I received this blog post from another professional organizer, Jeri Dansky, about the joys of collecting things. I advocate for curating your “Stuff” so that your best stuff gives you pleasure and tells a story about who you are and what interests you.
I display these chalk-ware/plaster figures of fruits and vegetables on my butter-yellow kitchen walls above my stove because they look very cheerful during long, cold winters and they follow a vintage garden theme I use for my decorating. I have several more displayed around the room. They make the kitchen come alive and let people know of my fondness for gardening and cooking and my need for cheerful surroundings.
I’m not as much saying people should get rid of stuff,as to whittle the collection down so that you can display your things in such a way that people encourage you to tell the stories about what they see.