How to Arrange China in a China Cabinet

You can arrange your china in your cabinet as you would set a place setting.

Fine china is often given as traditional wedding gifts, either bought new especially for newlyweds or passed down as family heirlooms. Whatever the case, these are pieces you'll want to show off and display in your china cabinet when you're not using them. Luckily, there is no formal way to arrange china in cabinets. It's all up to your personal taste and design sensibility. However, there are design tips that you can utilize to make the process easier.

Things You'll Need

• Plate stands (optional)

Instructions

1. Map out your china pieces and cabinet if you think it will help. If not, skip to Step 2. Measure your cabinet space and china pieces, and draw them out on grid paper. They don't have to be exact sketches---they just have to be to scale, and pieces can be labeled so you remember what they represent.

2. Adjust the cabinet's shelves as needed, if possible. You may have to readjust as you design your arrangement.

3. Start by placing larger or eye-catching pieces in your cabinet, with your favorite piece at eye level or at the center of the display. Larger pieces should be placed first because they will be more difficult to place last. These large pieces include items such as large serving platters, tea trays and punch bowls. Use plate stands as needed, though your china cabinet may have special grooves to support your plates.

4. Choose the other pieces you want to display, and start interspersing them with the larger pieces. Mingle sizes and, if applicable, color. Group pieces on either side of the larger pieces you initially placed. Experiment with groups of three to five small pieces, and similar colors or themes. Mix tall and short items. Play with symmetrical arrangements, placing similar items on both sides of the display. If you want to display a full place setting or two, stand or stack the setting from largest to smallest to show each plate's design. Start with the dinner plate, then salad plate, then dessert plate, then saucer, and rest a teacup at the front or on top of the stack.

5. Add items such as figurines and vases of various sizes to add more visual interest.

6. Step back to observe your arrangement to see if you like its appearance. Add, remove or move items to suit your taste.

7. Store the pieces that don't fit in or add to your display in the cabinet's lower drawers and cabinets.

8. Change your arrangement around as you like, to reflect holidays or personal moods.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't overcrowd the cabinet. Leave breathing room around pieces and groupings so it doesn't look too crowded.

References

• Organize Your China Cabinet