Features of choosing showcases in the design of living rooms

The living room is the most frequently visited room in which all members gather after work, watch TV, and greet guests. For this reason, this room should be equipped with comfortable furniture. Each item should complement the design and be combined with the surrounding interior elements. This room must have a display cabinet in which you can install beautiful dishes and various decorative elements. A transparent display cabinet for the living room can be made of a variety of materials, the main thing is that it exactly matches the interior style of this room.

What is

The place of the Soviet sideboard has now been taken by an improved and elegant display cabinet - this is a combined piece of furniture that has a glass facade (showcase) and is designed for storing things. Such furniture comes in many varieties and can be made entirely of glass or by combining glass and more durable materials such as metal and wood. The showcase is used for various purposes:

1. Industrial - in stores and enterprises they install a simplified version as commercial equipment. Used for displaying goods or storing products with a limited shelf life.
2. Consumer - such display cases can house dishes, family awards, cups, books or family heirlooms.
3. Designer - furniture is used to zone a room, creating a unified style.

For the living room, display cabinets today are manufactured in huge quantities and in a wide variety of designs. You can always choose a beautiful model, successfully using it to place expensive souvenirs, zone a room or store personal belongings.

Industrial

Consumer

Designer

Corner cupboard

No less popular furniture products are corner glass cabinets. These are very compact and convenient models. They are placed in any empty corner in the apartment and serve as a valuable and practical keeper of things. It is recommended to place them opposite the window. Natural light is refracted and emphasizes the beauty and elegance of stored items and dishes.

Cabinets can have different designs. They are made with doors and shelves. Can only be with hinged doors.

Popular models

The display case can be placed in any room; the variety of shapes and designs will allow you to successfully select the desired specimen. When choosing, you should correctly assess the size of the room and choose the most optimal option from all the popular models:

1. Glass – a cabinet with a completely transparent facade and mirrors on the back panel. Sometimes made entirely of glass, they are used for dishes, storing alcohol, souvenirs or collections.
2. Corner - a modified version that is placed in the corner and allows for the most efficient use of space. Typically, such a cabinet is quite spacious, stable, and designed for storing books and dishes.
3. Modular - a complex that includes an element with a glass facade, closed drawers and a module with shelves. A set of modular furniture allows you to zone the space and is convenient for storing various things.
4. Cabinet - they are a separate large cabinet with wooden or metal walls. Has a glass facade.
5. A slide is a set that includes a transparent display case and several additional cabinets. Such models are placed in living rooms and dishes or souvenirs are stored in them, and TVs are installed on the cabinets.
6. A chest of drawers is the most practical option, since it consists of two parts: a lower part with drawers or closed shelves and an upper glass part. Usually this model is no higher than one and a half meters.
7. Wall-mounted - these cabinets are placed on the wall and can be completely different in size. In the kitchen they store utensils, and in offices and living rooms - photo albums and other personal items.

Types and features of living room furniture, placement rules
Before purchasing a display case, you should think in advance about what exactly will be stored on the shelves, where the cabinet will stand, and how it will fit into the overall style.

The most popular showcases are combined cabinets, where part of the facade is covered with blank opaque panels or supplemented with drawers.

Glass

Angular

Modular

Hull

Dresser

Suspension

Varieties

For dishes in the living room, you can use different types of display cabinets. If you have an unusual design with modern elements, then you don’t have to give up this item. On sale you can find a variety of designs that will fit perfectly into any living room style. And if desired, this item can be made to order according to preferences.

Classical

Classic showcases are considered the most popular, which can be used for a classic interior. These products can be suspended, floor-mounted, narrow, wide, high, low. The most popular shade of these products is wenge. This color gives furniture and interior elegance, luxury, and richness. Also, classic-looking display cabinets can have other colors, but preference should be given to wood-like colors.

