How to End Collection Chaos

You call yourself a collector; your friends think you're a pack rat. Yes, there can be too much of a good thing. Pare down your gaggle of Hummels and rare enamelware, then display the best of the lot.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Focus, focus, focus. You can't collect everything, so devote your space, time and money to a few favorites--or just one specialty. Try not to let unintentional collections distract you from the ones you love or have a great interest in.
2. Know when the time comes to either quit adding to your collection or sell it off. This will be determined by the space available for display and storage, your budget and how much time you have to manage and care for your collections.
3. Know what you own. Inventory and catalog all pieces in a database. Include the manufacturer, issue date, purchase price, series name and number, and any other pertinent information. It can also be helpful to photograph or videotape collections. Keep the photos or video in a safe location, along with a copy of the inventory. Place the original inventory near the collections for ready reference, or in a file drawer.
4. Get appraisals if individual pieces or the collection as a whole is valuable. Ask your insurance agent if your homeowner's or renter's policy is adequate for the full replacement cost of valuable collections.
5. Properly pack and protect surplus items that aren't on display, selecting containers based on the items' value and fragility. Log the contents of each container; keep the original log with other collection documents and a copy with the stored items.
6. Build or buy pieces to display and protect your collection. Shop for these in craft, hobby or gift stores, and online.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a revolving display area for flat items such as photos, autographs, stamps and postcards by having a glass top cut to fit a coffee or end table.
• Browse collector's magazines for resources for storage and organizing tools as well as for pricing information.
• See 49 Deal With a Pack Rat.
• Add and delete from the inventory catalog and storage logs as you acquire new items and rotate or eliminate existing ones.
• Displaying a unified collection has more impact from a design perspective than scattering pieces around a room.
• Always include an organizing tool with any collection gift to a child. It gets him or her started in the right direction.
• Create a revolving display area for flat items such as photos, autographs, stamps and postcards by having a glass top cut to fit a coffee or end table.
• Browse collector's magazines for resources for storage and organizing tools as well as for pricing information.
• See 49 Deal With a Pack Rat.
• Add and delete from the inventory catalog and storage logs as you acquire new items and rotate or eliminate existing ones.
• Displaying a unified collection has more impact from a design perspective than scattering pieces around a room.
• Always include an organizing tool with any collection gift to a child. It gets him or her started in the right direction.