The Easiest Way to Update a Display Cabinet

Today, we’re sharing the easiest way to update a display cabinet which came about after “The Great Furniture Move” last week.  I literally had no plans to break down the living room, my office and the laundry room so soon after working on the dining room but once we found out S would be on crutches and in bilateral braces for another two months, it caused us to reevaluate the timeline for our projects and home goals.

One of those projects is the living room where we’ve long been at odds over the style and shape of the bookcases.  I’ve wanted to make the bookcases in a style similar to those you would have seen in an old general store with a closed storage system on the bottom, open shelving on the top, no tv but a place for our movie screen to watch movies whenever we want.

Honestly, I have LOVED not having a tv in the living room since we created a library in the living room a few years ago.

But all that began to change when S fell and we had SO many people comment on how they missed the convenience of having a tv in the living room.  I don’t watch tv that often so it never really bothered me but the comments where endless.  Not in a mean way, but in a, “It would be really nice to have a tv in here,” kind of way.

And so, I relented and agreed to have a tv back in the living room which set off a chain reaction that resulted in us having to turn my office into a bedroom and the bedroom into an office.  I know.

S really wanted to keep the display cabinet but I would have taken that thing to the curb in a heartbeat. It wasn’t worth hurting her feelings though. So, I set about trying to decide how to make a giant glass display cabinet work and we took the two bookcases that were on either side of the display cabinet and relocated them to the garage to help with additional storage.

My first inclination as to try it in the breakfast nook, which is where the easiest way to update a display cabinet makeover begins…

Display Cabinet Makeover Supplies:

• Shiplap paper
• Scissors or a rotary cutting tool and self-healing mat
• Ruler
• Tape
• Different color paper to make a pattern, optional

Display Cabinet Makeover Steps:

I went to Hobby Loblolly and picked up a roll of shiplap inspired poster paper but if I ever had a chance to do this over again, I would not use this paper.  It is crazy thin.  I would probably use a peel and stick wallpaper.

Next, we created a pattern from black paper to make cutting each section easier.

You’ll definitely want to use a good pair of scissors or a rotary cutting tool and self-healing cutting mat so all of the cuts will be clean.  As always use caution, care and proper safety procedures when using scissors or cutting tools as both are very sharp.

Secure the shiplap paper in place using a tape that has good adhesion and press firmly.  You’ll need to make sure you have the right tape for the right job.  This display cabinet has a mirror backing so the tape we needed would be different than the tape someone with say a wood backing would need.

Again, the Hobby Lobby paper I used is VERY thin so be careful if you choose to use that paper as well, it rips easily.  I think it’s actually meant to be used on school bulletin boards.

Complete each section one at a time.

Work your way down the cabinet starting at the top to the bottom, securing each section until you’ve finished the whole display cabinet.

You can see here how careful you have to be lining everything up with not only the inside seams,

but also, around the display cabinet shelves too.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to leave the display cabinet in the breakfast nook (the height of it looks kind of weird next to the door)

or what I’m going to put in it either.  There’s always my collection of glass cake stands and ironstone to consider

or my collection of vintage horse trophies. I think either would be pretty.

All in all, the easiest way to update a display cabinet was super inexpensive because all we had to pay for was the shiplap paper.  And for around $10, you really can’t beat the price of this makeover.

I’ll keep you posted on where I decide you use it.  Sometimes, I move things around 100xs just to put it right back in the same place.  Do you guys ever do that?

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo