Tips On How To Style A Glass Display Cabinet In Your Home

Glass display cabinets are making a comeback, as the long standing trend for minimalist interior design finally seems to be on the wane. They are a way of displaying your favourite items and adding a more personal touch to your home. Here are a few ideas about how to style a glass fronted unit. 

Find the perfect position

Your display cabinet needs to find the right place in your house first of all. An alcove that is a naturally an awkward space to fill is often the best place for a cabinet. Opposite a natural light source such as a window is another great place, because the contents will be shown off to best effect.

A display cabinet can make a perfect piece of statement furniture for an entrance hallway if you have enough space, allowing your visitors to enjoy the benefit of your collection and putting a personal stamp on your home. The furniture also works well in dining rooms and living rooms.

It’s important not to crowd the cabinet too closely with other pieces of furniture and to give it some breathing space. This avoids the room looking too cluttered and helps to show the contents off to their best advantage. 

Choosing display objects

There are no fixed rules around what to put in your display cabinet, and some people simply use them to store books, records, china or glassware. However, adding a few more decorative touches on some of the shelves can help to make your room feel more interesting and personal.

You could choose to show off nicknacks that you have picked up on holiday or at antiques fairs, or simply display framed photographs of your favourite people or places. 

Get the balance right

Too few items can make the furniture look dull and sparse, while too many will look crowded and it will be difficult to appreciate them individually. Pick out a focal point for each shelf, and then build the rest of your display around that. Think about creating some variety with the heights, colours and textures of your objects.  

For example, soften smooth shiny items such as ceramics and glassware with some feathery plants. Contrast transparent glass with bold solid colours, and balance out a tall vase with a smaller ornament.

To create a more curated look

As previously mentioned, there’s no need to follow any rules, and the whole point of the display is to create an effect that is unique and personal to you. However if you want a more curated finish, there are a few pointers that you can bear in mind.

The old rule of grouping objects in odd numbers rather than even ones works well here. Place smaller objects in front of larger ones, and try to limit the colour palette to three for a coordinated effect. Within this colour scheme, opt for a variety of tones, textures and shapes to add interest. 

Finally, show off your cabinet with a set of back lights so that it still looks great at night.