The main features of classic furniture:

• classic showcases have straight and strict lines that emphasize the shape of the structure;
• these products can have various carved patterns and figures on the outer surface that make this furniture luxurious and rich;
• the top and bottom of the cabinets often have a beautiful frame with carved elements, beautiful inserts made of wood, metal or natural stone;
• classic showcases, decorated in the old style, may have scuffs, massive legs and unusual handles. You can place expensive figurines and beautiful tableware in these designs.

Mounted

The hanging display case for dishes in the living room has an interesting design. From the name of these products it becomes clear that they are installed not on the floor, but on the wall. A small frame with several shelves and glass doors can be hung on the wall surface.

You can put several books, photo frames, figurines, beautiful wine glasses, and sets on the shelves. The entire structure will add brightness and originality to the design. She will be able to divide the living room into certain zones.

The wall display must be installed on a flat, solid wall. There should be no bumps, holes, or slopes on the surface of the wall. You can install a TV in the center of the structure, this will help save room space. These options will fit perfectly into small living rooms.

Showcase slide

Many people are familiar with the slide sideboard; the display case is practically no different from this product. The appearance of the display cabinet completely repeats all the outlines of the sideboard. The modern modification has several characteristics:

• products of this type have a rounded top, which is often decorated with carved designs and inserts made of wood, metal, natural stone or plastic;
• The side parts are made in the shape of a polyhedron; it looks especially beautiful if these parts are made of mirror glass. This gives the product volume and brightness to the living room;
• the display cabinet consists of several segments of cabinets that have open shelves and glass doors;
• the doors can be hinged or sliding. Sliding ones are considered convenient; they open independently of each other, but at the same time are combined into a single whole;
• You can store various dishes, plates, cups, wine glasses, glasses and even books in display cabinets.

Chest of drawers

A display chest of drawers is an unusual product that looks quite impressive. It will fit perfectly into almost any interior style and will add certain bright features and colors. A display cabinet with glass combines several functions at once - they can be used to store things, clothes, and also to display decorative elements. If in the ancient times of the USSR these designs looked unsightly, then modern display cabinets have spectacular outlines, luxurious decorative elements, and unusual colors. And the forms can be very different, namely:

• rectangular;
• triangular;
• oval;
• rounded;
• square.

These characteristics allow the designs to successfully fit into almost any interior style, and they will perfectly complement it.

Square

Oval

Rectangular

Angular

Manufacturing materials

To create a display case, various materials are used, the choice is determined by the style of the room and the things that will be stored on the shelves. The façade requires a transparent material, usually:

• plain glass;
• acrylic;
• plastic;
• stained glass;
• mirrors

If glass in a display cabinet is used for shelves, then it must be tempered, durable, and capable of withstanding a weight of up to 5-10 kg. Sometimes shelves are made of wood, most often they are veneer sheets that can withstand up to 20 kg of weight and can store heavy objects. If you plan to make a bar, then there are no shelves inside, but special bottle holders made of durable glass or metal.

To make the frame of a display cabinet, wood is usually used; for mass production, its cheaper derivatives are chipboard, veneer or MDF. Such panels can be decorated with carvings, embossing, and patterns. They are laminated, painted, and varnished. The main advantage of the material is the cost-effectiveness of the product and the speed of its production, but at the same time, such cabinets do not differ in durability. They scratch quickly and are extremely susceptible to moisture.

Elite display cabinets are made from valuable wood species - beech, oak, birch, alder, walnut, cherry, mahogany. Typically, such interior items are created in the Baroque, Renaissance, and Empire styles. They are more expensive, but they are beautiful and have a long service life. Solid wood is more resistant to moisture and can withstand temperature changes.

Glass

Acrylic

Plastic

Stained glass

With a mirror

Classification of species

Each interior must maintain a certain style, so all objects and furniture are selected individually. Differences in color, size and cabinet design can either add harmony to the style of the living room or ruin the first impression of it.

