Every collection starts with a passion, a curious and emotional attraction to a certain group of objects. As the years goes by, a certain aspect of expertise and even monetary value develop as well. A lot of love in invested in gathering the different objects that makes up our collections, and there for we develop a certain bond with them. This is the reason that those objects we collect deserve a well-designed display, which would highlight their beauty, keep them accessible and fill our house with a unique personality.
The difference between collecting and hoarding is thin and slippery. In my twelve years of experience I met a fair share of collections which got out of hand and took over their collectors’ houses and families, as well as several beautiful but missed collections which were displayed in an unflattering way, they weren’t kept and maintained correctly and both their beauty as well as their value were harmed.
In those cases the first lesson is the difference between storage and display: Not every object we own is worthy of display, those objects should be stored away but remain accessible. Storage will allow us to give them optimal conditions so that they won’t be damaged. The visible objects, those we choose to display and share with others, should be picked with love and well-thought intentions.
When putting to many objects together, even if each object if beautiful on its own, a too large pressure on the surrounding space may be created, which won’t allow us to appreciate the objects themselves. This is the reason I always advise owners of large collections to begin with dividing the collection into three groups: Firstly, the best and most loved objects. Secondly, the objects which are worth appreciation and we want to keep (not necessarily for their beauty). Lastly, the ones we can let go of, those who were collected when you weren’t as knowledgeable, when you had less, which once looked good but now are not up to your standards.
You guessed right, objects from the third group you will easily leave behind. This is an excellent opportunity to make place for new objects. The second group is for storage and only the first one should be displayed. When the first group is still over-crowded, I advise creating a ‘changing exhibition’ display area. All objects grow dull after enough time. Changing the objects from time to time, the search through storage cabinets and the rediscovery of ‘forgotten’ beloved objects is almost as exciting as buying said objects in the first place.
When you wish to display glass or crystal objects in their best, it is advised to place them near a window with a lot of natural light which will enhance their beauty. Display cabinets with modern glass shelves give a cool twist and balance the ancient glass and crystal objects. In order to ‘break’ the frozen appearance of the objects in the closed cabinet, two or three objects could be placed outside of the cabinet.
Instead of piling the pepper grinders on a shelf or another horizontal surface, hanging them on small personal shelves and spreading them across the wall made the collection into a real artistic exhibit.
Via Flickr
You probably noticed that almost any collection spread across a wall looks great. There is no doubt that its presence in the space becomes more pronounced, but if those are objects you truly like, why don’t you give them a corner of their own and turn them into a real decorative item.
Via Pinterest
Composition – The way in which the objects are placed is no less important than the objects themselves. It is important to create a composition of volume, color and relation between the object themselves and the space around them in order to create a flattering environment for the collection’s display.
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Objects which are meant to be touched and interacted with like toys and tools I prefer to place in an accessible way, displaying them in an inviting way.
There is no doubt that the most dedicated collectors are usually children… At our house they collect everything, from stones and sticks to heaps of Lego, hats and balls. If you wish to put an end to the piles and mess in their rooms you can use the sorting and displaying method I mentioned above.
Via Pinterest
A stormy winter weekend is a great opportunity to undertake the challenge.
