Most of us are collectors of some sort, whether we are aware of it or not. Choosing the items that surround us in our homes is a form of collecting. We start with toys and dolls as infants. Then the tween and teen years bring heartthrob posters, pet rocks and bottles filled with multicolored sand. The decor of college dorm rooms typically includes band paraphernalia and collections of the beer bottle type. As adults, our parents' collections or our own burgeoning interests might be the source of our obsession. The quality or nature of the items we collect represents the stage of life in which we find ourselves. Seemingly, it is also a part of creating home — filling our environment with the things we love.

Who collects what and why? There are many types of collectors. Visiting clients' homes, I have seen my share of unusual collections. Aside from works of art, almost anything goes: rare bird eggs to skulls of all kinds to chastity belts. But why? Some collect for the love of the unusual, others collect as an investment, and yet others simply collect because they can. How collections come to be is another thing. It might start with a visit to a museum where you discover a grouping that incites your passion, or it could blossom from a find at a garage sale.

One thing that is common to all collectors is their pride. Most collectors cannot wait to show off their collections and become quite eloquent when asked about them. Depending on the type of collection, a display takes many forms: from albums to archival boxes to racks and shelves and, of course, floor and wall space. Space certainly is a determining factor in the type of collection you undertake. A collection of figurines takes up less space than a collection of cars. Make sure you have enough space to display your wares — and either make plans for future space, or set yourself up to rotate the items of your collection for your enjoyment, much like a museum.

Creating a collection can be fun, but it requires a lot of work in researching and, yes, shopping. A serious collector is never at "rest." Their everyday outings are always quests for new finds.

Don't be embarrassed about what you like. Some of the most unexpected collections offer the greatest rewards. Take, for example, hubcaps. One or two or even a dozen might seem common, ubiquitous and boring, but when you amass a few dozen or a hundred, you can cover a wall and make a statement. Even the most jaded person will ooh and ahh at the variety of sizes, patterns and shiny chrome reflections created by such a grouping.

Find creative ways to incorporate your items — underneath a glass table, for example, or hanging from the ceiling. Decorating with your collections is always the best route. Not only are you exhibiting your collections, but you get to enjoy them every day.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.