The quality of the cabinets differs:

• Material;
• Device (mounted, corner, modular);
• Design style;

Low display cabinet in the living room interior

By style

As for style, it’s easy to choose a suitable cabinet from catalogs in a store or on an Internet site, in which everything is clearly shown and described: what style it is and in which room it is most appropriate. So, dark furniture does not go well in a small room, because... visually reduces space. Accordingly, for a small apartment, as a rule, light furniture is selected. We will analyze the remaining characteristics in more detail below.

Today, the most popular living room styles include:

• Modern;
• Minimalism;
• Classics;
• Country;
• Scandinavian (IKEA style, beloved by many).

Minimalism is characterized by laconicism and simplicity, so massive wooden showcases are not suitable here at all. But almost entirely glass display cases will look quite organic, making the space even more airy and open. Also suitable are plain, inexpensive display cases made of laminated chipboard, plastic or MDF of simple geometric shapes with straight lines and a minimum of finishing.

Art Nouveau style simultaneously combines several features of completely opposite styles: classic, hi-tech, minimalism. Fancy patterns, luxurious materials and at the same time laconic forms, modern chic.

Classic never goes out of fashion; it always attracts with its wealth and expensive materials. Such furniture can be handmade, with many details and decorations.

Country style is a very cozy and warm option for decorating a living room. It creates the charm of “village” comfort, natural materials, emphasizing the mentality of different countries.

Scandinavian style is reminiscent of country, but always prefers simplicity and conciseness. It is designed with an emphasis on naturalness and environmental friendliness; the shades of this style are predominantly light and cold.

Based on materials

Display cabinets for the living room are made from wooden materials using glass and mirrors with different treatments: plastic or metal.

Materials for making a display cabinet:

1. Solid wood (from valuable or simple wood species: beech, birch, oak, pine, etc.);
2. MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard);
3. Chipboard (chipboard: painted, varnished, etc.);
4. LDSP (laminated chipboard);
5. VENEER (thin sheets of solid wood glued to a chipboard).

Advice! To give a special style to the product, the glass and mirrors of the cabinet can be inlaid with stones, fused glass, rhinestones and metal, as well as wood. Sandblasting patterns, made on the outside or inside, have been very popular in recent years.

Glass for display cabinets is made using a special technology: it is tempered for greater strength, so that it can withstand heavy objects and not burst under heavy weight.

By device

The design of the display cabinet can be different. Depending on the area and items in the living room, you can choose from three cabinet options:

1. Mounted;
2. Angular;
3. Modular.

Wall cabinets, as their name implies, are not placed on the floor, but hung on the wall. A small number of shelves (up to five) can hang on the wall, so you won’t be able to place many items on them. The wall to which the fastening will be made must be strong enough.

With the help of individual modules you can zone the space or make accents. Modular kits can be easily and quickly rearranged, swapped, added or subtracted from the kit. This is especially true for small living rooms, where there is often not enough space for a large amount of furniture.

Corner display cabinets save living room space. Especially in small rooms, corners often remain empty, but the living room will become much more spacious if all the free space is used rationally.

Internal filling

Cabinets with a glass front usually have three compartments inside:

1. The top one is intended for storing light dishes, figurines or photographs. If desired, you can make wooden shelves or closed facades, which will allow you to place heavy dishes, books and other massive things in the upper compartment.
2. The central one is necessary for demonstrating objects and is made of glass or other transparent material. Collections of plates, souvenirs or other light valuables are usually placed here. They are displayed using special stands.
3. Bottom - This compartment is usually made entirely of wood and can withstand heavy loads. Dishes, sets of plates, vases and other heavy things are stored here.

Furniture for the hall in a modern style, current photos of interiors

Don’t forget about the internal lighting of the shelves - LED and halogen lamps that provide diffused light are suitable for this. If crystal or other glass or porcelain items are stored inside, they should be illuminated from below, but side lighting is suitable for a collection of dishes when you need to focus attention on individual elements.

Arranging items in the closet

Due to the fact that transparent doors reveal the contents of the closet, many housewives think about how to arrange this storage area. Kitchen utensils and furniture intended for them must be combined with each other.

