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:
- 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.
- Consumer - such display cases can house dishes, family awards, cups, books or family heirlooms.
- 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
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cabinet - they are a separate large cabinet with wooden or metal walls. Has a glass facade.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 of cabinet furniture for a living room in a modern style, nuances of choice
Before purchasing a display case, you should think in advance 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
The history of the appearance of the cupboard
Many historians consider the ancestor of today's china cabinets to be the dressoir, mentions of which appeared in the 15th century. In its appearance, it was similar to the sideboards and buffets familiar to us, but it had a general volume and a small height.
Antique dressoir can still decorate the interior of a modern living room
Ordinary townspeople and peasants used wooden chests to store household utensils. Dressoir was an expensive item, and only a wealthy person could afford it. Moreover, among the European nobility it not only served as a container for expensive dishes, but in itself was a source of pride for the owners. The dresssoir was decorated with exquisite carvings, often not just with abstract patterns, but with images of saints. Individual samples have survived to this day, on which there are the faces of Saints Magdalene and Catherine. The facades of some were painted with biblical motifs and trimmed with semi-precious stones or pearls.
A biblical story depicted on an ancient dress
The dressoir was so popular among the highest nobility that there was a special decree regulating the design of this piece of furniture: for barons there were dressings with two internal shelves, for counts - with three, for dukes - with four. Accordingly, with increasing rank, the china cabinet had more expensive decorations and carvings. The fact that it was given to the future wife of the English king as a dowry speaks volumes about how much the dress was valued. This model already had twelve shelves.
Carved antique wooden dressoir door
A little later, other types of cupboards appeared to replace the dressoir. And in the 18th-19th centuries, in connection with the mass industrial production of glass, samples with doors made of mica and glass began to appear.
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
What are showcases made of?
The market offers frame and shelf materials of different quality and cost. You can choose furniture not only according to your taste, but also your financial capabilities.
Array
The most expensive material for the frame and shelves. First of all, classical style showcases are made from solid wood. Recently, the color wenge has held the palm. The dark variety is ideal for a library, while the light variety will enhance display cases with dishes.
Chipboard, MDF, veneer
Cheaper analogues of wood made from modern materials. Reliably imitate natural wood. Of these, the most presentable is veneer, that is, a thin cut of natural wood. And the wenge veneer is simply luxurious. Significantly less expensive than solid wood, it looks no worse.
Internal filling
Cabinets with a glass front usually have three compartments inside:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Reasons for the popularity of wall cabinets for the living room, their varieties
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.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Why do you need a showcase?
A display cabinet for the living room performs two functions: utilitarian and aesthetic. Practical benefits in the efficient storage of expensive items: the design combines the openness of the shelves and their complete protection from external influences. Aesthetic – in the ability to admire them.
Thus, showcase cabinets are designed to store not everything, but only expensive, beautiful things. Glass doors do not hide them, but prevent accidental falls. This is especially important if there are small children in the house. Dust does not settle as intensively on glass-covered shelves and objects, which is also important.
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.
Tips for choosing furniture for a TV in a modern-style living room
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
Styles
The decor is selected in accordance with the style of the room, from vintage to high-tech.
The main advantage of glass display cases is that they can be combined with furniture of many modern styles (loft, hi-tech, techno).
Wooden display cabinets are harmonious for living rooms in a classic style. Such models, especially those made from wenge, are luxurious, majestic, signaling good taste, some conservatism and respectability of the owners. Classics are made from solid wood and richly decorated. Of course, you need the appropriate utensils.
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
How to properly place a cupboard
It would be more logical to place the cabinet in which the dishes are stored near the dining group. This is possible if the living room is large and accommodates a table and chairs. There are even entire furniture collections for living rooms, consisting of one or two display cases for dishes, a chest of drawers with a mirror and a dining group.
In a small apartment where the kitchen is located in a separate room, a sideboard or cabinet in the living room has a more decorative function than a practical one. If the cabinet is part of a single set, it can be located in line with other items. And if the cabinet does not belong to the furniture collection, then it is arranged depending on the taste of the owners. It is advisable that light from a window falls on it or that backlight lamps are built-in.
A buffet or sideboard can become a border that will divide a large room into functional areas. For example, to separate part of the kitchen from the area where the upholstered furniture is located. In some interiors, two narrow cabinets for dishes, placed on the sides of a fireplace, chest of drawers, door or window openings, look original. This arrangement will emphasize the traditional style of the interior. Low cabinets provide additional surface space where dishes or a TV can also be placed. And hanging models can become a kind of accent point that will distract attention from the shortcomings of the living room, for example, a small area or irregular shape.
