Show Off in Style: Tips for Displaying Your Collections
by Dawn West
dawn.west@homeimprovementideas.net
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
Last week I had dinner at the home of some new friends. After a lovely meal, they showed me around the house, a tour they aptly called "the book tour." In room after room, I took in the hosts' extensive and beautiful collection of books. Artfully and efficiently arranged volumes rested on floor-to-ceiling shelves and custom cabinets everywhere I turned (want a book on American History, those are in the downstairs family room, English Romance, try the upstairs guest bedroom). I was wowed. If you're a proud collector, chances are you want to elicit the exact same reaction from the displays of your prized possessions that my friends elicited from me. So how'd they do it? Here are a few tips to help you achieve that wow-effect.
Even the loveliest of collections looks like junk piled in a corner. Cabinets, lighting, and spacing can make all the difference. Here's how to make your collections shine.
Space
Crowd all your beautiful snow globes into one little cabinet, and they have no chance of sparkling. In order for your eyes to take in the beauty of individual items, they need to stand alone as well as together. There's no way to do that without giving your collection space.
Distribution
Finding space can be hard if you keep your collection to one room, but it's a lot easier if you allow it to flow throughout your house. If your wooden ships are three layers deep on shelves in your den, you're not giving them their due. Place them on well-lit shelves and stands throughout your house instead, and they'll shine.
Lighting
Even the greatest of collections can't wow in the dark. Consider track lighting you can turn to spotlight your collection. Another option is to have custom cabinets or shelves made with built-in lighting. For collections you love, the extra cost is well worth it.
Protection
If you bring your collection out where everyone can see it, you're subjecting it to certain risks: people, pets, even nature… All that means is you have to take a few precautions. Glass is among the best. Consider custom or ready made cabinets that fit your collections and protect them behind a layer of glass.
You shouldn't be the only one who appreciates your coins, dolls, trains, etc., and with a little work on your custom collection display, you won't be!
About the Author:
Dawn West teaches writing at Oregon State University. Her previous experience includes working for the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, a not-for-profit in New York City, and serving as the director for an educational program for at-risk youth in Boston. Dawn holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University.
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