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Knolling is arranging related objects in parallel lines or at right angles so you can see what you have. In a painting studio, it can make a useful end-of-session reset or a clear photograph of paints, brushes, and tools—but a tidy grid is not always the fastest setup for painting.
What is knolling?
Knolling means grouping related objects and aligning them in parallel or square arrangements. The result makes a collection easy to scan: you can see what is present, spot what is missing, and photograph the objects as a deliberate composition.
For a painter, that might mean laying out brushes by type, arranging tubes of paint in rows, or grouping the tools and materials used for a particular piece. The point is visibility and order, not a special tool or a required studio setup.
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Where did the term come from?
The commonly told story dates the coinage to 1987, when Andrew Kromelow, a janitor at Frank Gehry’s furniture shop, supposedly began using the term for right-angle arrangements that recalled Florence Knoll’s furniture. Make: recounts this attribution, but the account is retrospective; a contemporaneous record confirming the story has not been established in the sources cited here. See Gareth Branwyn’s 2016 Make: article.
The phrase “Always Be Knolling” is closely associated with artist Tom Sachs and his studio practice. In a retrospective profile and interview, Sachs described lining up tools and project parts at right angles at the end of the workday. He said that returning to a clear, welcoming set of materials helped his team see what was there. Mohawk Connects’ profile of Sachs describes the phrase as one of his studio mantras.
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How to try knolling in a painting studio
Use it as a short reset when you finish a session, or as a way to prepare an inventory or photograph. The following four actions are attributed to Sachs’s “Always Be Knolling” rule in a secondary account, rather than presented here as a verified primary transcription.
- Scan the work area for tools and materials that are no longer in use.
- Put away items you do not need for the next task.
- Group the remaining objects by type or purpose—for example, brushes together and paint tubes together.
- Align the groups in parallel lines or at right angles to the table or room.
The routine should serve the task. Keep active materials within reach while painting; square them up when you want to take stock or close the session.
Rank #3
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When knolling helps—and when it gets in the way
Use it for taking stock
A visible layout makes it easier to check which materials are on the table, notice what needs cleaning or putting away, and prepare for the next session.
Use it for photographs
Parallel lines and right angles can make a collection legible in a photograph. This is useful for documenting a palette or set of tools, or simply making a considered image of your studio materials.
Rank #4
- Adaptable to Your Drawer Size: The Lifewit silverware organizer fits different drawer sizes, ranging from 21.3" to 36". This universal utensil drawer organizer helps you maximize storage space efficiently while keeping your utensils neatly organized and easily accessible. We highly recommend to measure your drawer before order
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Do not confuse visual order with workflow
A grid can be awkward during active work: frequently used brushes or paints may be less convenient to reach when they are arranged for appearance rather than use. Make: specifically notes that laying tools out in a grid can be a poor workflow arrangement. Knolling is best treated as a temporary layout or reset when visibility matters, not a rule that every workspace must follow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Knolling or a working setup?
| Goal | What the arrangement prioritizes | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory or photograph | Visibility, counting, and a clear image | Items may be less convenient to reach while working |
| End-of-session reset | A deliberate, easy-to-scan layout before items are put away | It takes time to arrange the materials, and the layout may be temporary |
| Active painting | Fast access to the materials needed for the current task | A practical setup may not look like a neat grid |
These are different purposes, not outcomes established by controlled testing. Choose the arrangement that supports what you are doing next.
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Further visual inspiration
Austin Radcliffe’s Things Organized Neatly: The Art of Arranging the Everyday is a photo and design book featuring arrangements of everyday objects, with a foreword by Tom Sachs. Rizzoli lists it as a 104-page hardcover published March 15, 2016 (ISBN 978-0-7893-3113-7). It is an optional source of visual inspiration, not a step-by-step knolling manual.
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