Dispel the myth that you are a hoarder and tag yourself a 'collector'. All you need do is corral the pieces you have randomly scattered throughout your home and arrange them together in one spectacular display - on your shelves and sideboards, in open-fronted cupboards, and hung on walls. Suddenly, those single unremarkable items become collective objects of desire.

1. Clocks - in all manner of vintages and styles - tend to be favourites with serious and amateur collectors alike. Make an outstanding feature of your timepieces, above and across the width of your mantelpiece. To ground the clocks so they do not appear to be floating across the wall, link them to the mantelpiece with a standing clock.

2. Enliven the bare diagonal wall beside your staircase with a gallery of art unified by all-black frames and images. Regard it as a work in progress. Start with a small grouping of pictures and keep adding to it over time. Vary the sizes and shapes of the frames, mixing an occasional circle or oval into a sea of squares and rectangles. Before hanging a frame, cut a piece of paper in the same size and test its placement on the wall. Look for vintage black-and-white photographs, images in books, sheet music, or collect wallpaper and fabric sample

3. Display an assortment of fine bone-china plates on your kitchen or dining-room wall. Whether you are a serious collector of limited-edition plates or simply wish to create your display from garage sale or op-shop finds, plan the arrangement to avoid making mistakes. Before putting up wall hooks, play around with the position of the plates on the floor, then mark up your wall.

4. If you've never been able to part with your children's favourite storybooks, here's an idea you'll love. Display them in box frames of similar colours with a background of wallpaper in complementary shades.

5. If you love coffee-table books, there's no need to hide them away. Why not turn your library into a picture gallery? Attach narrow shelves to a neutral-coloured wall and show off each striking book cover to perfection. Make sure your shelf has a lip to prevent the books from falling off. Try IKEA's Stripa shelf (79 x 9cm), $9.95. As long as you have books, who needs pictures?

6. Save your most exclusive carrier bags to make a quirky bedroom-wall display. Keep the cost of framing down by buying standard similar-style frames in various sizes in which to showcase your favourite bags.

7. Assemble a collection from the most simple and useful objects - such as candlesticks and vases. For the display to work, it is imperative the pieces be grouped closely together with colour being the consistent element that binds the different shapes.

8. Gather small photos, everyday objects and vintage memorabilia you have scattered throughout the house. Display them collectively in an old printer's drawer or similar and they will command instant attention.

9. Mix and match mirrors of various shapes and sizes from different eras for an eclectic yet clearly elegant arrangement. The mirrors will light up a dark entry hall or room and make the most of limited daylight. Shop for vintage, Art Deco or modern mirrors online (try eBay), and at op-shops or garage sales.

10. China and silverware as good as this deserves to be shown and not concealed behind cupboard doors. With that in mind, revamp an old pine dresser or wall unit. Paint it black and line the backboard with lovely damask wallpaper or fabric to create a striking backdrop for all-white and metal or silver accessories.

11. Frame a set of four pictures identically and hang them, two-by-two, above a side table. This type of symmetrical arrangement makes as much impact as one large piece of art. Complete the picture with a pair of tall vases either side of the display and a row of dishes or a low centrepiece in the middle.

12. If you have a collection of old vinyl records gathering dust in the attic or garage, here's an idea that's on song! Sort the covers into a theme - by artist, band, musical genre, colour or design - then mount and frame them identically. For maximum impact, arrange the frames snugly side-by-side and in rows, centred over a sideboard or sofa. If you like the idea but are too young to have an original set of LPs, try second-hand dealers and op-shops.

13. Group similar objects by colour for a powerful display. Amber and smoky glass vases work well with each other and look exceptional arranged where they catch the light, showing off their various shapes and tones to their optimum advantage.