// Bird sculpture //
Just in case you were wondering?
This room has 37 vintage finds.
And I’m sure I’ve missed a few.
The room represents years of following bright red hand-lettered family yard sale signs and shopping thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and my mother’s attic. Years of jumping up and down in the middle of someone’s yard when I see something I didn’t know I needed. Years of standing on my feet digging behind old paper towel holders and socks packages to find a piece of milk glass to add to my shelves.
I can’t help it.
I am a collector of materials. I’m going to decorate with clutter. It’s a decorative “mistake” that I will never correct.
But here’s the thing.
How do you make all that stuff look good?
If you don’t display it properly, it looks like this, goodClutter.
hey
Let’s discuss clutter today.
And how to make it cute.
Today is all about how to decorate with collections without making it look messy.
1. On repetition
The easiest way to spruce up a collection?
Put all the collection pieces together.
For example, look at this row of topiaries along the back of the bed.
A topiary is fine.
A topiary is beautiful.
But a row of topiaries? It feels purposeful, meaningful. Not random.
It looks like you wanted to put all those topiaries in there.
One of the biggest decorating secrets isn’t finding the perfect object—it’s repeating the same elements throughout the room.
Tip: Look around your house right now and find anything you have (it doesn’t have to be vintage) and group them together on a bookshelf or table or counter or hutch. Instant collection.
(Total aside: I’m trying to come up with more actionable tips like this—let me know if you like them. Yes or no. 🙂
// Embroidered pillow //
// Bird sculpture //
2. Group conversation starters
When you spend a lot of time in thrift stores? You hear a lot of people talking about the cost of things.
Ummmm.
No.
I really don’t care about such things. Maybe that means I’m not a real collector, but in my house? It should be interesting. I want to love him.
It has to make me smile.
I think the best collections are not always the most valuable. The best collections are the ones that spark conversation.
Some of my favorite pieces in this room aren’t necessarily antiques or expensive finds. Those are the pieces that people pick up when they walk into a room.
And then? They ask me where I got it (and the stories begin).
I want my collection to be about a good story.
That’s it. like me
Tip: Look for something around your house that has a really good story behind it and group it with other finds on your coffee table. And when someone asks about it? Have your story ready.
// Wooden houses // Brown transferware //
// Wooden houses // Brown transferware //
// Wooden houses // Brown transferware //
3. Collect and crowd are not the same thing
If you only take one tip from this post – this is it.
It is very important to remember that a crowded room can feel random.
A collected room feels deliberate.
(See—doesn’t that sound good to you already).
Congestion means:
- There is no focal point
- There is no organization
- A stacked object without purpose
- Every surface is completely covered
Collective Meaning:
- Repeat the same colors
- Group things thoughtfully
- Includes negative space
- A clear story is being told
The goal is to display what you have with purpose.
Tip: Watch your displays in your room. Do they appear intentional? Should you edit them a bit? Can you group them so they look more like a collection, less like you just threw them on the shelf.
// Embroidered pillow //
// Bird sculpture // bird’s nest (same) //
// Bird sculpture // bird’s nest (same) //
4. Add some whimsy
Somewhere along the way, we all started taking decorating so seriously.
Tomes and books of higher instruction were written about it.
Decorating should be fun.
I try to have something in every room that makes me laugh or smile or think to myself how unique it is.
Like this bird page sculpture next to this bird’s nest. Maybe no one else ever noticed that they go together? But I do.
Separately, they are interesting. Together? They are whimsical and tell a story.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to decorate with things you love. Things that you have on top of the cupboard or don’t want to display because you think it’s silly. Have some fun with your performance.
// Embroidered pillow //
// Wooden houses //
5. Let your collection breathe
ok
I wanted to finish strong with something a little controversial.
(takes a deep breath)
{fiction}
One of the biggest mistakes people make with collections is feeling like they have to display everything at once.
the truth?
you are not
In fact, collections often seem more valuable when there’s a bit of free space around them. Think of the empty space as part of the display. Designers call it “negative space,” but it really just gives your favorite pieces room to shine.
The goal is not to display everything you own. The goal is to highlight the pieces you like the most.
Tip: If you have a large collection, rotate the pieces seasonally. Store some away and bring them back later. This helps to freshen up your home without buying anything new.
So what do we think?
do you agree
Just between us? I feel like I actually wrote this post for myself.
After all, it’s yard sale season.
I may need a little more space for some new collections. 🙂
Disclosure: This post uses affiliate links.
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