8. My Collections Are Buried in Boxes
Collections take up a lot of space and collect dust, and they are constantly growing. So how do you organize a collection? You may have a collection and not even realize it. If you buy a refrigerator magnet every time you take a trip, you are a collector. You may think these magnets are practical mementos, and they are, up to a point. But after you have more than ten or so, they are not simply tools, they are a collection.
While working with a client in her kitchen, I discovered a large number of both cookbooks and coffee mugs. She lived alone so I suggested that she keep just a few mugs and only the cookbooks that she regularly used. “Oh no!” she said, “I’m not getting rid of any cookbooks or mugs. I collect them.” What I thought was a very practical step became an emotional issue.
People are very passionate about their collections, and as a professional organizer, I have to take that into consideration when coming up with a solution for the clutter.
There are probably as many solutions as there are types of collections. And the solutions for how to keep your collections range from utilitarian to decorative. In order to formulate guidelines for setting up your collections, it will help to answer the following questions for yourself.
As you sort through your things you may find a collection that you had started a long time ago. Or you may discover you have many similar items and you have become a collector by default. Like the items in your “memory box,” it’s hard to part with these things and seeing them brings back good memories. If these items are not all together right now, gather them up, box and label until you find a permanent home for them. Whether they are T-shirts, postcards or china figurines, you have to decide what to do with them.
Absolute of Organizing: Keep like things together.
Think about whether your collection is something your family and friends will enjoy seeing, or if it’s something that only you can appreciate.
My matchbook collection helps me remember fun travels I had in my twenties, so I keep it in a private place. If you have something that everyone can enjoy, then it should be on display.
The refrigerator magnets and coffee cups are a good example of practical collections. You may want to keep them where you use them—in the kitchen. But if space is an issue, you’ll have to keep only a few of these out and store the rest, or perhaps create some kind of display area for them. For example, the coffee cups could be displayed on a simple shelf or in a glass-front cupboard in the kitchen. The magnets could go on their own magnetic board instead of cluttering the front of the refrigerator.
If you need to store a portion of the collection, remember to rotate the items on display to keep the display fresh. Ornamental collections should be out on display. If they are packed away in a box, what’s the point of having them?
If the answer is that you are saving it to pass down to your children or you’ll put it out one day when your children are grown, that’s okay. Safely pack it away and label it clearly so it’s not forgotten. If your answer is, “I have no idea,” then consider selling it or giving it away.
Absolute of Organizing: Keep only what you use.
The answer to this question depends on your home’s décor. A seashell collection makes sense in a room that has a nautical flair, or in a bathroom decorated in an ocean or shell theme. Fancy china figurines or plates make sense in a formal dining room or living room. And things like German beer steins would look great displayed behind a bar. Maybe you have a collection that has been packed away for a while because it just doesn’t match anything in your home. If you really want to display it, you could consider redecorating a room to match a collection. I had some beautiful Delftware I purchased on a trip to Holland, but I really didn’t have a room that matched. When I moved into my new house, I made the living room blue and white and bought an inexpensive white display shelf to hang on the wall. Now the Delftware has a home and I enjoy looking at it every day.
The right case or shelf will help you display your collections.
Take stock, consider future additions. If your collection is finite, then it’s a lot easier to pick a place to display it. I’m done collecting matchbooks, so a simple box to fit what I have is fine. If you are still adding to the collection, then you should use a display system that can grow. This is not unlike what you do with your photos. More are coming so you have to plan for them. It may mean purchasing a display shelf that has room left in it, or buying something that you can easily purchase another of as the collection grows.
Have your collection in front of you in the room where it will be displayed. Now look at the size of it and the colors in it. Whether it’s formal or casual, monochromatic or colorful, think about what case or shelving would complement it. I always suggest looking around at what you already own first. If there is nothing that would fit, second-hand shops are a good place to start. Then there’s always Internet shopping. If you’ve got a collection that other people might have too, chances are you’ll find some sort of display case online. Simple display shelves that hang on the wall are very popular and can be found in almost any home store. Remember, if you don’t like the color of the shelf, you can always paint it!
Custom-made display. If you or someone you know is creative, sketch out what you’d like and see if you can easily make it. My son started to collect mini football helmets a few years ago. Being the way I am, I didn’t want them all over his room or crushed in a toy box. So I searched for a display shelf. Finally, I decided to measure their sizes, and figure out how many he would have when his collection was complete. Then my husband put together a simple wooden shelf that I painted and nailed to the wall. Sometimes custom-made is cheaper and easier!