How to Decorate China Cabinet Displays

For decades, china cabinets represented a sort of austere traditionalism—the dinnerware inside always perfectly arranged and only to be brought out for special occasions. But, in the world of interior design, there’s pay off in revisiting and revitalizing something classic. Top designers are expanding the confines of what can go inside china cabinets, decorating them in unique and refreshing ways. By incorporating playful color palettes, unexpected curios, and—of course—stunning tableware, designers have cleverly given new life to conventional hutches. Here, we delve into some different ways to decorate china cabinet displays. Whether you prefer a formal, time-honored hutch or a fresh, new take (complete with funky dinnerware, flora, and keepsakes), start with this comprehensive guide to the china cabinet.

What are China Cabinet Displays?

Traditionally, china cabinets hold and display—you guessed it—china! Since the late 17th century, wooden china cabinets have been used to stow porcelain cups, plates, bowls, and glasses that are too expensive and ornate for everyday use. Initially used exclusively for Japanese and Chinese export porcelain, William III and Mary II of England helped popularize the idea of stocked china cabinets by openly collecting Chinese pottery. In the 17th and 18th centuries, china cabinets were simply designed, with many of them designed by the Dutch. But by the 1700s, china cabinets were designed to be more elaborate in order to match the splendor of the dishes inside.

Often mistaken for one another, china cabinets and hutches are similar but hold some key differences. While china cabinets are usually made of glass panels with wood-framed doors, hutches typically have a china cabinet display case on top of drawers. Whether you own a china cabinet or hutch, ultimately both hold space to show off your family heirloom dinnerware.

How to Decorate a China Cabinet Display?

1. Dish it Out

If you’re lucky enough to own an extensive collection of formal dinnerware, it makes sense to stick to the china cabinet’s age-old purpose of showing it off. Conventional rules usually dictate a visual pyramid with light-weight china on top shelves and bulkier items on bottom shelves. Groupings of crystal wine glasses, vases, or delicate, lightweight saucers look great when set on a cabinet’s top ledge. Plus, depending on the configuration of your overhead fixture, top-shelf crystal items will catch the light and give off an eye-catching sparkle.

Make a visual impact by displaying decorative plates and ornate serving dishes on the central shelves of your china cabinet. Whether you own Noritake dinnerware, a Royal Albert china set, or Adam Pfaltzgraff tableware, stack and lean your dinnerware with deliberation. For a layered look, place larger items in the back. Exhibit those extra-treasured dishes on a plate stand for even more dimension.

Heavier items like serving platters and bowls look distinguished on bottom shelves. Complement your tableware and save shelf space by hanging up teacups on a row of simple hooks. A line of glasses or teacups conjures a formal, orderly look that our grandmothers could take pride in.

Another formal rule of china cabinet display? Keep sets and similar dishware together in their own section of a shelf. When it comes to creating a more orthodox display, symmetry is the name of the game. Going shelf by shelf and making each arrangement the same on the left and right cubbies will give your cabinet a pulled-together look.

2. Compose a Unique Curio

Want to switch it up a bit? China cabinets don’t have to be only reserved for showcasing your prized porcelain. For a more neoteric approach, use a china cabinet to create a curio set-up. Dispersing vases filled with flowers, as well as candle holders and personal mementos will give your china cabinet display that coveted, personalized touch. For a crash course, follow the lead of Atlanta-based designer Summer Loftin, who designed the intriguing cabinet in the room above. To disassociate this room’s china cabinet from its typical dining room airs, Summer filled it with everything from books to ship models. The result is a cabinet that feels cool, collected, and marvelously personal.

Of course, you don’t have the nix dinnerware altogether when arranging a china cabinet like a curio. Although, embracing a more laidback approach entails getting more free-form with your dinnerware vignettes. Don’t fret about displaying plates and dishes in an uber-uniform way and instead allow your most eccentric pieces really take center stage. Achieve that eclectic look by mixing and matching different types of tableware within a china case.

While it’s easy to think less traditional china cabinets such as modernist brass cabinets might better lend themselves to less formal compositions, traditional china cabinets also pair well with unconventional displays. Whether you own a mid-century lacquered cabinet or a vintage curved glass case, filling your glass cases with unorthodox items will give it a fabulously fresh feel.

3. Top it Off

The crown of a china cabinet is always fair game for some extra decorating. Additional tableware items like silver platters, drinking pitchers, and seasonal items make a cabinet look fuller and livelier. In the spirit of treating your china cabinet less like a dinnerware display and more like a curio cabinet, consider items like trophies, masks, or framed art. Topping off china cabinets is most effective when there are similarities between the cabinet’s topper and filler. Match the color or style of objects in your case to its topper to create a sense of cohesion.

Your China Cabinet Decorating Cheatsheet…

• Emphasize an accent color
• Consider opting for seasonal displays
• Arrange cubbies — play with scale
• When it comes to arranging china, vary its placement. Stack some, lean some, and when in doubt, use symmetry.
• Don’t be opposed to integrating alternative display options, such as hooks from which to hang teacups.
• If the idea of filling your china cabinet traditional dinnerware doesn’t beckon to you, consider frilling it out with items like vases, ginger jars, books, or even framed art.
• Top it off. Adorn the top of the cabinet with decor like vases, ginger jars, baskets and more.

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Lead image design by Creative Tonic – Courtnay Tartt Elias / photo by Julie Soefer