Ideas for Starting a Collection
I’ve been collecting all my life. A couple of years out of college, I bought a vintage wooden letterpress printer’s drawer at the Brooklyn Flea Market and hung it in my apartment, filling it with several of the miniature objects I had acquired over the years. My now-husband would always bring me back a small souvenir from his travels so I could add it to my assemblage of tiny things. (For my fellow tiny-objects-lovers…you must follow Ella, the 13-year-old who brings her quality, designer-inspired 1:12 scale miniature collection to life @life.in.a.dollhouse.)
My latest obsession is collecting white ironstone pottery from local antique shops & Etsy. I recently refinished a china cabinet that I found on Craigslist and am filling it with my finds. I know I’ll treasure this collection forever because ironstone is so classic, clean, & timeless.
So go, pick something you love, and find lots of them. Display them somewhere in your home so you’ll see them every day. And don’t forget to enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
Vintage Ashtrays
Ever since I stumbled upon this image on Pinterest, I can’t get the idea out of my head! I think it would be so fun for a little wall in the corner of the house to be covered in vintage ashtrays. Below are a few cool ones in case you want to bring this concept to life yourself!
Monochromatic Glassware
Whether it be old glass apothecary bottles that are all alike in color, or jadeite, like pictured above, I love how arranging glassware with a common color makes such a statement while still maintaining a simple, clean aesthetic.
Matchbook Diaries
Matchbooks
These are so easy to collect. Just grab one in your way out of a cute restaurant — they almost all have them these days. Throw them in a pretty bowl at home and set out on your coffee table for a fun conversation starter. So fun to go through and remember good times!
Julia Berolzheimer
Coffee Table Books
I’ve been slowly growing my coffee table book collection over the recent years. Stack them up and place a candle on top or simply have one laying open to your favorite page. I especially adore the acrylic book easel linked below as a fresh way to display one.
Deborah DeGraffenreid
Wooden Spoons
Wooden spoons of all shapes and sizes are aplenty at estate sales and flea markets. I have mine arranged in a crock on our kitchen countertop, but I love the idea of hanging them as an art installation!
Gray Benko
Original Art
In my opinion, original art brings soul into a space. Find what speaks to you, whether it’s abstract, realistic, or something in-between. Just don’t make it be some reproduction from Home Goods… I promise it won’t evoke the same mood that something original would! You don’t have to pay an arm & a leg for something special. Neighborhood festivals and even Instagram are a great place to look if you’re starting an art collection. Below are a couple of my favorite resources for art (they both ship):
Wine Coasters
Elevate your tabletop by placing your wine bottle in a coaster. When hosting a dinner party, having a few of these on hand will add just a touch of elegance to the setting. Go follow Nicole @grandmillennialshop on Instagram — she posts items for sale on Sundays at 7pm and often includes a vintage wine coaster!
Jasperware
Wedgwood Jasperware is neoclassical stoneware that has an unglazed matte “biscuit” finish to it. I love the colors that they’re produced in — especially, & obviously, the Wedgwood blue. The pieces are finished with a white relief decorations, giving a cameo effect. Etsy is a great source for finding these pieces.
Shortly after this post was published, I was recognized as a top design & art expert by Redfin. They reached out to me and others from Vancouver, BC all the way to Boston, for our best advice on making your home feel refreshed and elevated. So if you need a little extra guidance or you’re just looking for interior design inspiration, check out these best recommendations for refreshing your home: Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas