Collector Struggles: Managing Storage, Display, Downsizing & Letting Go

Collectors' Corner Podcast Episode 7:
SPACE...it's the one thing most collectors never want to have to worry about, yet it seems we always need to. In this episode of our Collectors' Corner Podcast, we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly (including some suggestions and tips) about managing storage and display space as a collector. We also dive into conversations about making the difficult decision to downsize collections, how that can make us feel, and some of our own related personal experiences. This topic was requested per our latest community poll - big thank you to everyone who voted! Let us know what your thoughts are on this subject in the comments, and what you want us to discuss next!
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[@kaitlynclem5967]

A tip from the vintage glassware collecting world: Securing things to shelves using museum putty can help protect them from falling! I don't live in an area where earthquakes are a risk, but museum putty is made to withstand that kind of shaking.

[@ToyChat]

Wow thanks for the tip! That’s a good idea. I also put a bit of glue dots on the bottom of my dolls shoes so they don’t accidentally slide off their stands. -Sang

[@sonyasaville5042]

I started collecting dolls in 2001 which is Bratz. I was inbox collector…that I used to have over 350 Bratz dolls NIB. It was taking up so much spaces…so I decided to sell over half of my Bratz collection I did totally regretted. I stopped collecting til I saw LOL OMG dolls…that I had to unboxed since they’re different when you can’t see them hidden inside. I was mind blown to touch them…and to displayed them. So I started unboxed my Bratz after 18 years in storage…that I find it gorgeous being out of box, so I started buying more Bratz from eBay to have them back in my collection. Then RH/SH dolls is a must haves, too. Then I decided to collected vintage Barbies that reminded of my childhood. I am satisfied to displayed them out of boxes which save a lot of space…and I just created new doll room that has more room for future dolls. I have cut down on some LOL OMG dolls now but RH/SH and Bratz dolls are my number one list in my collection. I haven’t sold any dolls just yet because of what I did long ago is really hard on me. It is so nostalgic for me to keep them since I first collected Bratz. I only collect what these dolls speaks to me.

[@phoebedemontefalcon1423]

I'm an impulse seller.. when a doll is starting to get boring for me, i sell it. Then regrets a LOT afterwards.. so what I do now is I only display the dolls I like and hide the the old ones. In that way, i wont get bored with it. Plus its a great way to revisit them later when you start missing them. Its like opening them again for the first time .

[@Amiator99]

I started collecting dolls as an adult at the tail end of Ever After High. When I realized they were being discontinued, I bought up as many as I could. Now that I’m collecting Rainbow High in its prime, I’m having to continuously phase out dolls that I’m not as attached to anymore. I have VERY limited space, and I think that part of being a responsible collector is knowing your limits financially and storage wise. I rotate out dolls by selling on ebay, which I’ve been quite successful at and it’s rather rewarding. Good luck to all collectors out there who may find this topic more challenging. 💖

[@e.d.t.]

It's interesting to hear how you guys collect and to see little bits of your collection, not just the dolls but the figures too. I've worked abroad for years, accumulating new stuff, and planned to move back this year. So not only do I have the small space issue, rotating which toys are on display, but I also have a "Am I even going to have room for this stuff at home?" issue, what to mail and what to get rid of, what collector boxes I can part with, and shipping isn't cheap either. I cram alot of stuff under the bed too, doll and art supply storage in every nook and cranny.

[@quitaulla1569]

Wowww! It sounds like a hard decision, especially the shipping part and bringing your collection with you back home. I think if you need to get rid of some dolls, give up the ones easier or cheaper to replace later on, in case you want them back. Good luck with your moving.😎✌💃💥

[@wanderingmex]

Great topic. As I've gotten older, I've found the need to prioritize my collection's organization. When deciding whether to purchase a more expensive, designer doll, I try and wait at least a week after first noticing it. If I find myself still thinking about it after a week (or more) then I might consider purchasing it. I also try and envision how I would play with it. There are some gorgeous dolls out there, but I don't know what I'd do with them besides keep them in the box in storage. I don't have the space to display everything, so I tend to rotate. If I haven't rotated a doll into display in six months or more, I start to consider selling it. My reasoning is that I obviously haven't thought about or cared enough to see it or play with it. When it comes to selling, I follow the advice of another doll collector I saw: Once you've decided to sell a doll, box it up and don't look at it again (after you've taken the sales pics, of course). Because once you do, you're almost guaranteed to start coming up with reasons to keep it, even if it's one you haven't though of in a long while.

[@LeeDee5]

Great topic. I'm in a one room living situation and it's so rough. The worst part of letting go is that fear that in the future i'll want it back but then i'll have to spend 3x+ on it that what it originally cost me.

