The route is the backbone of the palace. A good one is easy to walk in your head and has spots you can tell apart.
Key idea
A good route: a place you know well, a fixed direction (always clockwise, say), and distinct spots that look different from each other.
| Good spot | Weak spot | Why |
|---|---|---|
| the front door | a blank wall | A blank wall has nothing to hang an image on. |
| the stove | the third of six identical chairs | Look-alike spots blur together. |
| the bathtub | a spot you rarely notice | You must see it clearly in your head. |
Worked example: Worked example
Which route is better for ten items?
- A: ten spots along your walk from the front door to your bedroom: door, mat, coat hook, mirror, stairs, landing, bathroom sink, bathtub, bedroom door, bed.
- B: ten floor tiles in the kitchen.
- A's spots are different and in a natural order.
Answer: Route A.
Why it works
Images stick to spots that are easy to picture. If the spots blur, the images blur too.
Common mistake
Building a new palace for every list. The infographic's advice: reuse a few routes you know well.