display

Let's face it, everyone has their own taste and opinion when it comes to displaying their collection. There is no right or wrong way to do it. If you have a big empty room, problem solved. Unfortunatley if you live in a small house or an apartment, you don't have this luxury. The follwing tips deal with those of us who have limited space, or a spouse or roomate who doesn't care to see a carded Luke Skywalker hanging out on the bookcase.

If you don't want your stuff just lying around, then a great way to house your collectibles is by setting them up in a display case. These days you can find them in many different shapes and sizes, and they can be had at relatively inexpensive prices. Most furniture stores carry some kind of display case (I recommend Ikea). Try to get one with doors as this really helps keep the dust off your collection. You'll find that setting everything up in the case is a blast, and if you have others to consider, this helps keep everything in its own space.

Instead of randomly displaying your collection, pick a general theme. This helps focus what's on display and makes it look more like a "valued collection" instead of just plastic toys.

This one goes out to those of you who have significant others, roomates, or parents who want the house to look more like a house, and less like a toystore. Find a way to display your collection in good taste. For instance, if you have DVD's set up on a shelf, this is a great spot for a movie themed action figure or mini bust. Even though it's a toy, it looks like it belongs with the rest of the movies (refer back to #2 Choose a theme). You can also purchase small glass display cases (Pier 1 Imports, etc..) that are perfect for bookshelves or desktops. This gives the appearance of displaying a valueable toy instead of just plopping it down on the kitchen counter.

With all the time and money spent on your collection, it is a shame to just let it sit in a closet. I know some of you like to keep everything "mint in package", but even so, these things that you search for and covet should be shown off. Find a way to integrate your collection into your daily field of view. Its a great reminder of how much fun collecting is and that its not all about appreciation

If you decide to display your collection around the house, make sure to avoid placing items in direct sunlight or under any extremely bright lamps. This will cause havoc and bleach out the colors over time. Otherwise your entire collection will become one big "yellow bubble".