From Retail to Your Room: Anthropologie

One of the most inspiring things happening right now is the power of a collection, says Sorgule of the clustering trend. Think about how a collection of chairs can change a space. Each has its unique look, and maybe they are different shapes, sizes or colors. Maybe they're from different time periods, and maybe they're for use or possibly just put on display. While this chair sculpture may seem too advanced, Sorgule suggests surrounding your dining room table with different seating options to tell an even more layered story in the room.

Dreaming up the creative displays of the stores is not an exact science, says Sorgule. Instead, it's about having fun. So many of the displays and concepts we have created over the years have come from playing around with an idea to see what comes from it, she says. Whether using a children's chair to display books or a wall graphic for an instant pop of color, it all boils down to childlike curiosity and discovery. Sometimes we get something we would never have expected.

In addition to its fantastic displays, Anthropologie uses an unexpected palette of colors to showcase the merchandise. We've looked at how the intensity, tone and value of a color can make all the difference, says Sorgule. We've played with color blocking, color tension and the emotions that color can evoke. Consider painting your walls a sage color or blue gray hue, for a calming space or a rich maroon to evoke more drama.

When it comes to displaying knickknacks and assorted finds, there is a fine line between curated and cluttered. How do the pros do it? It comes down to understanding what you're displaying, says Sorgule. If you're displaying a collection of related items such as book, then place them together. But if a single object is so amazing, then it may be able to hold its own without other items to detract from it.

To find the unique fixtures and design elements in Anthropologie stores, every person on the visual design team hits the streets. Thrifting is a huge part of what we do, and we love that it allows the unique to come out, says Sorgule of scouring flea markets, consignment stores and antique shops for items that can be transformed into displays like these paddles.

Sorgule says that to score the best items at flea markets, forget the traditional rules of shopping with a list or an idea of what you want to buy. My best thrifting experiences have often come when I have no expectations, she says. If I can walk into an antique shop or flea market with a completely open mind, then typically I'm more likely to see the potential within anything and everything. Here, a bunch of old wooden furniture parts were transformed into clothing hangers.

In the Glen Mills, Pa., store, designers capitalized on a family of wall fans and the hot summer weather to create this display. Taking into consideration your objects as well as the time of year, Sorgule says, is key in any sort of renovation or remodel. Also, don't be afraid to tweak your home decor, whether in big or small ways, every season for a new experience.

While the large displays are eye-catching and striking, little details—such as clothes hanging from a belt—are also inspiring. We found an assortment of old belts while thrifting, used a drill to make the holes large enough for the hangers and looped them around a bar using the buckles, says Sorgule. It could be a great addition to any home storage, possibly perfect for those fall jackets that hang by the front door.

At the Glen Mills store, the team erected a geometric dome inside the store, where they staged a bedroom setup. The dome creates a smaller intimate space within the store's very large open space, says Sorgule, who loves the whimsy of an outside structure being brought inside.