For me, the most frequently used apps go on the first screen and lesser used apps get delegated to other screens. Only one folder goes on the first home screen, that's the navigation apps. The four most used apps go in the dock. On the first home screen array of icons, I keep the most used apps within easy thumb reach, (one handed) which is an arc of easiest reachability.
Within that rule I'll tweak it a bit to keep similar colored icons away from each other so that they're easier to distinguish in a microsecond vs having four green or blue icons right next to each other.
Since it's very easy to accidentally not lock the phone before sticking it in your pocket, which can lead to the screen turning on while in your pocket and utter mayhem happening as its jostled around, (on & active) I turn on restrictions to prevent deletion of apps, so an app w data doesn't accidentally get deleted. It's happened to me twice
Since it takes more steps to now delete anything on the home screens since its been prevented w restrictions, I create a folder I name TRASH on a back page where I drag any app or homescreen Safari bookmark to that collection bin.
Then some day in the future when I think about it, I disable deletion restrictions and empty my "trash" folder.
I have five iPhones. Each one older than the next. Every one is set up exactly the same with the same icon arrangement so that all my phones look exactly the same.