Tips for Displaying Items on a Shelf

Spring is a beautiful time of year most of us look forward to.  We enjoy the longer days and the warmer weather and some of us even enjoy the spring cleaning.  The fun part for us here at Marc Williams Furniture is the re-organizing and re-decorating after the cleaning is complete. Spring is a great time to change the items you display in your home. Here are some tips on how to display items on a shelf or in a cabinet.

Start with a clean slate. Remove all the items currently on the shelf or in the cabinet as it is easier to envision the new display when the space is empty. Decide if you will replace all of the items or just a chosen few. There is no need to display everything you have at one time.  Choose the items that have the most meaning to you.  If you have many, consider rotating the items a few times per year.

 The color of the back wall of the shelf or cabinet is an important factor in deciding what to display.  If the wall is dark, you will want to display light colors and if the wall is light, you will want to display dark colors. You may want to paint the back wall or use wallpaper or a mirror to help your items be more visible.

If you have a collection that you would like to display, group the items together. Be sure to leave some empty space so that each piece can be fully appreciated.

Consider the room the display will be in.  A traditional room typically calls for a symmetrical design whereas an asymmetrical design can look nice in a contemporary room.  Try to bring the colors of the room into the display as well.


Displaying treasures on a shelf or in a cabinet allows you to bring your personality into the room and helps make the house a home.