[@immadollygirl2834]

With the avalanche of dolls that have been coming out, I was getting overwhelmed with doll collecting. So when I had to move my doll room into a smaller space, of course i was freaking out! BUT... I was so surprised at how good it felt to let go of things. I felt lighter, less stressed, less overwhelmed and the CRAZY part was that by letting go of the dolls i didnt need/want I enjoyed collecting again! Mind blown.

[@Amiator99]

Glad to hear that letting go was liberating for you! I agree, too much stuff just adds more stress.

[@OrignialLostintheFifthcorner]

The other thing you need to consider when you are looking into storage units is, are they climate controlled? This can be very important if you live in areas with semi-extreme weather. I grew up somewhere that was always between 50 F to 75 F degrees and not humid or overly dry,. But then I moved somewhere that ranged from negative 5 F to 115 F degrees and was very humid and very dry. So that's something to keep in mind. I try, as a rule, to not keep my dolls in storage and just keep things that aren't temperature sensitive in it.

[@juiceiniguez1044]

I really appreciate this conversation. These days the stress of storing / displaying dolls has been overwhelming. I'm glad I'm not alone!

[@ToyChat]

Thanks for tuning in! It was nice to discuss this topic! It was therapeutic. -Sang

[@jenneyblade864]

I voted for this topic! So thank you for talking about this. I have been downsizing my collection aggressively to make room for the new stuff. All kinds of emotions occur. But most of the time I feel good after letting go of dolls I dont interact with over time. I dont like to get external storage because that's an additional expense and less money i can put towards my dolls. Just get in a healthy habit of letting go of dolls when you buy more. I recently sold half my G1 MH dolls, and that helped me to letgo of the other doll lines. Tiny steps at a time.

[@conniekeffer5790]

I have a doll room with open bookcases and doll houses. I use an air purifier in there which in 20 years has kept the dust to a minimum. I have a second room with curios since there is no door. In my doll room I maximize every inch of space with heavy drapes and shelf units in front of the windows. I stack my NRFB dolls behind the door area. It's all about using your space creatively and constantly reorganizing the dolls more efficiently!

[@itsallaboutaz]

Thank you for sharing your experiences on this too, the sheer thought of downsizing is just pure anxiety inducing. I've had "clear outs" several times, and the real stressful thing for me is actually dealing with selling them, posting, packaging, ensuring them etc especially when dealing with high value dolls, rather than the actual parting with them. My worst thing is playsets and doll houses, I buy them even though I have zero space and they just immediately go into storage always with the intention of i'll have room eventually, which is a dangerous habit I think a lot of us get into. Definitely trying to rethink my buying habits this year but with the announcement of MOD Poppy making a return... i'm not sure how long that will power will last!

[@LiamN407]

yesss my collection is overwhelming at times - but i definitely have fun on switching out which dolls are on display and making sure all my purchases get to have their moment

[@undamaged-destiny]

I have been a collector of so much my whole life and I always feel like this. Displays are so expensive let alone the collecting hobby, when I moved I experienced staining with things. Thanks so much for the tips! Love this podcast. ❤️

[@blazingcinders9089]

In my room, I have a big metal bookshelf that has six shelves. The top shelf is occupied by my Ever After High dolls and Gooliope, second shelf is Monster High, third shelf is also Monster High, fourth is Barbie, fifth is Rainbow High and the bottom is doll furniture and accessories. They tend to slip and slide a lot so I'll reorganise the shelves.

[@JamieDoll]

So helpful, this one was tough... Everytime you sighed Max, so did I.💀😮‍💨 Really tough topics to pin down. I have restricted space in my bedroom and currently displaying All my RH/SH over my bed. Across my room on my portable closet are my OG MH just Cleo and Clawdeen and next to it are my G3 MH and on top of my dresser are my Barbie Extra Dolls. Technically these are my favorite current collections... Now I ALSO have an entire Dollroom (parents house) I call the vault filled with all my collections of everything otherwise. I have some Funko, all my EAH and even Miraculous LadyBug, Disney Collection of Dolls, Bratz and other lines like the Mermaid Lines of recent death etc. L.O.L Omgs it's ALOT... I have both in and out of box but no duplicates. I find I open the ones I feel I needed to for whatever therapeutic purpose it served at a particular time and some just never got around to. Most of my EAH are still inbox. I love every Doll line I just mentioned to you. I'm attached to all of my plastic babies. Recently I did begin selling on Mercari but they are dolls I've been given, found in thrift to play extra characters on my shows or dolls I bought for customs. I have only ever sold new dolls I bought as a completionist because they don't individually spark joy. Like my Aladdin Live action movie character dolls, except Genie for instance. Fyi we sell Marie Kondo at The Container Store, what you said is 100% true about storage Sang, yet we all struggle with getting rid of even joyless possessions. 😮 Jaw dropping over the Funko Pop news ... What's going on? 😂Great video guys thanks it was Epic 💥🤯♥️👌🏾💋

