Designing rooms for collectibles | Gurgaon | Noida | Delhi NCR
Designing rooms for collectibles – tips and tricks for implementation
Many people have a passion for collecting: some collect coins or stamps, others postcards or concert tickets. But some have done much larger objects. A scrapbook is not enough to put these in the limelight and present them.
For a more extensive collection, it is a good idea to prepare an entire room for it, if your own or rented property offers enough space for it. Depending on the object, there are different options how such a room can look.
In addition, it is not just a question of the “where”, but also the “how”. Because only with the right storage, the objects will not be damaged, but will remain as new in the long term and thus also valuable collector’s items.
Wine
For many people, a good wine is an integral part of a special occasion such as a romantic dinner. It is no secret that there are big differences, not only in taste but also in the value of the wine. The most expensive wines in the world cost hundreds of thousands of rupees – per bottle. As a rule, this is wine that has been stored for decades. Because when collecting the noble drop, a higher age usually means a higher value.
Anyone who sees the wine collection as an investment therefore needs sufficient space to store the bottles for a very long time. However, high demands are made on this storage so that the wines can retain their value or even increase it further. In addition, this is the only way to preserve their full-bodied taste, which makes them a valuable collector’s item.
Choosing the right wines is of course important. Because collector wines need a certain high quality and mixture in order to get better with age : Not every wine matures into a noble drop over the years. A good balance between alcohol, acidity, and tannin is required as this increases quality over time. This balance, together with the correct storage, is the prerequisite for good ripening.
Collecting wine and (correctly) storing it serves a double purpose: on the one hand, it preserves its value and, on the other hand, it matures, which further refines its taste. Many collectors therefore plan to serve individual objects from their collection on a special occasion, while others would never touch their wines, after all, a single bottle can be worth thousands of rupees.
Store wine properly
Either way, a wine cellar is the right place to store it so that it can be enjoyed for a long time. The following tips will help you set up your own wine cellar:
⦁ Since wine is sensitive to light, the wine cellar should be as dark as possible.
⦁ The cellar has to be cool, at best even temperature-controlled. Ideal temperatures for long-term storage of wine are eight to 14 degrees Celsius. Fluctuations of more than four degrees Celsius should be avoided all year round.
⦁ The wine cellar needs a high level of humidity. About 70 to 75 percent is the guideline value, whereby in case of doubt: Better a little more than a little less humidity. Otherwise the cork threatens to dry out.
⦁ Ideally, no water or heating pipes run through or close to the wine cellar, as they can give off unwanted heat. In addition, water damage can never be avoided with certainty, which can be an expensive undertaking in the wine cellar.
⦁ Wine is stored horizontally with the label facing up.
⦁ It makes sense to attach a transparent film, otherwise the labels could come off due to the high humidity.
⦁ Quiet is the be-all and end-all. The wine cellar must therefore be as free as possible from vibrations of any kind.
Storage options
In addition to these basic rules, you can let your creativity run free when it comes to specific wine storage. You can buy special wine racks, but your own creations made of iron grids or shelves are also possible.
Some collectors stack the wine bottles directly on top of each other, which makes it difficult to handle the wine. After all, several bottles have to be moved in order to get to the one that is to be opened or sold. Solutions with individual compartments for each bottle are therefore ideal, so that the label is visible without having to move it – and so that each can be moved individually.
Whisky
Whiskey is also one of the alcoholic drinks with collector’s value. Individual bottles can cost over a million euros – and the trend is rising. For some collectors it is just a passion, for others it is an alternative investment. But the right whiskey can not only preserve its value for a long time, it can even increase it significantly, which is why so-called “liquid gold” is increasingly becoming an object of speculation.
In any case, regardless of the individual goals, the fact is that collecting whiskey requires special know-how. This applies to the selection of bottles as well as to storage. Although it does not increase its value as it does with wine, it prevents the whiskey from becoming (er) bad and thereby losing its value.
Store whiskey properly
Therefore, there are also basic rules to be observed here:
⦁ Whiskey is not stored horizontally like wine, but upright. This will prevent the alcohol from touching the cork and attacking it over time. That would lead to undesirable aromas or even spoil the whiskey.
