Using Your Collections in Your Decorating

Nothing tells the world who we are like the accessories we choose to have in our homes. They are the true character of a room. Ornate guided mirrors and Dresden figurines tell a very different story from bean pots and brightly colored advertising tins. Collecting objects we love is simply an extension of the type of person we are, and because we are drawn to accumulate such things, at some point the problem of how to display them becomes inevitable.

There are many ways to display your collections, but remember that a grouping of objects has much more impact than single items placed helter skelter around a room. The objects should be in scale with their surroundings. Two six-inch plates placed on a wall above a large overstuffed leather recliner would not be in scale. Larger plates would provide the visual weight that is required in this case. This is only a guideline, since rules are meant to be broken.

A collection should have a central theme or thread that connects all the objects, regardless of what they are. Here are some ways you can connect and display your items:

Objects
This is the most basic and easiest way to tie in a collection. Simply collect different versions of one thing, be it horses, needlepoint pictures or cushions, Hummel Figurines, glass bottles, etc.

Style
Collections of art pottery from the Arts and Crafts Era, Art Deco barware, Victorian shawls, Southwest terra cotta pots or Modernist furniture all have style in common. They represent a certain look or combination of details and lines characteristic of these styles.

Color
Color is a great way to connect disparate pieces. Red and white or black checked tablecloths, red beaded fruit, a red clock and a modern black teapot would all work together in spite of their differences because they have colors in common.

Theme
This is a fun way to connect collectibles. Often, one collecting interest will spill over to another related area. For example, a Western or Cowboy themed collection might include a framed print of a famous cowboy or western landscape scene, tin mugs from old fire pits, spurs and equestrian trophies.

Original use
This is sometimes a bit more involved. It may include a collection of objects through the ages. For example, "Washing Clothes" may be the idea. Soap boxes, washing machines, washboards and wash tubs would showcase this theme. A museum in York, England, features these types of exhibits. It shows the development of the toilet, the vacuum cleaner and many other fascinating everyday objects. A collector of this type usually is very well versed in the history of their favored objects.

Room
This simply means collecting items that suit a specific room, such as kitchen collectibles displayed in a kitchen, vanity dresser items displayed in a bedroom, etc.

Once you have sorted your collection according to some kind of order, be creative about how to show it off. For example, prints do not have to be framed to be on display. Have mattes cut and display them en masse leaning against a mantle or on a two-inch shelf made with molding. Do the same with photos; keep changing the photos but keep the mattes. Your display will stay fresh, and your budget will love you for it.

Spend time looking at interior design magazines for ideas on how to show off your treasures. In time your collections will truly show what an interesting person you really are.