Decorating
On the Shelf: 12 Ways to Show Off Your Ceramic Collection
Despite trends towards minimalism and clutter-free spaces, ceramics and pottery can be at home in the most modern of rooms
I fondly remember my grandmother’s house where a huge pile of brass ornaments cluttered the mantelpiece above the fireplace. In hindsight it wasn’t that attractive, but the range of contemporary and vintage ceramics around today gives us so much scope to enhance our homes with beauty. Just one lone piece can make a dramatic statement, or a carefully curated group of ceramics can be a reflection of our style and interests. Here’s how you can use your ceramics to bring beauty and life to the home.
Create a collection of like colours but with lots of different objects. Displayed vertically on floating shelves, as they are here, the effect is striking.
If you don’t already have a collection, it’s time to trawl artisan markets or online stores, such as Etsy. You could also take pottery classes and try making your own. Or if you have money to spend, consider something highly collectable from a reputed art dealer (I’m thinking renowned Australian ceramic artist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott).
If you don’t already have a collection, it’s time to trawl artisan markets or online stores, such as Etsy. You could also take pottery classes and try making your own. Or if you have money to spend, consider something highly collectable from a reputed art dealer (I’m thinking renowned Australian ceramic artist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott).
2. Let them float
Above the fireplace, on the mantelpiece, has always been a traditional location for ornaments. But try something different with the composition, such as placing a few lovely pieces to one side of a floating mantel.
Above the fireplace, on the mantelpiece, has always been a traditional location for ornaments. But try something different with the composition, such as placing a few lovely pieces to one side of a floating mantel.
3. Marry style and function
Some of your ceramics will be used for more than just looking good. Beautiful ceramic bowls, vases and urns can enhance our entertaining experience when used on occasion. Show off a lovely handmade pottery bowl filled with olives to guests, or pop flowers into an earthy vase on the sideboard. There is no reason you can’t display your ceramics while they are being used. Just remember not to showcase your favourite pieces in high-traffic areas.
More: On Display: 10 Stylish (and Tidy) Ways to Arrange Open Kitchen Shelves
Some of your ceramics will be used for more than just looking good. Beautiful ceramic bowls, vases and urns can enhance our entertaining experience when used on occasion. Show off a lovely handmade pottery bowl filled with olives to guests, or pop flowers into an earthy vase on the sideboard. There is no reason you can’t display your ceramics while they are being used. Just remember not to showcase your favourite pieces in high-traffic areas.
More: On Display: 10 Stylish (and Tidy) Ways to Arrange Open Kitchen Shelves
4. Add a splash of colour
Try to match your ceramics to something else in the room with the same strong colour. The pots on the top shelf in this kitchen tie in nicely with the red stools.
Try to match your ceramics to something else in the room with the same strong colour. The pots on the top shelf in this kitchen tie in nicely with the red stools.
5. Build a special place
If you have a large collection, you could take over a bookshelf or consider your own purpose-built shelving.
This is the pottery studio at the home of ceramicist Marika van Adelsberg in Portland, Oregon. Giulietti Schouten Architects designed the studio especially for the artist who needed her own space. The artist’s husband was very neat, so they built a separate studio for her to contain her growing pottery collection.
If you have a large collection, you could take over a bookshelf or consider your own purpose-built shelving.
This is the pottery studio at the home of ceramicist Marika van Adelsberg in Portland, Oregon. Giulietti Schouten Architects designed the studio especially for the artist who needed her own space. The artist’s husband was very neat, so they built a separate studio for her to contain her growing pottery collection.
6. Squeeze them in
How you arrange your objects on your mantelpiece will depend on the shapes and sizes of your pieces. It will also be a reflection of how you like things – if you like to see a lot going, like here, or if you veer towards a little less crowding. Both can work in their own way.
There’s a lot going on in this collection, but the composition manages to be just right with a variety of contrasts in size, shape and colour.
How you arrange your objects on your mantelpiece will depend on the shapes and sizes of your pieces. It will also be a reflection of how you like things – if you like to see a lot going, like here, or if you veer towards a little less crowding. Both can work in their own way.
There’s a lot going on in this collection, but the composition manages to be just right with a variety of contrasts in size, shape and colour.
