How to Display Your Collection Without Looking Like a Hoarder
Don't confuse a collection for clutter. When displayed the right way, the things you love can make an artful statement in your home.
Everyone has something they like to collect. Whether it's snow globes, vintage china, rare coins or porcelain dolls (we don't judge), the key to keeping your collection under control is finding a way to display your beloved items that minimizes clutter and chaos.
We gathered some of our favorite ideas to help inspire new and creative ways to make your prized collection more than just a group of dust-collectors.
Create a Gallery Wall
For items like clocks, artwork, plates or record albums, the most obvious place to arrange them is on the wall. Keep the focus on the pieces themselves by only displaying a handful of your favorites. Can't choose your favorites? Swap them out regularly to switch things up!
2012 BRIAN KELLOGG PHOTOGRAPHY, 2012 BRIAN KELLOGG PHOTOGRAPHY
Emily Followill
Melanie Millner
Claire Esparros
Jennifer Puno
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Use Floating Shelves
Shelves or photo ledges work well with larger items that don't belong on a wall, like globes, sea shells or vintage bottles. Even toy figurines can look surprisingly sophisticated when lined up neatly on a shelf. Tip: group items in your collection together based on color for an even more cohesive look.
Kathleen Pieratt Photography
Denise Davies Smart D2 Playrooms
Jane Beiles
Stephanie Diani
Alyssa Rosenheck
Jim Tschetter, IC36O Images
Drew Kelly
Take Advantage of Built-Ins
Built-in shelving gives you lots of space to arrange and rearrange a collection to your heart's content.
Michael Hunter
Jennifer M. Ramos
Instagram user @farmhouseredefined
Photo Credit: Edward Addeo, Gibbs Smith, Farrow and Ball, Brian D Coleman, Edward Addeo (photographer)
Chad Mellon
Cabinets and Cloches
Showing off the size or shape of an item in your collection can call for special treatment. We love how the shot glass collection is displayed in the liquor cabinet and below it, baseballs become museum-worthy when displayed under glass cloches.
Shelley Zatsky
Catherine Nguyen
Mackenzie Merrill Photography
Kelly Marshall
Forget the Rules
Who says magnets belong on the fridge? This collection could look overwhelming if it greeted you every time you went hunting for a snack. Giving magnets their own place to shine transforms them into a work of art! Arranging your collection in a neat and tidy manner will make it look more uniform and less like clutter.
Instagram user @peckplus2
Gianni Franchelluchi