You have a large collection that you want to display in your home, you have free space on your shelves, now what? Read on and discover 5 things you can do to “fix” regular shelving so your precious collection (whether it’s sickness bags, golf balls, or your favorite driftwood pieces) looks great.
The shelves 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 viewing space. Since you only need to see the spines of the books, the inside of a bookcase is darker and less visible. A display shelf should allow you to see everything on the shelf, not just what’s on the outer edge. Here are 5 simple and inexpensive things you can do to increase the visible area of your shelves and turn them into great display shelves.
1. Replace mobile shelves with glass.
If your bookshelf has adjustable shelves that rest on pins, just get your shelf measurements and go to a glazier. They can cut glass to the same dimensions and you can fit clear and clear glass shelves that will completely change the “feel” of the shelf. However, the main thing to consider is the glass design to withstand stress. Explain to the glazier what you want to do and ask them to provide you with shelf brackets that fit the holes in the shelf uprights instead of the pins that are there now.
2. Install lighting under each shelf.
You can find inexpensive fluorescent lights at most hardware stores. Buy small, flat units and connect them together so they are controlled from a switch. Drill small holes in the back of the shelf for cables and mount the lights to the bottom of each shelf. In this way, with the flick of a switch, you can illuminate the darkest parts of the shelves and make your entire collection more visible.
3. Install the mirror backing.
Measure the back and vertical of the shelf, then buy a mirror and stick it to the back. This will mirror the back of your collection and make the entire shelf feel much deeper, while also highlighting all 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 wood-textured, consider painting the display shelves white. This will offset them from the rest of the unit and highlight the collection on them. The color of the shelf depends a lot on the type of collection it displays. Shiny, shiny objects (quartz rock, glass figures, etc.) might look better on a darker background, while model 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 lettering 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. So on top of a collection of golf balls you can put “FRONT!” Or something like that. This will serve to draw everyone’s attention to the shelves and to your precious collection.