7. Arrange sparingly
A few objets de art arranged sparingly on a sideboard can be a simple but effective way to showcase your wares.
Some collections may look as if they are arranged haphazardly, but the configuration is actually quite deliberate and creates the right balance to be aesthetically pleasing.
A few objets de art arranged sparingly on a sideboard can be a simple but effective way to showcase your wares.
Some collections may look as if they are arranged haphazardly, but the configuration is actually quite deliberate and creates the right balance to be aesthetically pleasing.
8. Keep it clean
Ceramics have an annoying tendency to gather dust, but they can be kept looking good with a regular clean which shouldn’t take too much time. To care for your ceramics, don’t wash them in hot water and detergent and definitely not in the dishwasher. Carefully wipe with a static cloth or use a small soft paint brush, or even a soft make-up brush, to rid the pieces of any dust build-up.
Ceramics have an annoying tendency to gather dust, but they can be kept looking good with a regular clean which shouldn’t take too much time. To care for your ceramics, don’t wash them in hot water and detergent and definitely not in the dishwasher. Carefully wipe with a static cloth or use a small soft paint brush, or even a soft make-up brush, to rid the pieces of any dust build-up.
9. Buy one-of-a-kind
Buying handmade pottery and ceramics is an opportunity to acquire a one-off piece while supporting local craftspeople.
Blue Mountains ceramic artist Brianna Peterson of Mrs Peterson Pottery says that ceramics “have been rediscovered in a more contemporary way – with simple, streamlined designs and clean lines. Furthermore, a piece of handmade pottery carries more weight and can have ‘wow factor’ compared to something made in a factory.”
Here, the owner’s vintage vase collection adds a splash of colour to the otherwise neutral room.
Buying handmade pottery and ceramics is an opportunity to acquire a one-off piece while supporting local craftspeople.
Blue Mountains ceramic artist Brianna Peterson of Mrs Peterson Pottery says that ceramics “have been rediscovered in a more contemporary way – with simple, streamlined designs and clean lines. Furthermore, a piece of handmade pottery carries more weight and can have ‘wow factor’ compared to something made in a factory.”
Here, the owner’s vintage vase collection adds a splash of colour to the otherwise neutral room.
10. Match with artwork
Consider tying up a pottery collection with other artworks. An item could contrast with an artwork or could match it in style and colour, like the earthy tones in this painting and the pottery which brings the artwork 3D-like out from the wall.
Consider tying up a pottery collection with other artworks. An item could contrast with an artwork or could match it in style and colour, like the earthy tones in this painting and the pottery which brings the artwork 3D-like out from the wall.
11. Make every space count
Lack of space didn’t stop the owner of this New York apartment from finding a home for the collection. It fits snugly around the doorway – an otherwise unused space – without looking cluttered.
Lack of space didn’t stop the owner of this New York apartment from finding a home for the collection. It fits snugly around the doorway – an otherwise unused space – without looking cluttered.
12. Create a screen of objects
Room dividers are a great way to create subtle screens between spaces, as well as showcase our objects, but be careful not to clutter them too much.
I love how this room divider is home to so many different objects, including books and ceramics, but still manages to look stylish. The arrangement has been done well and leaves enough space for plenty of light to come through so it doesn’t look over-full.
See more room dividers here
TELL US
Do you proudly display your ceramics? Please share photos of your collection in the comments section.
MORE ON COLLECTIONS
Prized Collections: The Art of Gathering
11 Look-At-Me Ways to Show Off Your Collectables
Curate Your Own Art Gallery at Home
Room dividers are a great way to create subtle screens between spaces, as well as showcase our objects, but be careful not to clutter them too much.
I love how this room divider is home to so many different objects, including books and ceramics, but still manages to look stylish. The arrangement has been done well and leaves enough space for plenty of light to come through so it doesn’t look over-full.
See more room dividers here
TELL US
Do you proudly display your ceramics? Please share photos of your collection in the comments section.
MORE ON COLLECTIONS
Prized Collections: The Art of Gathering
11 Look-At-Me Ways to Show Off Your Collectables
Curate Your Own Art Gallery at Home
A group of objects in varying sizes, shapes and functions – but all in one colour – can make a bold statement on a sideboard, especially if that colour is white.
The little white tables in this tableau continue the theme, while adding extra interest.