[@Drewski217]

What a topic to have!!! I am in the fortunate position of living by myself in my own place so dolls have kind've made their ways into every room except the kitchen and bathroom - so living room, bedroom and a spare storage room I have due just to circumstance - but beforehand I definitely had a small tv unit with dolls and downstairs storage when living with family or even had to keep things in check by just having things in my own room. Even so, I'm bad about shelving and do need some formal ones, have for years TBQH but wasn't in the headspace in the past to see the value of putting money there vs. more dolls LOL I also definitely understand that overwhelming feeling as a result. Collecting was a very emotionally complicated and rebellious thing for me and growing up I acquired a LARGE collection of everything as a way to be defiant against the familial idea that I shouldn't collect at all. I don't regret doing that but in the today of things it leaves me with dolls I don't spend lots of time on but also feel sad slightly about getting rid of. Not to mention in feeling overwhelming to start to sort out what I do or don't keep. Sometimes it makes me want to just get rid of all of it but I can also see that it mainly is my being overwhelmed about how to store and display all of it too. I do think I'm in a space of needing to refine what I keep and definitely being choosier about what I buy in the first place too. Organization of collection is definitely a goal and hopefully it can happen this year or at least the start of it.

[@pepercat17]

Yeah. I stopped collecting. I’ve moved on to home decor and yard work haha. I kinda glad I got all my RH dolls and there’s some I’m like “yeah could have done with out this one.” Looking at you Lily Chang.

[@bradsherwood194]

The struggle is real. I am not a box collector so I toss them all. I never sell but I donate my playline dolls all the time. If I don't like a doll's body, out they go. I keep only the head and outfit and rebody or have dolls share bodies! I use cardboard magazine holders to hold dolls/bodies so they are hidden and look neat on a shelf. I really should rotate my dolls more often but I don't. It is a difficult subject and one that we collectors should think about more often. Oh, and I vacuum pack a ton of not frequently worn cdollslothes such as gowns to save storage space.

[@scottpaquin9709]

This was very informative. I myself display pretty much everything out of the box and display the dolls in detolf glass cabinets. I recently purged alot of playline dolls and other stuff that was cluttering up my closet.

[@quitaulla1569]

I love dolls! I love toys! I love your channel! I am an in box collector, running out of space.😅 can you give us a tour of your video game, Super Mario collection? 😍✌

[@BunnyBelle3]

Thanks for the tips & the conversation in general. I live in a smallish apartment so space is a huge issue. I've been wanting to downsize a little just because it can feel overwhelming when I think about moving but I still like a lot of it, but it's definitely time to let some stuff go. Maybe this was just the push I needed

[@iamsoverybored878]

Since I went back to collecting, I have been keeping an eye out for cheap shelves. But I have a studio apartment. I don't want to start putting them in the kitchen. So I guess I got to be more selective with my purchases.

[@ToyChat]

Definitely! I had bad experiences with cheap shelves that fell apart after a few years. The IKEA Billy shelves are pretty cheap and they last quite a while. -Sang

[@darklight4251]

I have a small living space and a too big collection. It has become a stress for a while. Having too many dolls on display ends up stressing me. I don't like to see this accumulation. It does not look good and becomes a problem. I realise now that to have too many dolls and toys stored is stressing me too! lol They are all in my room luckily. When I think about it objectively, I can't see the point of having all these things I can't enjoy. I am also terrible at letting dolls go. It does not help! I reached a stage where I will have to part with some dolls. My best option at the moment is to only add to my collection my absolute favourite(s) from each line. I collect too many different doll lines and my love for thrifting does not help. I wish I would have a smaller collection that I could fully enjoy.

[@Larsskoldebjer]

Love it!

[@charmedjems]

My partner built me four display cases, probably not going to be enough though. If I had IT I would definitely have a glass case like my aunt does. I don't have as a big as a collection as a lot of people and really hope to keep it to a manageable number. I think I'll cap my collection at one hundred, not including cars, horses, sets, and then If I bring one in another has to go. I think I'm close but haven't counted. I could have gone over already, I should count them since I have a few more coming. I can see how it gets overwhelming but I'm still having fun, when it's not I'll stop.

