A collection of similar items can be a great way to decorate a space in your home. In this post, I’m sharing my tips and tricks on how to start a home decor collection.
Where to Start
This past weekend I did a little antique shopping and while I was perusing the aisles for some of my favorite antique finds, I was thinking about a few of the home decor collections I have in my home and thought it would make a great series here on the blog.
As I began to write this post, so many new thoughts worth sharing kept popping into my head. I quickly realized, that with all I wanted to say and share, this topic was going to require more than one post. So, I’m thinking this will end up being a three-part series over a few weeks. Here’s what that will look like:
Sound fun? I sure hope so. Collecting things to style my home brings me so much joy! I love the thrill of the hunt, I love how they look displayed in my home, and I love showing them off to visitors, guests, and friends.
If you’re looking for a creative way to decorate your space and want to start a collection of your own, then this new series is just for you! Let’s get into it.
1. Find Something You Love
I think the key to a really great collection is choosing an item that you personally enjoy. As I scroll through social media, I’ve seen a lot of the same collections. While it’s possible that everyone likes the same thing, my assumption is that people started collecting things because someone else did and it snowballed from there.
My recommendation is that you find something that YOU really love. Collect something that interests you, that excites you, or that makes your heart smile. The more unique, the better. I love quirky decor. These are the collections that will bring you the most joy and will end up being something you keep for a lifetime rather than a collection that winds up at the thrift store because it was just a trend. (Know that I say this with zero judgment; I’ve been there too!)
2. Try Something Quirky
In my opinion, some of the best collections are things that are a bit different or quirky. Think outside of the box. I’ve shared some of my home decor collections. While I hope my collections spark some ideas for you, remember that your collection doesn’t have to be like mine or someone else’s to be special.
As I mentioned above, choose something that you’ll love to hunt for. Choose something that will bring you joy every time you see it as you walk into your home.
Another benefit to choosing something that is quirky and unique is that not everyone will be searching for the same item so the price may be lower. Some of my favorite collections are antique items and over the years, as certain items became more popular, I found that the prices started to skyrocket and things became harder to find. There have been a couple of collections I had to stop just because I didn’t want to pay the inflated prices.
3. Set Some Parameters
Collections can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful. When I’m thinking about my own collections, I like to set up some boundaries. I learned this the hard way because there was a time or two I started a collection while perusing eBay and when all of the packages started to arrive I was filled with regret. It was impulse shopping. I wish I would have had some parameters in place back then.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Is there a certain size, style, shape, material, age, etc. that I want to limit my collection to?
- Do I only want to shop in person or can I search online?
- How many pieces are the max for my collection?
- What will I do with pieces of my collection that no longer fit or I no longer love?
- Where will I store or display my collection?
- Is this collection bringing me joy or causing me stress?
- Do I want new items or vintage finds?
As you can imagine, this list could go on and on. I just recommend you think things through before starting in order to avoid any buyer’s remorse.
4. Think Practical
If you are tight on space or tend to be more of a minimalist with your home decor, think about collections that are practical or functional. For example, you could collect vintage clothing or jewelry that you could wear. You could collect vintage baking dishes and tools that you’re able to use in the kitchen.
Practical could also mean collecting a certain style of art to decorate your walls or vases to display flowers and cuttings from your yard.
Also, this is your collection so you can determine how many items are in it. You can collect 5 of something or 100. Again, be realistic, practical, and honest with yourself. No matter what size space you call home, you can have a collection too.
5. Start Shopping
With all of those things in mind, you’re ready to start shopping.
I’ve built a collection overnight (thank you online shopping) and I’ve been building other collections for 10+ years. While there’s no right or wrong way, I’ve found that taking my time to build a collection is much more rewarding and typically leads to better results in the end. You may feel the pressure to build your collection as quickly as possible, but I say take it slow. You can enjoy a collection when it’s a just few pieces as much as you can when you have twelve items in it.
Depending on what your collection is, do some research as to where you might shop. Will you be looking at antique stores, thrift shops, home decorating stores, or even your own backyard? Is your collection going to be pieces you only buy while you’re traveling or are they going to be homemade items that you create yourself?
For me, shopping is one of the best parts of building a collection, so be sure to have fun with this part. If you enjoy vintage shopping, I have a post dedicated to my must-have tips for antiquing.
Wrap Up
I bet you never thought you’d read so much about starting a home decor collection. I know that there is a lot of information here and some of it may seem like common sense, but I wanted to share with you all of the lessons that I’ve learned along the way in hopes that it will help you to more fully enjoy your collecting adventures.
Happy Collecting, my friends!
More Home Decor Ideas You Will Enjoy
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