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As an interior designer, I believe that our homes should tell the story of our lives. Therefore, I've always encouraged my clients to fill their homes with things they love.

Decorating with collectibles is a natural outlet when you're a dyed-in-the-wool collector like my husband, Dave, or my friend, Jan. For them, things that have a sense of the past are a passion. Jan loves American-style splatter wear, quilts, signs…anything that's old American in style. My husband started collecting antique children’s toys and books as a child. Big Little Books and Hubley toys are his passion, and now, it's grown from a hobby into a business.

If you're an avid collector, your home is the place where you can showcase your collection to enjoy and share with visitors. I love helping clients create a sense of balance by merging all aspects of the old and new design forces to form a style of harmony.

The challenge is transferring a simple collection into a home-enhancing asset without creating chaos. It’s the difference between shopping in a big-box store to browsing a boutique-style store — the display is the key to transforming stuff into a beautiful arrangement.

Here are a few golden rules that'll help you make this transformation in your home:

• Make sure to group similar items together. Designers work mostly in threes or a series of odd numbers. We also follow the shape of a triangle. Avoid simply scattering individual items around the room. Give them context within a group. Don’t overcrowd any one area.

• Arrange by color. Either one single color or up to three. More than three begins to look like too much for the eye to manage and becomes clutter.

• Fragile items should be displayed in glass-door or open cabinets to protect them. For my husband, we had mirrored back-wall display cabinets built into his home office and den. They cover two walls but are hung level above his desk to maintain useable room underneath. The Big Little Books and small toys fit perfectly.

• Use lighting to highlight your collectables. Spotlights from above or below (on the floor) draw the eye to your treasures and make them a focal point in the room.

• Use your walls. Hanging collectibles on walls is a great way to decorate and display all in one. Painting the wall a complementary color to your collection will help fill in the blanks. Small musical instruments, plates, quilts, and kitchenware are all great for hanging.

• Build a shelf. A shelf above a window is a great way to display collectibles. In many cases, you won’t need any other decorative window treatment because your treasures will act as the finishing touch.

• Mantles are a great place to display pottery. You can fill vases and planters with flowers, old rulers, matches, or whatever little things you like.

• Don’t forget to add your family photos to your collections. It gives them a personal touch. Simply put them into vintage or worn pane frames in colors to match your collection. They'll feel right at home.

Be inspired,
Sharon Hanby-Robie, ASID