Simply put, the simpler the dishes, the brighter and more modern the cabinet should look. And vice versa. Modern furniture with simple shapes should contain bright objects.

Before arranging, remember the following rules:

• place heavy objects on the lower shelves;
• place things that you often use closer to the doors - in the access zone;
• if things do not match in style, but they need to be placed in one place, then modern items should be placed on the top shelves, and antique items should be placed on the middle and bottom shelves;
• do not put clay figurines on shelves - they begin to give off an unpleasant odor;
• play with the placement of things using artificial light.

In the latter case, consumers are provided with modern illuminated cabinets. Crystal dishes in such cabinets will look irresistible.

Shape and size

The glass showcase can be made in a variety of options, which allows you to effectively fit it into the interior. When choosing this piece of furniture, first of all you need to decide on the shape:

1. Rectangular is a classic option that is supposed to be placed along the wall. The average height of such a product is from 160 to 180 cm. A rectangular display case is perfect for storing dishes in the living room or dining room.
2. A corner cabinet is a cabinet the size of a human being, the width varies so as to occupy the space of the room as compactly as possible.
3. Non-standard - this type includes all triangular, round, oval, multi-faceted, square models. They are suitable for interiors in high-tech, avant-garde or loft style.

There are no clear established dimensions for display cabinets; they are usually selected based on the dimensions of the room and the purpose of purchase. Wide display cases up to 2 meters high are suitable for zoning space, and taller, narrow cabinets are suitable for storing things.

Straight

Angular

Oval

Non-standard

Decor

The main purpose of a display case for dishes is decorative. Therefore, this piece of furniture is required to perform two tasks. Firstly, it is beneficial to highlight family values ​​and attract attention to exquisite sets and souvenirs, and secondly, to be an organic addition to the living room itself. Therefore, the finishing of the facade is of fundamental importance.

One of the most popular options is varnished chipboard. The key advantage of this method is its low cost. Varnishing, on the one hand, adds shine, and on the other, protects the material from damage. There are two types of chipboard varnishing: postforming and softforming, the difference lies in the technology of trimming the edges. Most importantly, postforming has improved protective properties.

Unusual cabinet design - display cabinets for dishes - for those for whom style is very important

A more expensive option is a facade made of MDF. Such facades are treated with PVC film. The advantages of this finishing option are wear resistance and safety for the health of children and animals. Such a showcase can become a designer find for a living room made in almost any style.

Decorative showcase in baroque style is pompous and chic

Also, the MDF facade can be coated with paint. In this case, the original texture of the stone or wood material is lost. This is the main disadvantage of this finishing method. The advantage of painted MDF is the abundance of shades available on the market. Thus, coloring eliminates the problem of choosing colors, allowing you to create compositions that look like metal or change shade depending on the lighting. Using display cabinets for dishes with a painted MDF facade gives freedom to the imagination and a reason to experiment.

Carved wooden facades are a classic version of a display case, which for centuries has delighted both knowledgeable and non-furniture-savvy people. Wood - according to a number of criteria (beauty of the material, environmental friendliness, safety) is suitable for making a display case. Subsequently, the carved facade is processed in one of the following ways: veneer, varnish, oil or tinting. The more clearly the natural beauty of the material is emphasized, the better for a modern interior. The quality of wood processing directly determines how long the display case will last.

A classic living room display with understated sophistication

Color and design

Modern industry allows you to choose a cabinet for any interior. Particularly popular are classic showcases, which have their own characteristics:

• strict, straight lines;
• traditional shapes of rectangle or square;
• carved patterns on the facades;
• the presence of wooden elements with maximum preservation of natural patterns and colors;
• carved, slightly massive fittings.

Natural wood colors are suitable for classic interiors; the most popular is the wenge shade.

For the Art Nouveau style, combined display cases are chosen that combine glass and metal. This furniture is characterized by:

• soft, smooth lines;
• lack of symmetry;
• shades should match the basic tones of the room;
• The presence of floral ornaments is welcome;
• compactness;
• metal fittings.

