Decorating
11 Look-at-Me Ways to Show Off Your Collectables
Make your favourite collectibles stand out and be noticed in an eye-catching display
Collections can be weird, wonderful and as individual as you are, but if no-one gets to see them the process of adding to them is not nearly so much fun. Showcase your fabulous finds in their best light with a nifty display idea that can fit into your home with ease. It’s sure to get people talking and make you proud.
2. Look for little-used spaces
What better place for a hat collection than on a shelf above a doorway. These hats not only add character to the room, they’re also easy to grab on your way out the door.
What better place for a hat collection than on a shelf above a doorway. These hats not only add character to the room, they’re also easy to grab on your way out the door.
3. Take over a shelving unit
Displaying your wares on a shelf or two is expected; filling every shelf in a book case is not. Look what a beautiful display these old tins make when they’re all gathered together. This is a prime example of more being more, not less.
Displaying your wares on a shelf or two is expected; filling every shelf in a book case is not. Look what a beautiful display these old tins make when they’re all gathered together. This is a prime example of more being more, not less.
4. Cover an entire wall
If you have an art collection that keeps on growing, instead of cluttering up every free wall space in the house with one or two paintings, go all out on one expanse of wall and make a gallery out of it. Keep the other walls relatively plain to balance out the room.
If you have an art collection that keeps on growing, instead of cluttering up every free wall space in the house with one or two paintings, go all out on one expanse of wall and make a gallery out of it. Keep the other walls relatively plain to balance out the room.
5. Light up a glass cabinet
These gorgeous shell lamps create a lovely look for this glass display case, but the same could be true for many collections. Use lighting to really showcase your collection – stick-on LEDs can help to show off a collection in its best light.
These gorgeous shell lamps create a lovely look for this glass display case, but the same could be true for many collections. Use lighting to really showcase your collection – stick-on LEDs can help to show off a collection in its best light.
6. Think outside the square
These amazing weathervanes are more than worthy of display, but mounting them on a wall could at first seem like quite a feat. Where there’s a will there’s a way with most collections, though, so it might pay to rethink yours. Sturdy brackets or hooks could be all you need to mount your fabulous finds in a spot in need of a little extra personality.
These amazing weathervanes are more than worthy of display, but mounting them on a wall could at first seem like quite a feat. Where there’s a will there’s a way with most collections, though, so it might pay to rethink yours. Sturdy brackets or hooks could be all you need to mount your fabulous finds in a spot in need of a little extra personality.
7. Install floating shelves
Floating shelves like these are inexpensive and easy to install. Use symmetry to align the shelves with each other as well as the other elements of the room, then add your display items as haphazardly as you like.
Floating shelves like these are inexpensive and easy to install. Use symmetry to align the shelves with each other as well as the other elements of the room, then add your display items as haphazardly as you like.
8. Make the most of your mantelpiece
Mantelpieces are the perfect place for a smallish collection and can give your living room a real focal point. The heights in this vintage pottery collection have been arranged around the wreath above. Gorgeous.
Mantelpieces are the perfect place for a smallish collection and can give your living room a real focal point. The heights in this vintage pottery collection have been arranged around the wreath above. Gorgeous.
9. Don’t forget about your bathroom
Shallow shelves inset into the wall could be just the thing for a collection, and the bathroom could be an ideal place to put it. These bottles are filled with sand collected from travels all over the world – what could you display to bring back memories of your globetrotting adventures?
Shallow shelves inset into the wall could be just the thing for a collection, and the bathroom could be an ideal place to put it. These bottles are filled with sand collected from travels all over the world – what could you display to bring back memories of your globetrotting adventures?
10. Bring order into chaos
If your collectibles can be framed, keep every frame the same to draw attention to what’s inside rather than the frames themselves. The same goes for collectibles that can be mounted on black or white backing. Keep backing shapes and colours uniform for a less chaotic effect.
If your collectibles can be framed, keep every frame the same to draw attention to what’s inside rather than the frames themselves. The same goes for collectibles that can be mounted on black or white backing. Keep backing shapes and colours uniform for a less chaotic effect.
11. Make use of wall space
Instead of hanging artwork on that empty wall over the couch, why not install a shelf for your collection? Just about anything could work on a shelf like this – just make sure it’s high enough that the tallest of your family or friends aren’t going to give themselves a concussion while trying to sit down.
TELL US MORE
What do you love collecting? Share your display ideas in the comments section below.
MORE
20 Fabulous Feature Wall Ideas
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Instead of hanging artwork on that empty wall over the couch, why not install a shelf for your collection? Just about anything could work on a shelf like this – just make sure it’s high enough that the tallest of your family or friends aren’t going to give themselves a concussion while trying to sit down.
TELL US MORE
What do you love collecting? Share your display ideas in the comments section below.
MORE
20 Fabulous Feature Wall Ideas
12 Creative Ways to Bring Life to Blank Walls
20 Walls That Shout ‘Look at Me!’
Make your collection a feature to be admired the minute you walk in the door. Limiting the collection to the confines of the wall space above a hall table or cabinet is an effective way of showing it off. Just about anything that can be wall mounted is suitable, such as the collection of mirrors here, and if you keep other display items to a minimum, your collection will continue to be the star attraction.