Arranging a China Cabinet

The current arrangement in the cabinet doesn't highlight the beautiful blue dishes that the homeowners inherited.

Using some tried-and-true arrangement methods, the cherished items are even more interesting and attractive to the eye.

Shari Hiller offers these tips for arranging a china cabinet to make the most of your favorite items:

Think of the china cabinet as the front of a jewelry store. The glass doors are all those little windows outside the store that give you a sneak peak into the wonders that are held inside.
Start by unloading the cabinet completely and take note of the pieces you have available. Is there something that might make a great focal point or is there something that could work to really draw attention right into the center of the cabinet? Do you have enough of one thing to make a statement in sheer volume? In this case, the homeowner has quite a nice collection of blue and white plates from her mother so the design of the cabinet is built around it.
Try to mix tall with short and dark with light for contrast and develop a pattern that allows it all to make sense.
Once everything is in place, make sure it's interesting from all angles and from both a seated and standing position. If so, you're design is a success. If not, make a couple of adjustments until satisfied.
A cabinet in an active position in a room should change with the seasons. It's a lot easier to make adjustments here than rearrange the furniture or alter the backgrounds in the space.

Also in this Episode

MOST POPULAR