Just What IS The Right Way to Display a Collection?

Everyone has a collection, whether it is out in the open or concealed in a cabinet or closet. What do you need to do to make sure you make it the best collection ever?  

Some ways to tell if you have too much is to ask yourself … 

*When people walk around house are they nervous about knocking over your stuff?  

* Can people see past your collection and see the furniture on which it is displayed?

* Does dusting each little individual piece take too much time and effort?

…then maybe you have too many things or they are not displayed properly.

A collection of cameras and photography items.

Collections can range from having too many books or movies to mini figurines, salt and pepper shakers, or plates. If a collection is contained, it can be very tasteful – But if it creeps out into every area of the house, it’s time to step back and re-access; just how much is too much?

What do you mean too much?

An example of a teacup and saucer collection that literally took over a whole house. There were randomly placed shelves that filled the walls all the way to the ceiling – Cups and saucers hanging over the edges of the tables, waiting for someone to pass too close; everybody was worried about bumping into the china and not breaking anything. It was a very uncomfortable party atmosphere to say the least. (Incidentally one of the sets was knocked over and was broken.)

A collection of Beatles items

Watch what you say out loud or your collection might get bigger…

Maybe some of your collection contains things you don’t even like but received as gifts? You see, if you mention to friends and relatives that you like something a lot, like ‘bells’, then every gift giving opportunity will have the possibility of having a bell in it.  Weed out some of your not-too-favorite items. What if someone made off with one of the pieces from your “collection” – would you even know its missing?

How to make your collection special…

Take another look at your collection and begin to seek out special opportunities to display them. You can contain them in a beautiful glass door cabinet or have special shelving to display them.  When you cluster like items together it gives them an importance they wouldn’t have had when they are scattered all over the house. That will give your collection maximum drama it deserves! If the amount of your items in your collection far exceeds the special area you picked for them, then pack some of them away out of sight. To get a fresh new look bring out the stored items every couple of months and rotate them with the ones that were already displayed. It will also give you the opportunity to really clean and dust everything. If you just can’t be objective with picking out favorites, have someone help you – pick out the best of the best and then display your collection with style.

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