7 ideas to spice up your basic display cabinet

I've found a little corner of my house where I could, in theory, fit a display cabinet... 

I just need to convince my other half first! 

I've longed for one for years as I've got a really beautiful collection of designer glass from Kosta Boda, and at the moment I've got nowhere to display these pieces, which means they're just spread out all over the house in really random places. 

I'm quite up for a little DIY challenge though rather than going for a basic look, but that doesn't mean I can't buy a basic display cabinet to start with! I've got so many upcycling ideas! And even though they all won't go in my house, I thought they'd be useful for anyone who owns a basic display cabinet. 

The one above is made of pine and is from furnitureplus - a perfect blank canvas if you ask me! ;)

So, without further ado, below are 7 ideas to spice up your basic display cabinet.

Paint it in your favourite colour

This will really give new life, and a completely new look to your display cabinet. 

If you've got a specific colour theme in the room it will really lift it by painting your cabinet in a matching colour.

Spice it up with wallpaper

An old trick, but one that really works! 

You don't even have to paint the display cabinet, but simply add pieces of patterned wallpaper to the inside bit for an instant beauty boost!

Decorate it like there's no tomorrow!

Paint, fairylights and bunting... why not? 

The kids will love it, and it could be a great project to do together as a family.

Swirl it up!

Add a swirly wooden bit at the top of your display cabinet to create an antique look. 

You can even swap the drawer knobs for vintage options. 

Make it kid friendly

If your display cabinet is going in a kid's room, why not make it into the most awesome dollhouse in the world!?

You'll be the most popular parent in the neighbourhood, for sure!

Go back to basics

So you've got this basic display cabinet and you don't really know what to do with it?

You don't have to fill it with fancy arty pieces worthy of being sidplayed! 

Move it into the kitchen and use it for your standard plates and glasses. 

Basics for basics, but it'll still spice up your view on it.

Match it!

Sometimes it's not about how the actual display cabinet looks, but about what you put in it!

Go all matchy-matchy with a colour theme on your displayed items.

The dream of recycling an antique sewing machine base

I recently came across a very inspiring article on creative ways of recycling an antique sewing machine base, and ever since I’ve been obsessed with the thought of investing in one of these and making it into a vanity table – similar to the one in the above picture.

I already have an antique Singer sewing machine with the typical swirly iron base back home at my parents’ house in Sweden, but it’s a bit tricky to get it shipped over to England. Plus, the one I already have is really valuable to me with it having once belonged to my great grandmother, so I think I’ll just get my hands on a random one locally that I can experiment with and place in my dressing room.

My ideal dressing room would have lots of teal decorations as this gives a bit of a bohemian or almost oriental vibe. I’ve got a few decorations of this colour already, but would really like to go all out teal, mixed with shabby white and metal.

The focal point of the room would obviously be the upcycled sewing machine vanity table, but the rest of the room would all match, including bedding, lanterns, organiser jars (great for makeup brushes), etc. 

My dressing room isn’t actually a dressing room, but it’s simply the spare room in the house which is for guests. Therefore, it’s tiny and most of the space is taken up by a double bed. Very annoying!

My dream would be to have a single trundle bed in the guest room/dressing room. One that won’t take up much space, that has a pretty frame that matches the style of the room, that you can make up as a sofa during the day with the help of cushions, and that you can easily fold out into a double bed if needed. Something in line with the above trundle bed from Bedz ‘R’ Us would be absolutely ideal!

Just imagine this! Although, with some teal details thrown in the mix. I’d be in heaven!

I definitely need to get myself on Gumtree or Ebay soon to find an antique sewing machine base – I can’t wait to start my next project!

(I just need to convince the man in the house first… or do I?!)