Decorating with Utilitarian Collections

To include collections in your home, you don't have to be a connoisseur of rare Japanese toys or vintage postcards. You can still be a utilitarian (or even a minimalist!) who keeps a few functional, everyday objects on display...

• 1 Arranged in a shadowbox on the wall, spools of thread look like art.
• 2 In matching containers, grains set the color scheme for Frances' kitchen.
• 3 With the doors removed, B's closet adds color to her bedroom.
• 4 Folded blankets on a shelf are the focal point of a vignette from Country Living.
• 5 Open shelving keeps mugs and dishes on view.

RELATED POST
• Quick Tip: Decorate with Necessities

Photos: Amanda Cee licensed via Creative Commons, Phillip Maisel, Sarah Coffey, Keith Scott Morton / Country Living, Cinder Design on Etsy

Comments (4)

Oh yes, my cat would adore that thread collection.

posted by Pixie on September 16th 2009 at 8:55am
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Collections are great when they can be functional AND beautiful to display. I love collecting coloured glass vases and books with interesting covers... I totally judge a book by its cover!

posted by isntitjustdarling.blogspot on September 16th 2009 at 12:29pm
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I like those thing-ies (vintage doorway corner moldings?) on the top shelf in pic #4, and also the way they're displayed.

Other utilitarian things I like to display: old keys, balls of twine, flower 'frogs' ...

posted by mirandabee on September 16th 2009 at 12:30pm
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Ikea sells 8 wooden hangers for $3.99 and I bought 7 sets of these for my closet. I am thrilled to say that my clothes closet not only looks great but best of all I know exactly what I have so there's no more days of going through "I don't have anything to wear". Getting my clothes organized inspired me to try everything on in front of a full length mirror and make two piles - one for the Big Brothers Big Sisters donation box and one with things a friend of mine would love to have. Talk about instant gratification and all because of a few wooden hangers. Next I plan on figuring out a display system for my office stuff.

posted by Motherbear on September 16th 2009 at 3:15pm
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