Displaying Your Elvis Tribute Records Or Other Memorabilia

By Jerri Perry


If you have a tendency to collect things, you probably have some issues with space and clutter. This is especially true if you live in a small space. A room or a studio apartment can easily become overrun with Elvis tribute records, Beatles songbooks, or Tori Amos cd singles.

The clutter issue can apply not only to deliberate collections, but also to the kinds of things that just pile up accidentally, like magazines and dvds. Any of these things can create problems in a limited living area.

You often hear people jokingly warning each other not to become "Hoarders" like the people on the tv show. Your home is a window into your personality, and when people visit you, they make assumptions based on what they see. No one likes coming into a completely disorganized space, especially when they are seeing the home of a significant other for the first time. Here are some ideas for decreasing the amount of clutter.

1. Throw stuff away. You need to have a brutal attitude about this. You may love the items in your collection, but there must be a few things that or damaged or somehow otherwise diminished in value. Look through your collection and figure out what things it is time to part with.

2. Consider selling things. When you were a teenager, this might have seemed like sacrilege. But now, you probably have all of those Tori Amos songs on your iPod or stored in your computer. Do you really still need the cd singles? Consider putting them up for sale on eBay. You can make some money at the same time you create more space in your home.

3. Place some stuff in storage. There might come a time when you really do have the space for all of your stuff. For this reason, it is worthwhile to keep things that really are important to you. However, they do not have to be in your immediate living space. You can reduce your clutter by storing them in a rented storage locker or an attic or basement. You can always bring them back out when you have the space to deal with them.

4. Organize the stuff that you do display. Buy some shelves, or make your own shelves. Find a way to get things off of the floor and the tables, and display it in a way that looks neat and deliberate. This way, your apartment or room will look like thought and care has been put into it. People will feel calm and welcomed when they enter. Piles on the floor are never a good idea, even if they appear organized to you.

Do not let your stuff take over your life. A collection of rare books or Elvis tribute records, as cool as it may be, should not have that kind of power over a person. When you live in a small space, you have to minimize the amount of stuff you have in order to keep things neat. Make your home welcoming and organized by following the tips above.




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