How to Curate a Blue & White Collection
- thealluringhome
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
This past weekend, I participated as a vendor in a local artisan and vintage fair. The street was filled with young families pushing strollers full of children with painted faces, couples enjoying the beautiful weather with their dogs, groups of friends, and individuals on the hunt for the perfect piece of decor to add to their homes. One young woman wandered into my booth because she was drawn to my collection of blue and white pieces. She stood staring at my table of treasures, unsure of which pieces to purchase. She eventually chose three pieces of blue and white chinoiserie only to return an hour later to purchase more. I asked her if she was a collector, and she admitted that she was just starting her collection. She was curious about where to begin and how to source items. People often ask me about my collection of blue and white and how to curate a collection. Few design items are as timeless and elegant as classic blue and white Chinoiserie. Here are my tips on how to curate your own collection:
BUY WHAT YOU LOVE!
The number one rule for curating your own collection is to make it personal by purchasing items that you love. This may sound trite, but don't fall into the trap of buying something just because it is blue and white. Make sure that you love the design, size, scale, shape, and pattern of the piece. Some pieces may have Chinese writing, some may be more floral, and some may be more geometric. The pattern does not matter as long as it appeals to you.
DON'T TURN YOUR NOSE UP
Part of the fun of curating your own collection is the hunt for the piece that you love. Some of the best places to source interesting and unusual pieces of blue and white are also the least expensive: thrift shops, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace. Whenever I am traveling on a road trip, I always use my navigation app (Waze) to look for thrift stores and antique stores (preferably antique malls). I also change my location on Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone local is selling something fabulous. And remember, just because a piece looks dirty does not mean that it isn't a gem. A little soap, water, and elbow grease can transform a frog into a prince. If you want some quick finds, HomeGoods is always a safe bet. I have found their shelves to be stacked with goodies. Just remember, you don't want to buy everything from one source. Small businesses are a terrific option for sourcing since they have done the leg work of finding the fabulous pieces for you!
MIX IT UP
Nobody wants a boring collection of pieces that look like you acquired them all at once. The beauty of a curated collection lies in the mixture of new and old, large and small. Mixing patterns and motifs will add dimension and character to your collection. For example, a tall pagoda mixed with a hand-painted ginger jar and a porcelain fertility vase is more interesting than 3 ginger jars that are similar in size and pattern. Mix in some foo dogs and dragon details if you are lucky enough to find those gems. Remember that groupings of 3 items are more balanced and aesthetically appealing than pairs, although pairs can also work on a larger scale for symmetry. Layer the pieces so that the larger ones are in the back, and the smaller and more detailed pieces are front and center. You can also display smaller items on a stack of books to add height and variation to your display.
4. THINK BEYOND YOUR SHELVES
Although blue and white is classic and traditional, you do not have to display your treasures in a traditional way. Of course a cabinet or shelf full of blue and white can be breathtaking, but a trio on a coffee table or a large scale ginger jar on the floor can also pack a punch. Find a large Chinoiserie bowl and fill it with carpet balls for your coffee table. Find a candle in a blue and white porcelain dish and add it to a tray with a ginger jar and a Chinoiserie box. Create a dish wall of vintage blue and white plates. Group ginger jars in front of a fireplace on both sides for balance. Plant an orchid in a vintage blue and white bowl or Chinese foot bath and create a memorable centerpiece for your table. Blue and white pieces are so versatile that they can make a statement anywhere in your home.
LINK TO SOME FABULOUS AND AFFORDABLE PIECES
I am always restocking my inventory with unique pieces from my travels up and down the East Coast. Head over to my shop page @thealluringhomeshop on Instagram for some unusual finds. I have also curated some amazing pieces that can be found by clicking this commissionable link:
ENJOY THE PROCESS!
Comments