June 11, 2009
Is It a Collection or Is It Clutter?
A collection is just what the name implies: similar objects collected from various places at various times. The objects don't necessarily have to be of great value or even what most people would consider beautiful. They only need to have some significance to you.
A collection may start off innocently enough, but often people find themselves obsessed with owning as many of the objects as they can. Inevitably, over the years, well-meaning friends and relatives help them add to their collection via birthday and holiday gifts. Unfortunately, often thus begins the slippery slope from “collection” to clutter.
Collecting can be a fun pastime or a very serious endeavor. Whichever it is to you, the trick is for you to control your collection and not the other way around. In order to prevent a collection from becoming clutter - and getting in the way of your ability to maintain an organized home - here are some tips to help keep it manageable while still holding on to what you love.
TIP #1 – LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Objects need to be well-displayed and bear some relationship to one another in order to be shown to their best advantage and fully appreciated as a collection.
TIP #2 – THINK FIRST: Before you begin a collection, seriously think about whether you really have the space to properly display it or if it will ultimately end up on a shelf in a closet taking up precious storage.
TIP #3 – HOW YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR COLLECTION IS TOO BIG: When it gets so crowded that people make a game out of counting just how many items you have in your collection, you probably have too many!
TIP #4 – LEARN TO SAY "NO": If it gets out of hand, you need to firmly but gently tell well-meaning contributors to your collection that you are no longer adding to it. You might want to suggest to them that you now prefer to receive clutter-free gifts (i.e., museum memberships, consumable gifts, gifts of classes, etc.) or have them donate to a charity of your choice.
TIP #5 – PLAY FAVORITES: Having too little room to display all of the items in your collection is also a wake-up call that it's too big and you should stop adding to it. Keep your favorites from your collection and consider selling, donating or giving the rest away as gifts.
TIP #6 – LESS IS MORE: If you already have a big collection and can’t bear to part with any of it, put some of it away. If you find yourself walking past what were once prized treasures that now go all but unnoticed, freshen things up by exchanging some or all of what's out for what's been put away. It will also spruce up your space and visitors may think you have redecorated!
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14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009