Cute Ways to Organize Little Knickknacks

Organize by Theme

• Sorting your knickknacks by theme helps to organize them, especially if you have a large collection. Setting them all out on a large table or counter and grouping similar figures together, based on themes, simplifies the process of creating satisfying displays. For example, grouping all the knickknacks related to music, such as musician and miniature musical instruments together, gives you elements for a display focused on music. Arranging knickknacks related to food together and using them as a decorative element in the kitchen or dining room makes a cute conversation starter.

Organize by Type

• Creating clusters of knickknacks by type, such as hand-carved wooden animals, bisque figures and hand-painted vintage ceramics, offers a simple way to organize knickknacks. For example, if you collect figurines of mice, put all the natural, wood-finish mice in one group; painted, wooden mice next to them; hand-painted, ceramic mice in the next group; and add accessories, such as miniature wedges of cheese, to make cute scenes.

Playful Groupings

• Using a display cabinet to organize your favorites protects them from dust and provides room to set up a scene on each shelf, such as jungle figures on the bottom, followed by forest knickknacks, beach knickknacks and urban knickknacks -- such as business people and miniature buildings -- on the top shelf. Following patterns found in nature works well for organizing knickknacks. Displaying flocks of birds in flying formation on a glass shelf catches attention. Creating shapes with some of the knickknacks, such as a circle of snow globes or a herd of animals makes cute groupings.

Chronological Arrangement

• Organizing collectible knickknacks by time period adds to the potential for conversation about your collection. Lining up similar knickknacks, such as nesting dolls with the oldest on the left and the newest on the right, creates a timeline. This method also organizes travel collectibles, including souvenirs or miniatures from different geographical regions. Starting with a group from your earliest trip -- or the oldest examples of a type of carving -- and ending the lineup with the latest style or most recent find puts them in context.