45 Ways to Creatively Display Your Collections

Wedding designer Calder Clark displays her collection of silhouettes on the walls in her stairway—115 in total!

Blogger Elsie Larson, of the lifestyle blog abeautifulmess.com, says that the rainbow effect of her colored depression glass collection "makes me smile every morning."

Vintage breadboxes perched on high shelves provide sneaky storage for table linens in the kitchen of this Texas ranch.

A vintage globe collection, artfully mixed in with other quirky finds, infuses the living room of this California bungalowwith personality.

We're better at fishing for vintage creels (also known as fisher- men's baskets) than casting a line for what they were designed for. Piled onto an old twig chair, they're an easy spot to stash miscellaneous caps and scarves.

Find inexpensive vintage art at estate sales to hang on a gallery wall. When clustered together, they give a room wonderful charm.

This owner of this Texas home framed her prized banners to give the tattered souvenirs—reminders of places she's called home—an easy face-lift. The Texas native also created a head-turning (and functional) entryway display of ten-gallon hats and straw toppers.

In the rustic lake home in Massachusetts, white pine shelving, constructed from trees on the property, holds vintage Fiestaware to add a burst of colors to the open kitchen.

An assortment of black Toleware trays create a stunning art installation in the sitting room of this Connecticut cottage. Encircling the largest one with trays of varying scale creates a cohesive look among the mismatched patterns.

Salvaged curving stair treads provide the perfect perch for birds' nests in this California farmhouse.

Want to add a more collected look to your home? Start with a handful of figurines themed around your favorite animal. Cardinals, shown here, are the state bird of Virginia.

TIP: State bird trinkets also make a sentimental gift for houseguests and new homeowners.

The owner of this elegant farmhouse shows off her milk glass in a general-store display case.

The owner of this Arkansas home collects pig-shaped cutting boards ("I just think they're so cute!") and snagged this little guy along with the two round ones at a local antiques shop.

Antique washboards, picked up at flea markets for $25 or so a pop, surround a turn-of-the-century telephone that still works—and may also be the most tech-forward device in this couple's New York home.

Displayed together, simple Ikea plates take on the air of heirlooms in this California home.

Plus: 13 ways to perk up your hallway »

The mahogany ogee mirrors the owner of this upstate New York home stockpiles go for $200 on eBay, though she won't shell out more than $20 in her neck of the woods. And the new merch? Most comes from West Elm or Ikea or kids' catalogs such as PB Teen.

Tin picnic baskets can leave you hungry for simpler times when good food was enjoyed under a giant shade tree. If you have a collection of similar items, arrange your assortment from largest to smallest to create a nostalgia-filled focal point.

This display of bottle openers keeps a potentially drawer-clogging collection in full view at this California cabin.