From dye-cast cars to buttons, vintage handbags to marbles – people collect little stuff. But unlike larger items, like art and furniture, small items often pose a dilemma when it comes to showing them off. But your collections of small items deserve to be out there in the sun for everyone to enjoy. For display ideas there are the expected and then there are the out-there creative ideas. Either way, you’ll be seeing more of your collectibles, and so will all of your friends. So here are a few thrift suggestions that answer the question: How to display collections of small items.
The Traditional Ways To Display Collections of Small Items
Small items are fun and convenient to collect. You can score things that fit in your handbag or suitcase almost anywhere you go. Of course, you’ll want to pay for them first, LOL. But you get them home, and then what? They go in a drawer or shoe box never to be seen in public again. Unless, that is, that you score some traditional display pieces the next time you’re out shopping at your favorite consignment or thrift store, like Consignments Ltd. Great ideas are things like:
- Wooden Bottle Racks and Printer Trays: The former is great for signed baseballs, vintage alarm clocks, old tins and miniature plates. The latter is perfect for perfume bottles, game pieces, shells.
- Shadowbox and Collage Frames: These can house collector spoons, vintage pocket watches and pins as well as cool, old hardware.
- Old Mason Jars, Apothecary Jars and Vintage Wooden Bowls: Have a collection of skeleton keys? An old mason jar is perfect. Apothecary jars are great for old game pieces or buttons. But antique, billard balls work better in a wooden bowl.
- Floating Shelves and Hanging Shelving Units: These are perfect for a camera collection, antique bottles, tea cups.
More Unusual Ways To Display Your Collections
Most of the typical vehicles to display small collections are readily available at thrift and consignment shops. But if you want to get a little more creative you have to look a little harder and maybe even a little longer for your display. When you find them, not only your collection, but the way you show them off will become part of the conversation. Consider:
- A Vintage Gumball Machine: Yup. You read that right. Unscrew the top and load in your vintage thread collection or a bunch of dye-cast cars.
- A Lamp With a Fillable Base:With a little beach sand for the bottom, you can display your vintage cocktail stirrer collection or shells, of course.
- An Old Candy Box: Makes a great display for vintage jewelry pieces or buttons.
- A Hay Feeder: Mounts to the wall and can house your vintage globes (minus the stands).
- A Folding, Wall-Mounted, Coffee Cup Rack: Is just about perfect for vintage, beaded handbags.
- A Dressmaker Form: Great for vintage pins, a scarf collection or even old photos.
- A Cloche and A Cake Stand: Fill the cloche and top it with the cake stand. Flip it and it’s an instant display for all kinds of small collections.
- A Tackle Box: Perfect for small kitchen collectibles or, of course, fishing lures.
Just remember, collecting is fun! So have fun displaying what you collect. Get it out into the light of day. Then everyone can enjoy it.
And Now For A Little Music Before We Go…
If your looking for more on collecting, check out my previous blogs like: What to Collect on Vacation, Salt and Pepper Shaker Collecting and Creative Containers For Sea Glass.
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