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Tips on How to Arrange a China Cabinet

March 2, 2022 by Bre 36 Comments

While working on a mini-makeover of my dining room, I realized that I had to tell you about an AMAZING change in the room that I made for FREE.

Ready?  I reorganized my china cabinet.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but it has made an incredible difference in the look of my dining room!

Before I show you my new and improved china cabinet, I will show you the “before.” 

Prior to repainting the dining room (which required emptying the china cabinet of its contents and moving it), I snapped this photo so that I would remember where I had everything once I was able to put it all back.

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

When it came time to put everything away again, I looked at the photo and thought “Ew.  This looks pretty terrible.”  Bland and disorganized – the china cabinet sort of blended into the wall without making any sort of impact at all.

P.S. this is the china cabinet from my old house.  To see my NEW built-in china cabinet and how I displayed china in that cabinet, check out my Dated Oak China Cabinet Makeover post and my Modern Vintage Dining Room Makeover.  I think you’ll love it!

China Cabinet Inspiration Pictures

I decided that there must be a better way to do justice to the china and crystal that I’ve used three times since my wedding in 2006 (lol!).  So I scoured Pinterest and Google to find just the inspiration that I needed.

The first image I came across was from Katie at Bower Power.  Look at her lovely china hutch and the beautiful way she organized her dishes.  So much nicer than mine.

This china cabinet from Bower Power is a beautiful example of how to organize a china cabinet.

The next image that caught my eye was from Jennifer at Dimples & Tangles.  Of course I LOVED the green painted cabinet, but I also noticed how nicely her dishes were arranged.

Just as with Katie at Bower Power’s china hutch, many of Jennifer’s dishes were displayed vertically to make each shelf within the cabinet pop.  My dishes were simply stacked one on top of the other, so I knew this was a change I needed to make.

This china cabinet from Dimples & Tangles is a beautiful example of how to organize a china cabinet.

Finally, I found an awesome post by Darla at Heartwork Organizing about how to arrange a china cabinet.  She gave fantastic tips about choosing a focal point, arranging with symmetry in mind, and about products that help with the display of china.

Heartwork Organizing shows you a wonderful way to organize a china cabinet.

How to Arrange a China Cabinet

Armed with these inspiration pics and advice, I reloaded my china cabinet in a way that has made an INCREDIBLE impact on the room.  If I do say so myself, my china cabinet is now a beautiful focal point instead of a bland-but-overwhelming piece of furniture.

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

I only used things I already had to revamp my cabinet, and I am shocked at the improvement!  (But here’s a tip I can share from arranging my gigantic china cabinet in my new home: fill in empty spots with thrift store china, crystal, silver, etc. You’ll spend hardly any money and get that china cabinet display just right!)

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

The contrast of the white dishes against the dark furniture has really helped to lighten up the room, and the symmetrical display of the items inside makes it so much nicer to look at.

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

Wondering how to stand plates vertically in a china cabinet? If your china cabinet or china hutch doesn’t have a built-in ledge for displaying plates, use clear acrylic plate stands (affiliate link) to stand them up vertically without covering them up. 

The linked acrylic plate stands (affiliate link) are what I use in my new home’s built-in china cabinet, and they work wonderfully for displaying china plates vertically.

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

Stacking china pieces like plates, bowls, and/or coffee cups also creates interesting variations of height within the china cabinet.  

Great tips on how to arrange a china cabinet for maximum visual impact and organization!

All of these simple tweaks make it easy to arrange a china cabinet and create a gorgeous backdrop for your next dinner party.

Let me know if you have any other tips for arranging a china cabinet that you’d like to add.  I love to hear from you in the comment section below or on Instagram!

Learn how to organize your china cabinet so that it not only looks pretty but functions well! These china cabinet organization tips are not to be missed!

Filed Under: home decor, Organization

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Seana Turner says

    August 11, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    I think it looks terrific. It becomes a piece of decor, instead of simply a storage piece. The contrast of your beautiful china against the wood really makes it pop. I’m a believer in projects like this… and the cost is right!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      August 11, 2014 at 8:10 pm

      Hi, Seana! Thank you!!! You are so right, it is now a piece of decor. I seriously cannot get over the difference a little organization made. Thanks for your note!

  2. Sharyn Procaccio says

    August 11, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    You’ve inspired me! I’m going to put “Reorganizing My China Cabinet” on my to-do list!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      August 11, 2014 at 8:10 pm

      Hey, girlfriend!!!! Oh, well I’m happy I gave you some inspiration, but I’m sorry to have added to your to-do list! Hahahaha I hope your reorganization turns out amazing! xo

  3. Nicole Brzuchalski says

    August 11, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    Amazing how such a little change makes such a huge difference! Looks great!!!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      August 11, 2014 at 8:11 pm

      Hi, Nicole! Thank you!! I know – I seriously was kicking myself for not realizing it needed a makeover earlier! Such a big change. Thanks for your note!

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Hi, I’m Bre! Thanks for visiting Average But Inspired, where I show you how to work with what you’ve got to create a home you love.

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