As a lover of (almost) all things old, I collect lots of stuff. Over the years, as my taste and style changed, so have my collections. When I discovered a vintage Statue of Liberty years ago, I was hooked. But I’ve limited my souvenir collection to only places I’ve visited and items cast in bronze. Although they aren’t very big, collectively, they can take up a lot of space. I had displayed them on a shelf in a powder room for several years.
Interior Design Tips for displaying collections:
- Display items together. Your collection will have a bigger impact when grouped together (instead of spread out around a room).
- Think odd numbers when creating a display. 3 items looks better visually than 4, 5 is better than 6. Of course when you get 10 or more, the number won’t matter!
- Rotate collections. Pack things away and bring out something new every season or year.
- Use props to add height to collections. Displays are more interesting with differing heights. Use books, wood boxes, cans, turn dishes upside down.
Last summer I found an old dental or medical cabinet at a flea market. It was solid iron with an interesting shape. The top doors were missing (no problem) along with one glass shelf which was easy to replace.
Someone had hand painted a design around the front which I had to sacrifice. the rest of the paint was chipped and there was some rust. I love old, chipped paint and rustic finishes, but this was a bit too rough for my living room.
I’d been looking for the perfect display or shelving unit for years to fit in one particular corner. This was it.
I chose a bronze spray paint with a texture finish. It turned out beautifully. Thanks Tom! I displayed my Santa collection on it last Christmas and the rest of the year it’s been home to my New York City and Washington DC souvenirs. (I left the ones from Paris and London in the powder room.)
I’m not quite sure how many I have, but I never pass one up at the flea markets or antique shops!
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