You have a large collection that you want to display in your home, you have free space on your shelves, now what? Read on for 5 things you can do to “spruce up” regular shelving so your prized collection (whether it’s seasickness bags, golf balls, or your favorite pieces of driftwood) looks great.
Bookshelves are designed to hold books (I know, I know…DUH!). The problem is that they are not really the best shelves for displaying objects. They are thick, deep and have limited display space. Since you really only need to see the spines of the books, the inside of a bookshelf is darker and less visible. A display shelf should allow you to see everything on the shelf, not just what’s on the outside edge. Here are 5 simple and inexpensive things you can do to increase the viewable area of your shelves and turn them into great display shelves.
1. Replace mobile shelves with glass shelves.
If your bookcase has adjustable shelves that rest on pins, simply get the measurements of the shelves and go to a glazier. They can cut glass to the same dimensions and you can fit clear and clear glass shelves which will completely change the “feel” of the shelving. However, the main thing you need to keep in mind is to get a glass that is designed to withstand stress. Explain to the glazier what you want to do and ask for shelf brackets that fit into the holes in the bookcase uprights instead of the pins that are there now.
2. Install lighting under each shelf.
You can get inexpensive fluorescent lights at most hardware stores. Buy small, flat units and wire them together to be controlled from a single switch. Drill small holes in the back of the shelf for the cables and mount the lights to the bottom of each shelf. This way, with the flip of a switch, you can illuminate the darkest parts of the shelves and make your entire collection more visible.
3. Install mirror backing.
Measure the vertical back of the shelf and then buy a mirror and glue it to the back. This will mirror the back of your collection and make the entire shelf feel much deeper, while also highlighting all of the items on the shelf.
4. Paint the shelves a different color.
If you want to draw attention to your collection on display, consider painting the shelves a different color. If the entire unit is a wood texture, consider painting the display shelves white. This will set them off from the rest of the unit and highlight the collection in them. The color of the shelf depends a lot on the type of collection you are displaying. Sparkly, shiny objects (quartz stones, glass figurines, etc.) may look better on a darker background, while miniature cars would look better on a lighter background. Think about it!
5. Wooden letters and other decorations.
A great way to spruce up your shelves is to add letters around the frame to personalize it. Here is an example. You can buy simple wooden or plastic letters in many colors and glue them to the frame. Therefore, on top of a collection of golf balls, you can put “FORE!” Or something like that. This will serve to draw everyone’s attention to the shelves and your precious collection.
