiful trinkets.