Handy Hutches

Looking for ways to organize collections, increase storage and add personality to a space? Consider bringing in a country cupboard to take advantage of its form and function. Deb, who uses her living room’s cupboard purely for decor, offers advice for making the most of these handsome and versatile pieces.

Conceal and reveal.

Seek antique or prim-style reproductions that feature open shelves on top. Store textiles or dinnerware in the lower portion of the cabinet and use the shelves to show off your love of treasures from the past.

Employ color.

An unexpected paint or stain color allows the cupboard to make a statement as a stand-alone piece. Deb selected a weathered honey patina for her furnishing.

Go straight to the top.

Utilize the top as a display area for unique decor. Deb heightens the visual interest of her cabinet by exhibiting a trio of vintage fans set against a weathered rocking horse.

Play the match game.

Gather color-coordinated items that share a theme. Deb’s “childhood” exhibit includes a vintage photograph of her childhood home, mini bowling pins, spinning tops, banks and blocks.

Stand tall.

Emphasize the cupboard’s vertical dimensions. Place a firkin stocked with branches beside the cupboard, and exhibit taller items such as a lantern and oilcans near the lowest shelf.