⦁ As with the storage of wine, it is important that the room is cool. This is intended to inhibit evaporation in order to protect the corks in turn. Temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius are recommended for storing whiskey. So it doesn’t necessarily have to be a basement room, but living rooms without direct sunlight and with minimal temperature fluctuations are also well suited for whiskey collection – for example storage rooms without windows.
⦁ A significant difference to the storage of wine is the humidity: it has to be as low as possible for whiskey in order to protect the corks and packaging. It can be a maximum of 55 percent, better is around 35 percent.
⦁ Darkness is also important. Above all, direct sunlight should be avoided, as already mentioned. It therefore makes sense to store the whiskey in the packaging and thus protected from light. Closed storage or a display case in the shade are also good options.
Finally, of course, it is important that the bottles are protected from mechanical hazards. Do not tip or fall. In addition, it should be prevented that something falls on the bottle. Particularly valuable whiskey collections are often alarmed, i.e. it is a kind of vault.
Design the whiskey warehouse
In the case of whiskey, the question also arises of how the room can be optically designed. You can also purchase prefabricated shelves here. Since the whiskey is stored standing up anyway, a separate compartment is not absolutely necessary for each bottle – but it brings them to life even better.
The design of the whiskey shelf is therefore a question of individual taste. Here, too, you can let off steam creatively with a little manual skill. For example in the form of individual shelves on the wall or a self-made whiskey cabinet for your own house bar.
With such free-standing solutions, it makes sense to additionally secure them to the wall to prevent them from tipping over. The tried and tested methods of securing against tipping can be used here. The more expensive the whiskey collection and individual bottles, the more important it is.
Books
Books are also popular items among collectors. They are not an investment, but for many people they are a passion. Be it non-fiction or novels, old or new books, hardback editions or paperbacks – they can all complement the individual collection, making books an incredibly diverse collector’s item.
Some people are fascinated by the content of the books, for others it is more the smell or the relaxed atmosphere of the (in-house) library that captivates them.
Present the book collection
Either way, your own book collection can be presented in a particularly appealing way in its own room. In principle, there is freedom of design, i.e. it can be a classic small-format library or a cozy reading room.
In any case, it makes sense to equip the room with sufficient shelves and a comfortable seating area so that you can “devour” the books on site. So here are some interior design ideas:
⦁ Shelves are the best way to store books because they can be placed next to each other. This prevents it from tipping over and enables the individual books to be sorted clearly.
⦁ Comfort is very important in the reading room at home. It is therefore important to have a seat for reading, for example an armchair, sofa or beanbag. Curtains or carpets can also promote the feel-good atmosphere.
⦁ A good light source is essential in order to be able to enjoy your own favorite books even on bad weather days or after sunset. A special reading lamp is an excellent option for this, but a floor lamp can also be attached next to the seat. It is important that the light is attached to the back behind the reader so that it illuminates the book well, but does not dazzle the reader.
⦁ Anyone who would also like to work with the books, be it as part of a degree, be it for personal interest or in the form of other projects, will benefit from a desk with a matching chair in the reading room. In this case, a table lamp provides the necessary light.
⦁ Sometimes there is not a whole room available as a home library or the collection is simply not (yet) sufficient. Then you can set up a reading corner with seating and bookshelves, for example a free space in the living room or a niche in the hallway.
⦁ Books are often used as decorative elements and are, for example, sorted by color or sorted in modern shelving systems.
⦁ Many people still opt for the classic variant, i.e. the flair of an old library with dark solid wood furniture, a leather armchair, heavy curtains made of velvet or lush chandeliers. This is of course also possible, according to your own taste.
Protection from the sun, dirt and vermin
Nevertheless, certain basic rules must be observed with books in order to enjoy the collectibles for a long time: The room should be dry and have a pleasantly warm temperature.
If the books are stored near windows, it is important that they are protected from dirt and direct sunlight. In such cases, closed bookshelves can be useful.
In addition, the sun should come from behind in the reading corner, i.e. the armchair, beanbag and the like should be placed with the back to the window. Finally, proper care is important: the books must be dusted regularly and protected from vermin so that they do not get damaged.
