Put your collections together. Always. Amen.

Published: Tue, 05/14/19

For years we've had this one tiny bookshelf on our main floor.

Don't worry, we have more books and more shelves than this in our basement and upstairs and that was the problem. I kept stacking more and more books on top of this shelf because I'm a diva and wanted instant access to so many books.

A few weeks ago I found a huge bookshelf at the Salvation Army for just $50!

It was a green shelf so painted it white (if you are part of the Cozy Minimalist Community you can watch the videos I made of the entire process) and then I brought up the rest of my books from the basement and started filling it up.

You might have seen this photo on my Instagram stories. I was trying to style the shelf with extra stuff because I didn't have enough books to fill it completely with books.

But wait, I DID have enough books just 20 feet away on my other bookshelf.

I had forgotten one of the rules I try to practice:

Always group collections together.

When decorating, if you want to make the biggest impact, it's smart to keep collections together. Not only does it look good, it helps keep things organized. Even though books aren't technically a collection, there was no reason for me to have them spread out on two shelves when I could fit them all on my big new shelf.

Grouping a collection together makes a stronger style statement and is risk free (if you hate it, move it back!) and looks great!

This is why I hang all my straw hats together in one place.

It's also why as I get my blue and white dishes out to display for summer, I know better than to break up the collection sprinkling a few pieces in every room (what a waste!) I'm looking for one place to display everything together so it can get the attention it deserves.

As for my original shelf, I'm still playing around with what collection to display. Maybe I'll work in my blue and whites here?

Want some collection display inspiration?

Check out the collections board on Pinterest

Have a great week!

Myquillyn

PS, are you following me on Instagram? It's the public place online where I'm most active and share more tips, ideas and ridiculation all about house and home.