Dos & Don’ts to Consider When Buying Glass Display Cabinets

A glass display cabinet is a popular item of furniture that can bring the finishing touch to your home, as well as providing a practical storage solution. It’s a statement piece of furniture that you may want to be the focal point of a room, so it’s important to consider your choice carefully. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you make the right decision.

Do consider where it will be placed

Measure up the space intended for the cabinet carefully, and double check your measurements twice and thrice! Remember to include the height, width and depth of the space, taking into account skirting boards, sloping ceilings, and clearance room for opening drawers and doors. 

Do consider the rest of the interior decor

You don’t want the glass cabinet to stick out like a sore thumb, so consider how well it will fit in with the proportions and overall design scheme of the room. Consider elements such as the materials, finish, and colour, and whether the design complements the rest of the style of your furniture.

For example, if you have sleek minimalist furniture, an ornately carved antique cabinet with coloured or patterned glass panels might look a bit odd. On the other hand, if you have a cosy country cottage vibe, then a sleek metal cabinet with long clear panels of glass will interrupt the flow of the room.

Do incorporate lighting

One of the most important purposes of your display cabinet is to showcase ornaments and other personal items such as photographs. Therefore it is important to ensure that it is well lit. Include various lighting methods such as LED light strips to underlight glass shelving, or mounted vertically on the sides of solid shelving to reduce shadows.

You can also include puck lights to show off a special item in detail such as a trophy or sculpture. Also consider some decorative lighting touches such as light bulb door knob, or strings of miniature fairy lights inside to brighten up gloomy shelves. 

You may need to experiment with the positioning of the lights to achieve a pleasing balance of shadow and illumination. Also consider the colour temperature; cooler lights can highlight fine details and textures in intricate pieces of artwork or ornaments, while warmer temperatures give a softer glow. You may want to opt for a neutral temperature for balance.

Don’t forget about safety and security

Glass is a very durable material, but not all types of glass are made equally. For a display cabinet, you will need toughened or tempered glass that can withstand impacts. If safety is your primary concern, maybe because you have pets and children, look for laminated glass options that will not shatter on impact.

If you are displaying valuable items in your cabinet, or it is to be used in a retail outlet or hospitality venue, look for cabinets with secure locking mechanisms for peace of mind and to maintain compliance with insurance policies. I

In public places where valuable or rare content will be displayed, such as galleries or museums, you may wish to consider extra security measures such as alarms, touch or motion detectors, and CCTV monitoring. 

This will act as a deterrent for potential thieves, as well as providing important information and evidence for any police investigation, should the worst happen. 

Don’t forget to consider sturdiness and weight capacity

Consider the intended purpose of the cabinet and the items you wish to display in it. Overloading it with heavy items could pose a safety risk to both your possessions and the occupants of the room. Check the manufacturers’ guidelines for weight limits and ensure that it is sturdy enough for supporting heavier objects.

Also consider the danger of tipping if the cabinet is very tall and narrow; it might need to be fastened to the wall with a bracket. 

Don’t forget to consider delivery and assembly

If you are ordering a new item of furniture, you may be required to assemble it yourself and it might need two people and various tools. Consider if you have the time and skills to tackle this step yourself.

If you are buying a second hand piece of furniture, consider how it will be delivered. Will you need to pay a lot extra to hire a van for example?