Terminal block models
Terminal blocks are a passion that is not infrequently a holdover from childhood. Not everyone can relate to this term, after all, they are generally only referred to as Lego – although, strictly speaking, it is just one of several brands. Nevertheless: The Lego bricks have established themselves on the market and are nowadays an indispensable part of a child’s room.
With increasing age, the models built from them become more and more complex, be it as a purchased version or from your own creativity. This means that nowadays the desire for the terminal blocks no longer disappears in the course of childhood or puberty, but more and more men and women are still enthusiastic about the hobby in adulthood.
Passion, investment, or both
However, adults can have a second reason not to sort out their Lego collection, but even to expand it: Some sets and figures are now suitable as investments and are sold at auctions at high prices. The rarer, the more valuable they are and thus they can certainly increase in value with increasing age, if at some point there are only a few copies of an edition.
So be it out of passion, purely for monetary reasons, or both: Terminal block models can be great collectibles, but they also need a lot of space for storage. In addition, these should often not only be kept in the original packaging, but proudly displayed, after all, there is a lot of work and sensitivity in every model. The question of correct storage therefore arises here too.
Keep the terminal block models
A whole room for terminal blocks – not only children dream of this for a long time, but also gifted collectors. It makes sense to divide such a room into two areas: The models can be assembled in one area and exhibited and stored in the other area.
It is therefore important to find a way of storage where the models are both visible and protected from dust, dirt or risks such as falling objects. Here are some ideas of what such storage options can look like:
⦁ Shelves are a great way to store the models in a space-saving way, but still display them visibly. The shelves can either be bought prefabricated or put together as required. However, the terminal block models are then not protected from contamination.
⦁ Therefore, a showcase can also be useful. Such transparent showcases are available in many different sizes, so that there is a suitable choice for every model. This allows it to be viewed from the outside, but still remains well protected inside. This also reduces the effort required to dust and clean the room.
⦁ Individual figures can be placed on a base plate, for example. This can be mounted on the wall so that it becomes a shelf itself and protects the figures from slipping or falling.
⦁ In addition, special picture frames are often used to attach the figures individually and display them behind the pane of glass. This brings the same effects as a showcase, in a small format, so to speak.
⦁ Finally, there is also the large format, i.e. special showcases in which several figures or models of the terminal blocks can be exhibited and protected from external influences.
Where in the room which of the presented options are used, everyone can decide according to their own taste, space and budget.
Caps
A relatively new trend is the collection of caps, or “caps” in new German. There are now many variations of these base caps, from the snap back cap with a plastic fastener on the back to the fitted caps that cannot be adjusted to flex and flex fit caps with a flexible elastic band.
A distinction is also made according to brand, color, materials, functions or number of panels. There is, for example, the Arrow or the Military Cap, to name just two of the many examples.
The fact is that caps are a science in itself and a popular collector’s item these days. Because on the one hand they have a practical use and can be worn as fashion accessories. On the other hand, special models are definitely valuable and thus an investment comparable to that in jewelry or in very special shoes.
Storage tips
Anyone who collects caps needs enough space to store them. It doesn’t have to be a whole room, but depending on the size of the collection, it can be integrated into a walk-in closet, for example , or moved to a suitable place in the hallway.
In principle, there are no limits to your own creativity. However, it is important that the chosen location meets the following requirements:
⦁ The caps should be stored at room temperature in a room with low humidity.
⦁ They must be protected from moisture and dirt.
⦁ In addition, there must be no direct sunlight, because the UV light fades the color of the caps.
⦁ Those caps that cannot be washed must also be protected from dirt and, ideally, from dust. It is therefore advisable to store them in special bags that also offer protection from the sun.
As more and more (especially young) people get a taste for caps and collect caps, there are now special shelves that help to save space and keep them in shape at the same time. This is important so that the caps will still look like new for many years to come. With a little craftsmanship, such a cap shelf can also be made by yourself. If you want to use the decorative effect of the caps at the same time, you can sort them by color or brand, for example.
