An upstairs hallway does not have to serve as a simple pathway that leads from one room to the next. A hall is a fantastic location to create a display area for model ships, crystal, cast resin and more. Even a narrow passageway can be used to exhibit a collection using the following easy methods. I designed a built-in shelf unit that I used to display my collection of Swarovski crystal trinkets in my former upstairs hallway, and it turned out beautifully. Not only was it a place to display my beautiful crystal collection, but it became a major part of my upstairs decorating scheme. Consider my ideas for displaying your collection, and organize it in a creative new way.
Create Built-In Shelves at the End of the Hallway
My ex husband was very handy when it came to building shelves, and after seeing the storage shelving he designed for the basement I wondered if he could create a display area for my collectibles in our upstairs hallway. I wanted a built-in shelf unit that was approximately 8 feet long, 4 feet high and approximately 6 inches deep. I also wanted 128 separate openings with mirrored backs for displaying my crystal knickknacks. He was able to build my display area across the back of our upstairs hallway just beneath three skylight windows. He lined the wall with a specialty mirror that had been designed by a glass and mirror company before installing the shelves. He also added rope lights that ran across the back of each section to completely illuminate the display.
I painted the shelving white before he added the lights and installed it in our upstairs hallway. I placed it on a timer, and I absolutely loved my exhibit. Unfortunately the built-in unit was sold with my home, and I had to resort to finding an alternative for my upstairs hallway display.
Set Up a Large Lighted Curio Cabinet
My first curio cabinet was tall, but it was quite narrow and did not hold everything that I wanted to display. I purchased a large lighted curio cabinet to replace it after moving out of my house and into a townhouse apartment with a narrow upstairs hallway. The end of the hall was open, and the lighted curio cabinet fit the space perfectly. This solved my need for a display area since the end of the hallway was the ideal location for my beautiful collection.
When considering a display area in your upstairs hallway, use the end if space allows. If the hall is wide, something similar to the built-in shelf unit that I described can be created by a woodworker. Find creative methods of display in your upstairs hallway. Even if it is small, the hall can become a treasured area of your home.
Source: Personal and Professional Decorating Experience