Like love handles and grey hair, collections have a way of popping up. Take my mother-in-law for example, she loves jam and jelly. As a result she buys more than she can possibly consume, so now she has a jelly collection that we lovingly refer to as her Jelly Museum. I collect striped ceramics. Here are a few pieces from my collection:

Jonathan Adler Prozac Jar available at www.jonathanadler.com

Terramoto Ceramics Striped Bowls available at Coastline Tabletop

Accidental collector or not, at some point you have to set limits based on the amount of space you have to actually store or display your collection; unless of course you want to end up in an intervention on an episode of Hoarders. Why not focus on collecting something that can actually be put to good use?

I’ve always spoken out against displaying collections in the office, but recently I’ve had a change of heart. My newest collection of silver trophy cups and vases is being put to use in my office. (I love silver and white almost as much as I love black and white stripes.)

By limiting my collections to objects that are useful, I have more storage and spend less time dusting. My silver trophy cups and vases hold paper clips, paint brushes and pencils in my office. My striped bowls are used in the kitchen to hold fruit while the striped jar holds sugar. I’ve also got my eye on a striped pitcher that I’ll use for flowers. Collecting becomes a fun challenge when it serves a purpose. It can also add style and individuality to your workspace.

What are you collecting?