For those who want to display some of their favorite decorative items or simply enliven an empty corner of a room, curio cabinets offer a tasteful solution. Often confused with china cabinets, these cabinets are enclosed with glass at the front and sides to keep their contents safely on display and free of dust. If you’re considering adding one of these cabinets to your home, here are a few ways to put them to use.

A Guide to Using Curio Cabinets

1. Display Decorative Dishware & Vessels

Curio cabinets are equally capable of displaying decorative items and storing goods for everyday use. For example, on the lower shelves of such a cabinet, you can store dishes and cups for daily meals, while treasured china, commemorative plates and cups, and other prized items can be displayed above. This dual function will allow you to enhance your dining room, sitting room, or other shared areas while keeping useful containers and dishes close to where they’re needed.

2. Showcase Heirlooms & Personal Treasures

Many families have small, meaningful items, such as treasured photos or rare books once owned by their relatives and ancestors. While it’s possible to display such items on bookshelves and mantles, doing so puts them at risk of damage and requires them to be regularly dusted to look their best.

Glass-fronted curio cabinets were first designed to place souvenirs from past journeys and vacations, personal awards, and other meaningful items on display without putting them in harm’s way. That way, the whole family and guests can admire your most beloved possessions for years to come.

3. Brighten Up Empty Spaces

It’s possible to have a corner of a room where no ordinary piece of furniture will fit and where decorations might go unnoticed. For that reason, many furniture makers offer corner curios, cabinets made with three sides that fit neatly into otherwise empty corners. By combining a decorative display with an even, forward-facing front area, corner curios seamlessly bind together rooms while enhancing and complementing their decor.

For the perfect curio cabinet for your home’s shared spaces, turn to Rocker World and Curios in Chandler, AZ. Family-owned and -operated since 1993, this local furniture store offers a wide selection of tasteful pieces in an array of styles to suit any decorative preferences. Their experts will help you select high-quality products built to last that will make your interiors more inviting. Visit their website to browse their collection, and call (480) 899-4098 with questions.