15 ways to show off your collection

9 Stagger heights
Matching kitchen canisters, Russian dolls, nested mixing bowls: no need to line them up tallest to shortest; instead, arrange them like a family photo, casually gathered around one another.

10 Light it right
Experiment with lighting to make your treasures shine. Low-wattage incandescent lights cast a warm glow, halogen sparkles like sunlight, and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs have come a long way. And, of course, nothing can top the beauty of natural light.

11 Find a spot
Almost any bare surface could be a canvas for a lovely display; unlikely spots make for a nice surprise. Try the side of a kitchen cabinet, a windowsill, or the inside of an unused fireplace.

12 Unify dissimilar items
How do you make memorabilia of different shapes, varying sizes and a range of colours resemble a well-edited collection rather than unrelated items strewn about? It's easy: display them in frames of identical colours, including shadow-box frames for three-dimensional items.

13 Coordinate colours
Don't stress about colour. Coordinate a palette the way you love best: all white is understated, all black is sophisticated; a rainbow of jewel tones is delightful, while soft pastels are restful.

14 Give small objects grounding
If a grouping of tiny items -- antique perfume bottles, salt and pepper shakers, glass paperweights -- isn't making a big impact, ground it by arranging the items on a plate or tray, or in a shallow basket of a contrasting colour.

15 Do some research
Stuck for ideas? Peruse books for tips and pics on how to display your collections. These are some of our favourites.
• Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan (Ryland Peters & Small, 2005)
• Home Rules by Nate Berkus (Hyperion, 2005)
• Pottery Barn Storage & Display (Oxmoor House, 2004)

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