Collections: Let them Shine or Let them Go?

What do you collect and why? And how do you display the collection…or do you display it at all? Perhaps you collect something because you value learning about it (like my husband’s collection of Harry Truman books and memorabilia). Or maybe it strikes a sentimental chord or fascinates you, or just brings beauty and enjoyment to your life. Some collections are valuable, requiring careful storage, paperwork, and insurance; some are really just for fun.

My mother was a big collector; she loved the hunt for new additions, poking around thrift shops and auctions. She also liked to display her collections in aesthetically pleasing ways. I was a big collector as a kid: stickers, stamps, buttons, rocks, coins, unicorns, postcards…I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. Some of those obsessions fell by the wayside, although I built my postcard collection for decades, seeking out fun cards when traveling and organizing the collection in special boxes. I only just parted with that collection (by selling it on Craigslist) about seven years ago. As an adult, I have two primary collections now: blue and white ceramics, and Eiffel Towers.

If you have a collection you love, try to make space for it in your home so you can see and enjoy it. If it brings you joy, let it shine! (My Eiffel Towers do that for me…they’re a bit ridiculous and wonderful at the same time, and they speak to my Francophile heart.) Then again, if you have a collection that is just catching dust and taking up space, maybe it’s time to let it go. Our collections can at times overwhelm our space and our minds, creating clutter inside and out.  Sometimes we grow out of a collection (as I did with postcards). What are you collecting that no longer serves a purpose or brings you joy? Great opportunity to declutter.