Curating an Editorial Instagram Grid: a guide for stylists and designers

In the visually driven world of Instagram, your feed serves as a digital portfolio, showcasing your design aesthetic and creativity. For stylists and designers, it's not just about posting pretty pictures—it's about curating a cohesive, editorial-worthy feed that tells your story and markets your work. Here’s how you can achieve a consistent and elevated Instagram homepage that reflects your style and helps build a thriving business.

1.Define your aesthetic

If you’re an emerging stylist or designer, you may have already taken some time to define your aesthetic. This is key when it comes to developing an Instagram grid that is consistent and curated. Consider the mood and message you want to communicate by reflecting on your personal style preferences and draw inspiration from a range of sources and industries. The worlds of art, fashion, nature and travel can all contribute to your aesthetic vision. Look for patterns and recurring themes in the choices you make and let these guide your style. Defining your aesthetic is often an iterative process. You’ll refine your style as your tastes and influences change, so allow yourself some time for play and experimentation.

2.Plan your grid layout

Your Instagram grid is the first thing people see when they visit your profile. A well-planned grid can make a strong first impression and encourage visitors to explore your business further. Consider how your posts will look together as a whole. You can use apps like Planoly or UNUM to preview and arrange your posts before publishing. Experiment with patterns, such as alternating between close-ups and wide shots to create depth and bring a sense of movement to your grid.

3.Cultivate a consistent colour palette

Start by selecting a core set of colours that represent your brand or aesthetic. Typically, this includes 3-5 colours: a primary colour, a few secondary colours, and an accent colour. These colours should complement each other and reflect the mood you want to convey. Stick to these colours in all your posts or designs to create a unified look. If you have established brand colours, integrate them into your content consistently.

4.Leverage the magic of negative space

Negative space refers to the empty or unoccupied areas surrounding the main subjects of a composition. In the context of an Instagram grid, negative space helps create balance, focus, and a place for the eye to ‘rest’. Intersperse detailed images with simpler photos that feature negative space to bring an overall feeling of elevation to your grid.

5.Edit with a signature style

Editing is the final puzzle-piece in building a consistent instagram grid. Adjust the saturation, contrast, exposure and brightness to a similar degree in each image before uploading. You can do this in the photo app on your phone or use tools such as Adobe Lightroom or Canva. Presets and filters can also bring an aesthetic quality to your photos, but remember that these will only bring consistency when your composition and colour palette are consistent.

6.Tell a story

Each post should contribute to the overall narrative of your brand. Use captions to tell the story behind your designs, share insights into your creative process, or highlight the details that make your work unique. A well-crafted story can engage your audience on a deeper level and encourage them to connect with your brand and ultimately, your business.