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Display Shelves Or Curio Cabinets - Whats The Best Way To Show Off Your Treasures? |
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Display Shelves Or Curio Cabinets - Whats The Best Way To Show Off Your Treasures?By Joel Benstein All of us collect stuff. Whether it\'s glass figurines, golf balls, Star Wars dolls or some other memorabilia, all of us have something. Some of us are actually proud of the stuff we collect and want to show it off in our homes to everyone who visits. Okay, I suppose my friend\'s impressive collection of airline airsickness bags (he\'s up to over 80 different ones so far) doesn\'t rate, but other collections certainly do. Collections represent more than just a bunch of similar objects, they are an extension of the person collecting them. People often spend years and not a little money putting together their collections. They take pride in what they\'ve been able to assemble, and putting those collections on display is putting their pride and joy on display. Finding a rare stamp, an old coin, or even pieces of a bygone era give people a thrill that they want to share with others, and these things on display give the home a personalized touch that no regular piece of art or decoration can do. In order to display your collection well, you really have one of 2 choices, either you can display it on open shelves or in an enclosed curio cabinet. Let\'s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Display shelves have the advantage of showing off their contents better than any cabinet can. Because they are open, they hold out the objects on them to the viewer for direct and personal observation. There is nothing hindering the view like glass or wood frames. Since the shelves are open, you can enjoy the depth they offer more than if they were behind glass. Also, it\'s easier to observe the objects from various angles, which gives you a better appreciation of the object if, for example, it\'s a glass figurine or a model. Display shelves are more flexible, you can install them in various places around the room, and spread out your collection. The disadvantage of display shelves is the same thing; their openness. Because display shelves are open they are exposed to dust and also wandering fingers. If your collection is valuable or sensitive, displaying it on open shelves is tricky and potentially dangerous. Also, anything on an open shelf could possibly fall off of it and get damaged. Curio cabinets protect your collection. By putting all of the objects behind glass, you don\'t have to worry about dust or people touching your valuables. Also, a nice curio cabinet adds an added element of value to anything that is on display inside it. It says, "This object is so valuable, that it needs to be properly protected here." The cabinet automatically draws your eye to its display. The cabinet itself becomes part of the display due to its prominence. The disadvantage to a curio cabinet is that it separates the viewer from the object. There is a wall (albeit a transparent one) between you and the object. The object is out of reach. Even though curio cabinets have glass on at least 3 viewing sides, you will not be able to see the object in it like you would if it were on an open display shelf. Also, curio cabinets are "all in one." Your entire collection goes into the cabinet, which is in only one place (unless you have 2 cabinets) and that\'s where you go when you want to see the collection. You can\'t spread it out. When deciding which is better for your needs, you have to take into account the following factors: • The value of the collection. Does it need to be protected? • The type of collection. Stamps and coins will not benefit as much by being displayed on open shelves, but a baseball or doll collection will look nicer when displayed in the open. • The fragility of the collection. Will being exposed to open air, dust and hands damage the collection? If so, then a curio cabinet will protect it better. • What space do you have for your display? Curio cabinets tend to pack more shelf space into a smaller area, but you can spread display shelves around a room, taking advantage of open wall space. • Would your collection benefit from lighting? While you can certainly add lighting to display shelves, there are many curio cabinets that come ready with a built-in lighting system. This makes it easy to light up your collection. Think carefully about which solution would suit your needs better, and then come over to The Home Shelving Guide for lots more info on display shelves, curio cabinets and other shelving and storage solutions to help you make your house look great. Joel Benstein is a Do-It-Yourself enthusiast. Over the years he has taught himself basic plumbing, electrical repair, window screen construction, gardening and landscaping. He is also an avid woodworker. You can see examples of some of his projects and get ideas and information for shelving in your home at http://www.home-shelving-guide.com keywords: display shelves | curio cabinets | shelving | shelves
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