How to Display China in a Country Hutch

Country hutches help you display your favorite china so it can be appreciated every day.

Country hutches are decorative pieces of furniture that allow you to display heirloom china collections as well as everyday dinnerware pieces. There are as many different types of hutches as there plates and glasses, so you have myriad options for enjoying and showcasing your favorite items in an attractive and practical way. Changing displays for the seasons or coordinating displays with your kitchen's colors can enhance your home's decor. Following a few simple tips will help you display your china in a country hutch successfully.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Glass cleaner
• Duster
• China set
• Water glasses
• Wine glasses
• Large platter
• Display plate holders
• Silk flowers or plants

Instructions

1. Clean your country hutch. Wipe the shelves thoroughly with paper towels or a duster and use glass cleaner to clean any panes so you start your collection on a sparkling, fresh surface.

2. Select dishes with the interior design of the room in mind. Keep dish styles and colors harmonious with the interior decoration scheme of your room for the most pleasing arrangement. You want the hutch display to enhance the decor of your kitchen or dining room.

3. Create a focal point. Showcase a large, colorful platter, beautiful serving tray, or elaborate tea set on the hutch's middle shelf.

4. Prop large plates on either side of your focal point. If your country hutch has plate grooves, insert a large plate or two on either side of your middle focal area with the design of the plate facing you. If plate grooves are not available, prop plates on plate display holders.

5. Arrange water and wine glasses on the middle shelf, to the right and left of the focal point and in front of the propped plates. Arrange water glasses on the right-hand side of the shelf and your wine goblets on the left-hand side. This will help give your arrangement a cohesive look.

6. Display plates on plate grooves or display holders along the back of the bottom shelf. Vary the plate heights and colors, and display them in odd numbers for the most pleasing visual arrangement.

7. Stack bowls on the right-hand side of the bottom shelf. Set them in front of your displayed plates.

8. Arrange teacups with saucers in stacks on middle of the bottom shelf. Take a saucer, top it with a teacup, place another teacup on top of it, and repeat, placing one on top of the other to create a vertical stack.

9. Stack salad plates on the left-hand side of the bottom shelf. This will balance the stack of china bowls you added to the right-hand side.

10. Add additional plates to plate grooves or display holders on the top shelf.

11. Use the top shelf to store large items. The top shelf of your country hutch is the perfect place to display items you do not use often. Try placing a pitcher in the middle with a serving bowl to the left and another serving piece to the right.

12. Accessorize your display. Once your country hutch is filled, add a few silk flowers, plants, or other keepsakes that coordinate with the color and style of your room.

Tips & Warnings

• Unify your hutch display with coordinating colors of china.

• Change out your displays each season.

• Try to display items in a symmetrical way to create a balanced feeling.

• In earthquake-prone areas, tack dishes down with a piece of museum wax to prevent breakage.

References

• Martha Stewart: Displaying a Collection
• The Orange County Register: Decorate a Hutch to Reflect Yourself
• Sylish Eve: Kitchen Hutch Furniture Ideas

Resources

• Amazon: Collections: Projects and Ideas to Display Your Treasures