How to style your decorative items in display cabinets
Where should you put that gorgeous candle that you refuse to burn? What about that vase that deserves to be seen, with or without flowers in it? Knowing where to display your home decor and accessories to fit your interior design style can be a challenge. While a shelf or coffee table may be the obvious choices, sometimes our trinkets deserve a dedicated space of their own. Enter: the humble display cabinet.
While still considered an outdated piece of furniture by some, the glass-fronted cabinet has made a comeback this year. Their growing popularity in our wider room designs shows just how much value we put on those finer details – after all, these objets were designed to be seen. And is there really a better way of showcasing our eye for design than with a beautiful display cabinet adorned with a carefully curated selection of decorative items?
But why has there been a shift towards this purely aesthetic piece of furniture? ‘People are moving away from simply following trends to a more personal and considered style,’ explains interior designer Carrie Webb, the creative mind behind furniture upcycling business, Webb & Gray. ‘They want their interiors to be an expression of themselves and to reflect their own stories and interests, and glass-fronted cabinets are an ideal way to bring meaningful objects together and cohesively display them.’
This new take on open shelving brings furniture and detail together, allowing us to curate an exhibit of our most favored items which offers guests a feast for the eyes. What’s more, there’s no rainy day activity more enjoyable than reshuffling the contents of your cabinet to shake things up a bit. Although curiosity cabinets are all about unrestrained design freedom, we think there are a few points to consider before you try your hand at styling one, which we’ve compiled for you here.
Lilith is an expert at following news and trends across the world of interior design. She’s committed to sharing articles that help readers embrace emerging trends for beautifully styled homes. For this piece, she spoke with designers to learn how to learn how to style the perfect display cabinet to put your decor in the spotlight.
1. Place in a high traffic area for a show-stopping effect
Before you even think about what to decorate your cabinet with, you should give special thought to where you want to put it. With a display cabinet, the clue is in the name – there’s no point hiding this statement item somewhere it won’t be seen.
‘A living room is a great place for a display cabinet as it can be enjoyed at leisure, providing a decorative feature for the room as well as a talking point,’ explains Carrie from Webb and Gray (opens in new tab). ‘An entryway can also be a good location – display cabinets are usually slim so can be accommodated against a wall and will add personality and an eclectic museum-like feel.’
Think of your curiosity cabinet as the showstopper of your room. Place it just inside your front door, or next to a drink stand in the living room when hosting guests. This way, not only will it make an impression, but it will act as a conversation starter when the small talk inevitably gets…
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