Collect for love - and skip the clutter

By Mary Carol Garrity, Scripps Howard News Service

Friday, March 28, 2008

Bryan E. Mccay / Nell Hill's Style At Home

Show off your collections by using them in daily decorating. A few pieces from a collection of grape- patterned silver make a stunning tabletop display.

If you really want to get to know someone, ask him to tell you about his favorite collections. Those of us who live to collect everything from historic treasures to quirky curiosities know that our collections are intensely personal and say volumes about our passions and interests, dreams and memories.

Whether you've been crazy about collecting for years or you're a newcomer who's ready to plunge in, here are ideas that will help you enjoy the journey.

* Collect what you love: If you're itching to start a new collection but aren't sure what to choose, refuse to blindly follow the latest collecting craze or to be unduly influenced by what your friends are collecting. Stand firm and collect only things that make your heart flutter.

All of us collect for different reasons. Some want items that capture a certain country or time in history. Others want items that remind them of their childhood or a favorite event, like a dreamy vacation. Some collect items that celebrate the natural world, like my collection of birds and nests. So, before you start buying, find your bliss.

Sometimes your favorite collections may be accidental. I'd long admired my mother-in-law's silver-plated serving pieces that sported a grape pattern. So through the years, Mimi started giving me a piece from her collection for Christmas or my birthday. Soon I was hooked. Now, every time I go to an antique store, I scout for new pieces to add to my set.

* Have fun: Many of us who love to collect live for the thrill of the hunt and the high of finding the perfect new acquisition. But if collecting ever feels like a chore to you or you feel pressured to constantly add pieces, it's time to find a new hobby. Who needs more stress in life, right? Collecting should be pure, pressure-free pleasure.

* Use your collection in your decorating: Once you've built an admirable collection, don't you dare hide it away in a storage box. Put your prime pieces on display where they can delight you daily and dazzle everyone who visits your home. The key to decorating with your collections is to subtly weave them into your everyday decorating.

I like to move pieces in my collections from one room to another, using them in new ways so the collection feels fresh, not tired. For instance, sometimes you'll find my assortment of small antique picture frames on my kitchen windowsill. Other times, they'll be part of a display on my coffee table. And still others, I'll use them as place-card holders on my dining-room table.

* Keep your collection under control: If someone walks into your home and says, "I see you collect bees," you know your collection is out of control. You never want your collection to be overpowering or to fill your home. Dig deep for the power to edit mercilessly, getting rid of pieces that aren't as nice or that don't capture your fancy quite as much as the rest.

Remember, a few fabulous pieces that are well-displayed are far better than a mass of mediocre items that clutter your home.

* Allow yourself to fall out of love: It's sad when the passion has petered out, but when a collection no longer gives you a thrill, it's time to say goodbye. If you're not quite ready to make the break, store your collection away for a time and revisit it later. If it still leaves you cold, it's time to call it quits. You can sell your old collection to antique shops, give pieces to friends who have long admired them or pass them on to your kids as family heirlooms.

Mary Carol Garrity is the author of several best-selling books on home decorating.