Dusty to Dazzling: A Guide to Displaying Your Collectables

The joy and satisfaction that comes from being the owner of a one-of-a-kind collection cannot be explained. You could be a science fiction fanatic or obsessed with Norse mythology; as a collector – you can channel your interests in a unique way by creating a distinctive display.

Your artifacts and knickknacks are your pride and joy. Why not give others a chance to experience what you have so painstakingly sourced and put together? 

Whether it is the mystical Helm of Awe Raven pendant or Back to the Future TUBBZ duckie – your collection says a lot about your passion and commitment to your art. 

If your precious items are just sitting around collecting dust, you need to make some amends! It would be a crime to stuff these collectables in a tangled mess of charging cables, dog clippers, earphones and grooming kits in the depths of some forgotten cupboard. 

Today, let’s discuss how you can artistically display your collectables in a way where both you and your loved ones can see them in all their glory.

Let’s dive in!

Use An Appropriate Backdrop

If you display your collection on a bright wall, it won’t stand out as beautifully if you have a highly colourful collection. Per the principle of colour contrast, it is recommended that you use a subdued wall for brilliant displays and a colourful wall to display light-coloured items. If you use the colour backdrop correctly here, the entire arrangement will have a great impact and production value.

Follow a Consistent Theme 

If you are passionate about collecting memorabilia from different genres like science fiction, movie franchises, TV shows, and different time periods, you should highlight these in a consistent manner so it appears more organised.

It is easier to arrange related collectables from the same genre, making it easier to talk about. Imagine visiting a museum where each exhibit tells a story as you go through it. Although the design appears to be uncomplicated, considerable thought and consideration went into it to attract the attention of the observers.

Use Glass Cabinets for Antiques

You can present fragile and more valuable and rare treasures in a glass cabinet to draw instant attention to them. You can add pieces from your collection that are delicate in a protective glass casing so that they are not in the way and have no chance of being knocked over.

People who collect in a professional capacity have their rare antiques enclosed in sturdy cases to avoid contamination by dust and other elements. You can do the same if you have a really expensive item that warrants an elevated level of protection.

Keep Out of Children’s Reach

If the items in your collection are toys aimed at children, it is recommended that you display them in an area where children can interact with them. Installing some low cabinets will allow children to practise putting their toys away once they have finished using them.

If your collection is not designed for children, it is best that you make sure to keep it out of their reach. If you take care of this, your collection could be protected. For instance, if you do not want your children to touch your prized possession, you should store them in an inaccessible place where kids cannot reach them. 

Take Advantage of Floating Shelves

One of the most effective ways to present your collectables is to use floating shelves. They create a neat and uncluttered aesthetic, which is especially useful on a white wall because it draws attention to your display.

Floating shelves can be made of either steel or wood, and this choice is determined by the items that will be displayed on them. Floating shelves made of steel would be the greatest option for displaying miniature diecast car collections. 

On the contrary, floating shelves made of wood would be the best option for displaying fragile figurines.

Clean Your Collectibles 

Having a routine cleaning schedule to keep your collection in great condition should be the norm especially if you want your items to last longer. The items you have will determine the nature of your cleaning. For example, if you collect silver jewellery, it is recommended that in addition to wiping down each piece and dusting it off, you also polish it to maintain its lustre and brightness.

Crystal and glass must be washed in a gentle solution of water and castile soap before being dried with a microfiber towel, which will absorb any moisture that may have been left after the washing. 

If you collect pieces made of copper, cleaning them could be a hassle for you. It involves drying them with a cotton cloth and later polishing them with a slice of lemon dusted with rock salt.

Know what will work for your items and plan your cleaning accordingly.

What Can You Collect?

Displates

Displates is a cool alternate option to regular prints. They are high-quality metal posters with patterns printed on them. They can be hung on the wall with a magnet, so there’s no need for nails or screws. 

Stamps

If you think stamps are out of style in this age of quick messaging and Snapchat, think again. Stamp collecting is still one of the most popular hobbies in the world, with about 60 million stamp collectors around the globe. Many people in the world of stamp collecting want these little pieces of paper, whether or not they have been mailed. 

The world’s most expensive stamp? The British Guiana One-Cent Magenta sold in 2021 for more than $8 million!

Coins

When you collect coins, it’s like having little pieces of history with their own story. Numismatists worldwide look for rare items or limited-edition coins, some of which can cost a lot of money. Some very rare coins are worth thousands of dollars, but the 1794/5 Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar, the most valuable coin in the world, was sold for a whopping $10 million in 2013. This set a new world record for the most expensive sale of a single coin.

Record Albums

It’s not a secret that vinyl records are coming back. Millennials love to gather old records from the 60s and the 70s. First pressings by The Beatles or Bob Dylan are already worth a small fortune so these records could be worth a lot in the future. Vinyl records can be found at flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores, and even old-fashioned music stores.

Dolls 

Over the years, many different dolls like Madame Alexander, Kewpies, Raggedy Anns, Barbie, Blythe, and many more have become popular collectables. Any serious toy collector will tell you dolls aren’t just for kids. Old and rare dolls can sell for thousands of dollars or more at an auction.

Toys

Most toy collections, start with a strong passion for one genre, movie, series or brand. We will always be kids at heart, so they are some of the best things to remind us of our childhood. Small toys are easy to collect, but if you want to get a lot of different kinds, you need a spare room to store them all. Check the attic and the basement of your parent’s house. Some toys you used to play with can be worth a lot of money. 

Funko Pops

People who invest in antiques think that Funko Pops will be one of the best things to buy in the future. Funko Pops are plastic toys resembling famous people or characters from movies and TV shows. Some pops are made in large numbers, but others are limited editions only. The more rare ones can be worth a lot of money. On eBay, a Chewbacca Pop sold at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con went for $2,700.

Action Figures 

Action figures are a favourite when it comes to collectables. Many people can still remember the action figures they played with as kids. And now that they have enough money to make their childhood dreams come true, they collect all sorts of action figures from movie franchises and different series to relive the stories off-screen. Think of every action and superhero from the MCU and DC universes.

Miniature Cars

People who collect cars, which could be one of the most expensive things to gather and maintain, have our deepest respect. And the rest of us can start with a less expensive hobby – building tiny cars. From Hot Wheels to Matchbox, you can get your hands on thousands of collectable toy cars. Also, if you have a small car collecting dust in your attic, check its worth. There may be a small model car in your home that could make you a lot of money.

To Sum Up…

All of us had something that we collected and saved as kids. 

Be it posters, cards, newspaper clippings, stamps or other knickkancks, we’ve come a long way. If you think of yourself as a collector, that means you definitely have an eye for precious items and you are well on your way to having your own display!

Be sure that you rescue these artefacts from hiding and clean them up to decorate your room or maybe your home! For some items, a basic wipe down will suffice, with others, there might be some more intricacies involved.

The point is, these items deserve to be displayed so get to work and put on a great show!