09-Skeletons-in-the-closet-getty-2

Skeletons? Probably not. But if you’re like me and have a bit of clutter phobia there may be some treasures that you have hidden away behind closed doors. For me this looks like wooden sculptures from my husband’s and my separate trips to Africa and trinkets inherited from beloved family members.

I was recently reading an article in a design magazine where the designers were complaining that when they went to a house to take pictures they always had to go through people’s cupboards to draw out personal items to add flavor to the home’s design. Looking around my own home, I see that my clutter phobia has left few personal touches in the space. Unless you count copious amounts of hot wheels and play mobile as a personal touch.

The recent removal of my Christmas tree from the corner of my living room seems to have left a giant decorative gap. I had decided on what I thought was the perfect unit to display some of my “hidden treasures” but it ended up overwhelming the space, so back to the store it will go. Until I find that “perfect” unit for this corner, I have decided to take up some of the space on the playroom bookcase to display a few treasures. I’m much happier with the overall styling of the  bookcase now that I have shuffled things around to include these items (and as you can see, I finally found some stylish little toys baskets to fit the billy bookcase)

As you can see near the bottom, I finally found some stylish little toys baskets from Walmart.
Top left is a gorgeous engraved jewellery box my sister bought me in India and an alphabet crochet my mom made me when I was a little girl.
The brass apple is a buy from a lovely fellow vendor at the flea market.
The brass apple is a buy from a lovely fellow vendor at the flea market.
My husband brought home this lovely wooden statue from Burkina Faso.
My husband brought home this lovely wooden statue from Burkina Faso.
These keys belong to my husband's recently deceased grandfather who worked in telecommunications during WWII.
These keys belong to my husband’s recently deceased grandfather who worked in telecommunications during WWII.

In my mother’s generation these kinds of treasures were displayed in china cabinets but since my decor style leans more towards modern, I love the idea of using etagères as modern day “china cabinets”. Given the smaller living quarters most of us inhabit these days, the airy openness of these pieces helps to take up less visual space than a traditional china cabinet. The downside: get your dust cloths ready.

I'm a sucker for vintage bamboo etageres painted in bold colours.
I’m a sucker for vintage bamboo etagères painted in bold colours like those framing this couch.
metaletagere
These are great for a more industrial look.
The vittsjo shelving unit from Ikea is sleek and super inexpensive at $50.
The vittsjo shelving unit from Ikea is sleek and super inexpensive at $50. They are easy to customize with spray paint, and if you google these units you’ll find them made over in a variety of gorgeous shades.
I'm a sucker for a good glass and brass/gold etagere and I love the Asian of these two pieces.
I love a good glass and brass/gold etagère, and the Asian influence displayed in the lines of these two pieces is beautiful.
Leaning shelves are another stylish way to display your treasures. Check out Crate and Barrel or the Container Store for some nice options.
Leaning shelves are another stylish way to display your treasures. Check out Crate and Barrel or the Container Store for some nice options.

 

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