Tips For Choosing The Perfect Glass Showcase For Your Needs

Glass showcases and cabinets are a practical and elegant solution for displaying valuable or delicate items, in both commercial and private settings. A good quality glass cabinet is an investment piece, so you want to be sure that you are making the right choice. 

There are several factors to consider, including the size, style, lighting, display features, maintenance needs, and budget. Here is a guide to help you make the best decision.

The purpose of the cabinet or showcase

First of all, define the main purpose of the item. If it’s for your home, then consider how well the glass-fronted cabinet will fit in with your existing furnishings and decor. For example, you may want a wooden framed cabinet that matches the type and colour of other wood pieces. 

Consider the items you want to display: ornaments and photographs, or a specific collection of memorabilia, medals, trophies? A glass-fronted cabinet will be best suited for the former, whilst a frameless glass showcase with UV bonding that allows the contents to be viewed more clearly might be more suitable for the latter.

If the item is for retail display for valuable items such as jewellery, watches, and designer accessories, then security will be a high priority. Look for features such as toughened or laminated safety glass, locking systems, and LED lighting. 

For a museum or exhibition display, frameless glass showcases with UV resistant glass to protect the contents from heat and sunlight damage might be a worthwhile consideration. 

Assess the space

Measure up carefully to ensure that the cabinet or case will fit into the intended space, and also fit well with the dimensions of the room. If it’s intended for a very specific space such as an alcove or between two pieces of furniture, it may be better to have a custom made item to be sure that it fits well, rather than settling for an option that is not quite right.

Also consider the proportions of the room as a whole. A large cabinet might overwhelm a small space, while a small cabinet might look lost in a larger room. If the item will be a freestanding centrepiece rather than fitted against a wall, consider if there is enough space to comfortably move around it. 

Decide on the style and material

Once you have determined the purpose of the item, you will have an insight into which style will be most suitable for you. For retail spaces displaying smaller items, countertop cases are ideal to showcase products prominently. Freestanding showcases are ideas for museums or private collections of valuable or delicate items. 

For a home, freestanding wooden framed cabinets or even wall mounted units are ideal.

The material is a very important consideration, particularly the glass type. The glass should always be toughened or laminated for safety reasons. Toughened glass is heated to an extremely high temperature during the manufacturing process, then rapidly cooled. This makes it up to five times stronger than regular glass.

Toughened glass (also known as tempered glass or safety glass) is capable of withstanding heavy impacts, but in the event that it does break, it will crumble into small round pebbles rather than jagged shards. Laminated glass has a clear uPVC layer in between two panes, which will hold the glass in place even if it cracks or shatters. 

Low-ion glass is ideal for showcases, because it is exceptionally clear, without the green tint that regular glass can have. If you have a limited budget, you may wish to explore acrylic alternatives to glass. However, this material tends not to be as strong or durable as glass, and will not provide as much UV protection for valuable display items.

Lighting options

Integrated LED lighting is ideal to display the contents of the cabinet to best effect. You may want to include mirror backed panels in cabinets that will stand against the wall to add an extra depth and dimension to the display. 

Consider the cast of the shadows when positioning the lighting. Strip lighting along the top or bottom of the shelves, or spotlights directed from the exterior of the cabinet are some of the most popular options.

Security

If you have high-value items to display, then lockable cabinets with thicker glass are ideal. You can also integrate them with alarms and CCTV systems if necessary.