[@golden_raisins]

As someone with a small collection still, I'm so jealous of some of these commenters and would love to see their dolls haha :) they sound spectacular. This is the first Adult Hobby I've had the resources to have (ironically for children's toys) so I still get nervous making all those purchases!!

[@ami7mina]

This video makes me want to buy a glass cabinet for my it dolls which are currently just on my tarot/computer table.

[@MarsNeptune-pi9nw]

If I ever get a house of my own I would have a big room dedicated to nothing but dolls

[@ELLIOTDANIEL1975]

I Personally love displaying everything specially my IT collection. I have several IKEA cabinets with glass and in my living room there’s a shelf that host the most recent collection or the most relevant.

[@dragonfly_blue7]

I have a stackable 4 tier shelf. I've invested in lazy Susan's and a 10 inch one holds 5 rainbow high dolls and a 12 inch one holds 5 shadow high dolls. I don't get to see my dolls lined up in rainbow order but with the lazy Susan I can turn it to display whatever doll I want. If I position the dolls a certain way I can display two at a time instead of one. It also works with lol dolls, fortunately, I don't have a lot of those. My monster high dolls are still in a storage container but I plan on displaying them on lazy Susan's too. I have so many MH dolls but I'm going to down size soon.

[@aspiring...]

I thought i was the only one😂😅 I have seriously cut down on buying but still so many boxes. I am currently going to downsize. I going to sell all the dolls that no lo ger fit my aesthetic or I don't vibe with. A great video.😊

[@firefly44220]

Display the best stuff. Trust me. You only live once. Enjoy the best, cull the rest ❤

[@kelleypopelar3162]

This and the rest of the topics connected to this are very important to discuss. I definitely would be overwhelmed by the decisions I will need to be making in this when I find a new place. Most of my og MonsterHigh collection has been in plastic totes at my mother’s house but I’m not sure it’s everything… As I have gotten older especially in the past few years I have become more decerning and confident and conscious about the dolls I own and the ones I purchase or ask for. My tastes have changed too and I have gotten into different dolls that I would have thought about before like BJDs. MonsterHigh has always been important to me and g3 is proving to carry many of that into this era, However I don’t want to just get all the dolls made just the main characters cores and lines that I really enjoy is my plan. I love the concept of mermaze mermaids but I want to make a confined display scene for these so that might affect who I add later, I hope that this line will continue on. I am completely enamored with SmartDoll by Danny Choo and other then MonsterHigh these are becoming close to a soul level dolls and will take a lot of space for props and clothing/accessories besides the dolls themselves. This is proving difficult for me to store and organize so far until I find a System that works for me. I love spending time with them so I want to keep my favorites accessible while displaying whom ever else I’m not interacting with.

[@dolls_onthego]

I’m soooo opposite 😅I have to open EVERY DOLL I have hundreds of dolls and literally only have ONE in the box doll lol because she’s Novi Star and I don’t have a double yet I don’t feel I can open her lol and I have one small bedroom for my whole collection but I have become a pro on making it all fit lol but I also get my crazy doll maze room is not for everyone 😂

[@littleplasticfriends]

Oh duplicates. I had never bought duplicates until the Trixie doll. i decided that i had to have an in box and an out of box. What was i thinking? In box went into storage (because of space) and i have the out of box on display. ugh.

[@dianapdolls]

I feel the same way I do not want all my dolls on display. I have a doll room and one wall is dolls display. The other walls are bare walls. I have two small cabinets with dolls with doors and dolls cannot be seen. My closet is full of dolls and a doll house I keep the doors closed. Too many dolls out feels too cluttered to me. I also have a basement closet with dolls and houses I use for storage. I rotate my dolls out by themes or seasonal displays. Thanks for sharing.

[@ToyChat]

Wow! Sounds like you have quite a collection. Clutter can make me feel like I enjoy my collection less. I prefer a designated area for me to display the dolls I am currently interested in. Thanks for sharing and listening in! -Sang

[@deniseriley790]

I need to go through everything I have and they to let go😢

[@michaelmcgee8543]

I'm thinking of downsizing some other things and it is painful.

[@MarsNeptune-pi9nw]

I kept my ever after high dolls in a drawstring bag so they are scuffed up

[@pineapple365]

How did you get milas hair that nice? Did you boil wash it?

[@ToyChat]

Yes! That Mila’s hair was boil washed 😃

[@princessss.]

I'm early for once 😂💖

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Imagine if you have 2000 dolls.

[@icemmag12]

I thought you collect dolls together in a shared space.

[@golden_raisins]

Same lol, I feel like we're getting more of the lore