Ways to Display Collections without Clutter

I have been gathering ideas for displaying collections without making them look like clutter. Our eye is immediately drawn to a fascinating collection of things. I recently saw on Molly in Maine’s Instagram a corner of her kitchen with the most incredible collection. And she says it’s an area of her kitchen she rarely shares. I can’t imagine. I think I would be sharing it all the time. It got me thinking that collections are pretty cool. They say something about the collector, and they are usually meaningful. Or maybe they are just a group of beautiful things…perfect or sharing with Mary Ann and Cindy on a Sunday.

Molly’s Fish Molds

Photos: Molly in Maine

Eye-catching displays of related items + a gallery wall

Photos: Pi’lo

I love it when similar items are grouped. They may all be one type of thing, like white vases or pitchers. However, visual clutter is immediately diminished if several items are put together in one place. It looks more like one thing than a bunch of things. In the photo below, the collection of white pitchers is corralled on the top of a white painted hutch. Some have branches, some do not, and it works beautifully naturally.

The gallery wall is beautifully arranged and has interesting pieces, like the vintage clock. The collection of all white vessels of similar styles on the coffee table in a tray is an interesting and uncluttered look with plants and greenery. 

Pi’lo is an online store/website of beautiful, handmade items using linen and canvas. You can check out Heather Shaw’s stunning work here. 

Victoria Smith – SF Girl By Bay

Photos: Victoria Smith – SFGirlbyBay

Victoria Smith has inspired me for years! Her blog was one of the first I followed. These days, I think you’ll find her mostly on Instagram. I followed her from San Francisco (hence the name) to LA, and now Laguna Beach. Especially now, I love seeing her dreamy photos of Laguna…the little town right next to Dana Point that I loved and where we lived, twice. Anyway…Victoria says in her caption that the book collection on her coffee table has faces. So, it is not just books on her coffee table, but an edited collection of her favorite books with faces on the covers. 

She also displays bowls like dried sage, quartz, and other pretty things, like a collection of odd (but quite beautiful) tea light holders or small bowls that look especially interesting when grouped. She has a collection of vintage stainless steel coffee pots on the top of her stove. 

Kelly – Bungalow Blue interiors

Photos: Bungalow Blue Interiors

I’ve known Kelly for years, and we actually met in person a few years ago at Serena & Lily in Westport. She has the most dreamy collection of rattan and wicker vases, mixed with blue and white linens and candles, and her plate wall of all white dishes is so beautifully organized! Some are new, some are vintage items, but they look striking as part of her beachy home decor. As you can imagine, Kelly sets the prettiest tables.

A few pretty rattan and wicker vases

I collect sand, rocks, and shells

My favorite collection is our sand collection. We collect sand from all the beaches we’ve visited as a family. From our days of living in Southern California, to all the beach vacations we’ve taken…it is so interesting to see how different sand can look. Color, texture, small shells, rocks, sea glass, and even a few sand dollars are found on each beach. 

I have bowls of white beach stones, rocks with stripes, and shells in various bowls, which are also part of the collection. The silver bowl is a ski trophy my husband won in 1983. My mom recently gave me the Orrefors crystal bowl. I found one on Replacements, LTD., which looks like the place to find some cool stuff for a bargain. This little bowl is less than $25. 

So, what do you collect? And how do you display your collection?

More Sunday Favorites

Ralph Lauren Home & Nancy Meyers 

Did you see that Design Los Angeles honored Nancy Meyers with a celebratory lunch featuring Ralph Lauren Home in Beverly Hills? The table made me think of Something’s Gotta Give. Simple, but so elegant with clear glass wine and water glasses, the Ethan glass pitcher, ice bucket, garden vine dinner plates, and Thorpe rectangular trays. Potted herb plants in terracotta pots lined the tables.

Bridget Vest from Alex Mill

I’m loving vests this season for that extra layer with a t-shirt. The black with cream trim or cream with dark navy trim looks pretty Parisian to me. Sort of like summer’s answer to the Paris sweater jacket, but a little lighter. Worn with jeans, maxi skirts, linen pants…everything!

Did you read our posts on Thursday? We are all talking about summer travel and what to wear. You can read my post here:

How to Build a Simple Travel Wardrobe with Quince

Let’s see what Mary Ann and Cindy found this week!

Classic Casual Home

Read Mary Ann’s Sunday post here.

Cindy Hattersley Design

Read Cindy’s Sunday post here.