Types of cabinet furniture for the living room in a modern style, nuances of choice

The ideal option would be a miniature slide made in the colors of the room or small chests of drawers and wall cabinets with glass fronts.

The rustic style has many styles, but all of them have the same general features that should be seen in the furniture. For a country style room, display cases with the following characteristics are suitable:

• do not have contrasting patterns, straight, rough lines;
• made in olive, white, brown, sand tones;
• fittings are made of copper or brass, aged metal;
• there may be drawings or stained glass decoration on the facade;
• without metal inserts, but with wooden plain elements;
• have a fine pattern or visible wood texture.

When choosing, you should give preference to simple, convenient options that are made in warm, solid colors. Wall-mounted models, sideboards or a small corner cabinet are perfect for such interiors.

The design and color of the showcase depends only on the interior in which it will be located. You should not put the classic version in a room with wicker furniture. The ideal interior is a living room, where all the furnishings, including the display case, correspond to the same style.

Classical

Rustic

Modern

Convenient corner display for dishes in the living room

Every housewife will agree that when guests arrive, especially unplanned ones, any kitchen utensils should be at hand. Purchasing a beautiful and original corner display cabinet for the living room will help relieve the kitchen load and at the same time decorate the living room. The family set, crystal and porcelain placed behind a transparent glass door look wonderful in the living room.

At the same time, storing fragile dishes in such furniture is more than reliable. In the living room it is less susceptible to mechanical damage than in the kitchen.

Advantages of a display case for dishes:

1. Dishes are less susceptible to dust.
2. It will easily remove dust from dishes using special means, without removing them from the display case.
3. It is free from temperature changes.
4. You can take the porcelain tea set out of the display case at any time.
5. At the same time, it will look very attractive behind such a showcase. Especially if you have chosen a modern model using various types of lighting and fixtures.

Also, if the dishes are not only fragile, but also expensive, then displaying them through a glass door is very easy, because there is no need to risk taking them out of the display case. The cost of such furniture is quite varied. And consumers with varying incomes can afford it.

Various materials are used in production. Color and size may vary. It is not uncommon to find a white corner showcase that replicates the texture of wood. The fittings are used in a variety of ways. Fittings can set the tone for the style characteristics of the display case.

Tips for choosing

When choosing a display case, first of all you need to make sure the quality of the materials so that the furniture lasts a long time. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the following:

• the legs must be adjustable - if there are uneven floors, such furniture will quickly fail, begin to squint and ultimately look terrible;
• the style of furniture must match that used in the interior;
• for illuminated display cases, you must first find a place with nearby sockets;
• the fittings must be of high quality, the hinges must move without squeaking, the handles must be firmly attached to the bolts;
• shelves must be able to withstand the expected weight of the items placed on them;
• mirrors can visually expand a narrow and small room, so they should not distort the image;
• For illumination, only diode or halogen lamps should be used.

It is important to select furniture in accordance with the dimensions of the room - you should clarify the dimensions of the display case in advance and make sure that in reality it will not look too bulky. For a large room, you can purchase a tall cabinet; for a small room, a narrow model is more suitable. Properly selected furniture will visually expand the room, making it light and spacious.

Furniture legs must be adjustable

If there is internal lighting, there should be a socket next to the cabinet

The style of furniture should match the interior

Various styles of display cases

A simple living room with a black and white display case for dishes

Mostly showcases are produced in classical or baroque style. Such products are richly decorated with carvings, bronze plating, wood mosaics - marquetry. Manufacturers divide furniture collections into two parts: modern and classic. Furniture with straight shapes without decorations is considered modern; things in the old style with graceful legs and carvings are considered classics.

Living room interior with a stylish display case for dishes

This is interesting. Showcases can be with or without doors. If the closet has no doors, things gather dust faster.

Manufacturers divide furniture collections into two parts: modern and classic.

See alsoUsing shelves in the interior, examples and photos.