The right window treatment is a good backdrop for personal collections

Displaying a personal collection can make an immediate impact in a room, particularly if it contains things that have special meaning for their owners.

Among the items that convey this impact best, interior decorator Shari Hiller counts family photos, books and collectibles that focus on the owner's special interests or hobbies. But they need to be assembled in an attractive display to turn them into a room's focal point.

For instance, asymmetrical arrangements or those that have an odd number of items often look best because symmetry creates too much structure and causes a display to look too formal.

Hiller, who co-hosts the PBS series, Around the House with Matt and Shari, suggests unifying photos by theme such as family events, or displaying all color or all black and white pictures along a hall or stairway wall.

Window treatments in neutral colors and simple styles offer the most attractive backdrop for such accessories. For instance, soft sheer shades are a good choice because they are durable but have an elegant look. They allow filtered light to enter a room without blocking visibility from the outside.